Ask HN: My site isn't sexy or social, but I'm very proud of it: what's next?

Hey HN.

A month ago, if asked at a party what I did I would not even mention that I’ve spent over two hundred hours in the last eight months learning web development and building a start up. I’d say that I’m an applied math major who wants to go into biomathematics but doesn’t want to use that degree for anything, never revealing that what I really want to do is run a web business.

Soon after the last time I hid my true passion during a conversation I decided to release my web app no matter how unfinished I felt it to be. Since the release I’ve received several users per day (although I don’t think I’ve gotten more than a few dedicated users) at a total cost of just under $30. Importantly, though, because of my ads I’ve been contacted by the director of education of a major university to see if she should recommend the app to students or not. We’re still talking, but this could be what brings the first good number of users to my site.

The app isn’t sexy and it isn’t going to change the world. Simply put, it’s a grade calculator and tracker. After using spreadsheets to figure out my grades for too long, I decided that there was at least a small need for a web app. Achiever, as I decided to call it, was born in February.

You can find it at http://www.getachiever.com

I’m curious, what do I do next? There is still technical work to do - the completion of the landing page design, the implementation of recurring billing - but I have arrived at what I believe to be the true challenge of web business: getting people to actually use my creation. Since it’s not a social app, I can’t create serious viral effects. Would, perhaps, letting users post their grades bring traffic? Should I try to market the app instead to universities?

A lot of the apps submitted to HN are sexy and took 24 hours to make and, seemingly, tend to include the letter three in the name. I didn’t want to go after sexy and social and business model-less (look where Twitter is this week). I wanted to make a well-built tool, like Basecamp, and charge people for it. I hope you still find my story interesting.

EDIT: Seems like the site's down. Hmm.

I like it. I think you can find a way to make it viral. "Sexy" is a matter of perception. I see no reason this can't become what the Cool Kids in College all want. You need someone (like me) who is completely neurotic about their grades and feels the need to call their sister and have a nervous breakdown for 30 minutes because, gasp, my first grade on my first paper after returning to college 8 years later was below a 95 (clearly the end of the world). This person also needs to be someone that other people like/look up to/want to emulate for some reason. (This was me at one time in some circles on the internet where I got treated like a "rock star" and compared to one -- though it definitely wasn't me in high school.) In some geeky circles, someone who is smart and grade obsessed can also be someone "cool" that others are enthralled by. Find those folks. If they will use it, others will use it.

Rather than sharing grades, I think I would find a means to share some measure of what value the product brought. One possibility: Show that their grades improve when they use this. Another possibility: Show that they stress less about school now that they are clear where they stand at all times. Another possible angle: Now that they are stressing less, they have more of a life because they are clear what they need to do and can set aside the whole obsessive grade focus on Friday night (or whatever) and have a little fun. This last idea might need some additional support, like some kind of study tracker/support tools in that regard. But that could be seen as a direction to grow in.

Disclaimer: I'm only on here due to insomnia. If someone completely shoots me down, listen to them instead. Its possible I'm incoherent. Thanks.

I like it too. You took a small problem and offered a solution to it. It won't change the world, but it will probably change someone's day.

You will eventually be able to determine that someone is doing well or poor in their classes. Why not use this to recommend tutors or tutoring jobs?

BTW, Your honesty and courage to face rejection inspires me. Thanks.

That's interesting. Do you mean to allow tutors to track the success of their students?

And thanks so much.