4 ms·
I don't want to make you feel bad or rain on your parade but you must know there are hundreds of competing apps just like this. That's not to say yours can't be
by bpatrianakos 14y ago
I don't want to make you feel bad or rain on your parade but you must know there are hundreds of competing apps just like this. That's not to say yours can't be successful but if you'd like it to stand out you need to differentiate yourself somehow. Right now you've basically got a todo list app that lets you share lists via a public URL. It's very simple (that's neither good or bad, it just is).
So considering how simple the concept is, I think there are a few things to think about that would make this valuable and stand out from the crowd.
First, focus on convenience. There are a billion todo lists all approaching different aspects of the task management problem and approaching it in different ways. Your approach is my favorite of all - just a list that you can check stuff off of. Its perfect. But I won't use it unless its easier and more convenient to use than any other option. So I need an app (a mobile web site will suffice which I see you already have but can use improvement). I need a way to come back in case I forget the URL of my list. I just need to be able to whip out my phone/tablet/laptop/browser and be able to get creating/checking off/reading my todos in no more than 2 or 3 steps.
Once you get convenience down, then work on design. You're off to a great start. There no frills, its super simple and minimal and its really great but it doesn't have that intangible thing that makes it memorable. You're definitely on the right track and I wouldn't tell you to add anything but just to refine what you have. Focus on typography and UI interaction.
And if this is meant for teams then I think you'll need to create a login system and some more privacy. I don't always feel comfortable putting all my todos in public even if they're only available via a special URL. A lot of things can happen to a URL. I think its great that you have a lazy login system but to me the fact that I can't save my own account and come back to it later to see all my lists and all my tasks, and see who on my team is currently sharing tasks wit me makes this feel like a one-off app. Like something you use for a day then forget about. But if I could use the app, decide I like it, then create a permanent account I'd be much more likely to return in the future and be invested in the product.
I don't care how many trillion todo apps we have out there, there are never enough. I like what you're doing and I'd say focus on convenience and design and if you're serious about making this for teams then give people the option to create permanent accounts. I probably won't use this today or tomorrow or next week but I did sign up for mailing list and I'm definitely excited to see what you come up with in the future.
- hgezim 14y agoYou've raised some really great points. And no, this is not raining on my parade, I think this feedback is more like fertilizer :). So, thanks. I guess since I use it and know the URL quite well, I didn't prioritize creating an account too high, but you're absolutely right. Thanks so much for your thoughts. P.S.: Any thoughts on how I can monetize this? Would you pay for a monthly subscription if there was a mobile app and all the convenience factors you've mentioned?
- johnmurch 14y agoA few thoughts on making $$$. 1. SAAS - Set the bar low and features high -> $2/month gets you private lists, dedicated subdomain, etc. Make it so cheap that people just buy it/signup. Might want to focus on "prepay 6 months for $12" - so users don't feel locked in. etc. Have more features with the premium model like email notifications/alerts/bigger teams 2. Affiliate Ads - Focus on future partners/affiliates - think of your product as a gateway drug to a bigger platform for doing/development. Push affiliate products that are targeted towards developers as well as bigger products like asana or basecamp. Try other products that every person needs (dollarshaveclub/birchbox.com) 3. Kinda crazy but wonder if you could do something like http://www.launchbit.com http://www.launchbit.com - if users signup with email and leverage http://www.fullcontact.com/developer/ http://www.fullcontact.com/developer/ or https://www.rapleaf.com/ https://www.rapleaf.com/ you could break out users and serve up newsletters around productivity and do joint ventures with other companies to test drive their products. Since most likely your audiance will be startup/dev community. Anyway - just some thoughts
- hgezim 14y agoVery interesting ideas. I love it! I might try going after 1. at first and see where it goes. Anyone doing something similar and want to partner up with me? Maybe a complementary system, etc.
- johnmurch 14y agoI gotta throw out these 2 other ideas as they relate as I have some working code on a similar problem but focused around small groups and daily tasks. 1. Take a look at http://15five.com/ http://15five.com/ - Just 4 to 5 questions, 15mins - extremely valuable. The problem is status updates. A todo list can fit into this space nicely when you have many teams (e.g. enterprise) and all need a update/email for each weekly sprint. 2. Todo Tonight - Many developers/hackers/etc have day time jobs, but then spend another 3 to 5 hours each night hacking on something. To better focus on their time - rather than send crap to an email each day - why not have a task/todo that is nighly. Speeds up the process - focuses on a simpler achievable tasks (did you complete last night, add notes, urls,etc.) The idea is it's a holding place for "STUFF" it relates to what you are working on. Hit me up @johnmurch if you want to chat more