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Ask HN: Please review my start-up - planergize.com

planergize.com

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Re: Ask HN: Please review my start-up - planergize.com

#31

Post by dshingarev »

gibsonf1 wrote: post #29
dshingarev wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try reloading the page. Can you tell me what browser do you use?

Ok, it's working now :) I'm using Google Chrome 4.0.249.89 unknown (38071) I'm curious, once you publish it, why can't you go back and edit it again? (I know of almost no plans that don't get revised during the process)

We are trying to build a system with reusable plans - where a plan is essentially a step-by-step instructions plus timing data. So the idea is - somebody creates a good plan - like a recipe, or first 10 weeks of life of a child - and then many people should be able use it. So master plan should remain the same, in our opinion. On the other hand, you can change positions of steps, add/remove reminders and if you are not satisfied with the plan completely, you can duplicate it and create a new one based on existing. We are not trying to create yet another project management tool - it is more of tutorial with timeline, reminders, images, videos and reusability is the main focus for us.

Re: Ask HN: Please review my start-up - planergize.com

#32

Post by dshingarev »

stevenwei wrote: post #30

I agree with the other comments saying that your home page doesn't describe your product clearly enough. I disagree that showing a video is the best solution. As a user, I don't want to waste my time watching a video until I'm convinced that I want to investigate further. Instead, I would put a Top 5 showcase of some great looking plans on the home page. This also gives an incentive for the users to create something…

Thanks for your comment!

The reason we decided to use FB only auth is that we felt that in order to provide the same feature set with FB and without it would require quite a lot of duplication on our site. And the more social features we add - the more duplication it requires.

For example, for a plan you can specify "friends only" visibility - and for this to work we need to support friends lists in our app. We also use FB to send SMS reminders (if allowed by a user) - and that's not the easiest and cheapest thing to implement from scratch.

Re: Ask HN: Please review my start-up - planergize.com

#33

Post by stevenwei »

dshingarev wrote: post #32
stevenwei wrote: post #30

I agree with the other comments saying that your home page doesn't describe your product clearly enough. I disagree that showing a video is the best solution. As a user, I don't want to waste my time watching a video until I'm convinced that I want to investigate further. Instead, I would put a Top 5 showcase of some great looking plans on the home page. This also gives an incentive for the users to create something…

Thanks for your comment! The reason we decided to use FB only auth is that we felt that in order to provide the same feature set with FB and without it would require quite a lot of duplication on our site. And the more social features we add - the more duplication it requires. For example, for a plan you can specify "friends only" visibility - and for this to work we need to support friends lists in our app. We also…

I'm not suggesting you duplicate the feature set that Facebook provides. If a user wants to have those features, it makes sense to have them link their Facebook account.

But I would probably offer a more basic version that doesn't have friend lists, SMS reminders, etc, and let the user opt in to the additional features only if they wanted to. Otherwise I think you might end up artificially restricting the amount/type of users that use your site (e.g. people without Facebook accounts or people that want to keep their Facebook data private).

Re: Ask HN: Please review my start-up - planergize.com

#34

Post by dshingarev »

stevenwei wrote: post #33
dshingarev wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for your comment! The reason we decided to use FB only auth is that we felt that in order to provide the same feature set with FB and without it would require quite a lot of duplication on our site. And the more social features we add - the more duplication it requires. For example, for a plan you can specify "friends only" visibility - and for this to work we need to support friends lists in our app. We also…

I'm not suggesting you duplicate the feature set that Facebook provides. If a user wants to have those features, it makes sense to have them link their Facebook account. But I would probably offer a more basic version that doesn't have friend lists, SMS reminders, etc, and let the user opt in to the additional features only if they wanted to. Otherwise I think you might end up artificially restricting the amount/type…

Maybe you're right... We have to think about it more carefully. Thanks for your feedback!

Re: Ask HN: Please review my start-up - planergize.com

#35

Post by pedalpete »

Tawheed wrote: post #18

You need to rip out your front page and add the following: 1) One tagline - "Easy simple way to create repeatable processes" 2) A video going through a use case 3) Example plans (the end product), featured on the page 4) Giant sign up button

I agree with all this, but most important is get rid of that 'important information' message. As a start-up, you probably don't have enough users to have that as the main thing we see when arriving on the home page.

You could probably add a little message or something near a 'login area' with a link to 'changes to user accounts' or something to that effect.

I still have no idea what you do and why.

Re: Ask HN: Please review my start-up - planergize.com

#37

Post by dshingarev »

zarski wrote: post #36

I like the design of the landing page and the main graphic. I am getting tired of seeing the standard "browser screenshot" graphic on landing pages. As for the copy on the landing page I also couldn't discern quickly what the application was about.

Thanks, we are working on the better version of landing page - with better explanations and some graphics.

Re: Ask HN: Please review my start-up - planergize.com

#38

Post by dwohlfahrt »

Geez... with all the negativity on here (I realize he's asking for criticism, but would it hurt to throw in a tad of positive feedback as well?!) I feel obligated to tell you that I think what you've created, while it still needs a bit of polish and refinement, is quite impressive and useful (especially made me think of it's application for all those DIY sites). Granted I know jack about Flash, but your plan player wowed the pants off me and performed without issue in Firefox.

As for suggestions, I agree with most of the others that the landing page could use some work in order to be more engaging and clear as to exactly what the site does. Also, I think it really might help to change the background image to something less cartoonish that comes across as more practical, useful, and more visually representative of the site function... perhaps a design incorporating various planning-related graphics such as arrows, bullets, step numbers (1., 2., 3., etc.), times, clocks, check boxes, percentages, etc.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing its progression!

Re: Ask HN: Please review my start-up - planergize.com

#39

Post by dshingarev »

dwohlfahrt wrote: post #38

Geez... with all the negativity on here (I realize he's asking for criticism, but would it hurt to throw in a tad of positive feedback as well?!) I feel obligated to tell you that I think what you've created, while it still needs a bit of polish and refinement, is quite impressive and useful (especially made me think of it's application for all those DIY sites). Granted I know jack about Flash, but your plan player w…

Thanks a lot for your POSITIVE feedback! :-) And, of course, I agree with regards to the landing page - it'll be ready by Monday next week. It takes some time to prepare nice image that (we hope) will help to explain the purpose of the website.
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