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I think testing / experimenting with ideas is critical - Google (and others) taught us that it works. I think vetting a new business idea before investing time

by nlh 14y ago

I think testing / experimenting with ideas is critical - Google (and others) taught us that it works. I think vetting a new business idea before investing time & money into it is also wise - nobody wants to waste their time and money. But I'm left with an uneasy feeling when folks take the "tease" approach that this is advocating (and, currently, using). * Here's an idea! * Here's why it's great! * Sign up now! * Ohhhhh sorry -- not actually available. Give us your email though (and thanks for the conversion data point). I know for me, it feels dishonest. There's no harm actually done - you haven't truly "baited and switched", but you've baited and not delivered, and I think that makes a poor first impression. It sets a tone of dishonesty with your earliest (potential) customers. I don't know the answer - I wish I did. I understand that if you change the messaging ("Let us know if this sounds good" vs. "Sign up now!") you distort your experimental conversion data, but I think it's worth considering the cost of presenting a poor first impression vs. running the test. Perhaps there's a middle ground?

emoray13 14y ago
Hi Nlh, that is a great point and it's something I have wrestled with myself. I haven't come to a conclusion other than it's physically not really doing anyone any harm and if one stunning start up comes of it that changes the world for the better, then it has to be worth it. You are letting the visitor know before they drop you their email that you're not ready for them and so you aren't deceiving them.
- tylerlh 14y ago
  "You are letting the visitor know before they drop you their email that you're not ready for them and so you aren't deceiving them." This is not true. Your product states that "Due to demand we have had to introduce a waiting list... Because of the of demand we have had, due to the success of Entrepreneurs, Inventors and Business People using LookAft, we need to add you to a queue to get going." The above statement is very different than "Our product isn't ready yet, but if you're interested you can sign up here...", and is rather deceptive. It makes me think you have a functioning product and an already active user base when that simply isn't the truth. All this isn't to discourage your efforts, but maybe to get you to rethink the way you approach your potential customers. Keep at it, but first and foremost -- be honest.

by nlh 14y ago

emoray13 14y ago

Hi Nlh, that is a great point and it's something I have wrestled with myself. I haven't come to a conclusion other than it's physically not really doing anyone any harm and if one stunning start up comes of it that changes the world for the better, then it has to be worth it. You are letting the visitor know before they drop you their email that you're not ready for them and so you aren't deceiving them.

tylerlh 14y ago
"You are letting the visitor know before they drop you their email that you're not ready for them and so you aren't deceiving them." This is not true. Your product states that "Due to demand we have had to introduce a waiting list... Because of the of demand we have had, due to the success of Entrepreneurs, Inventors and Business People using LookAft, we need to add you to a queue to get going." The above statement is very different than "Our product isn't ready yet, but if you're interested you can sign up here...", and is rather deceptive. It makes me think you have a functioning product and an already active user base when that simply isn't the truth. All this isn't to discourage your efforts, but maybe to get you to rethink the way you approach your potential customers. Keep at it, but first and foremost -- be honest.