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Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

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Re: Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

#51

Post by corruption »

maxklein wrote: post #12

I have all this data that I collect and it's very difficult to make sense of it or to break it down into a form that tells me what steps I should be taking next to improve my bottom line.

I have the product you need sitting in version control. We never released it to market because when we went to start marketing it, it seemed too difficult to go up against the big guys so we scrapped it and integrated it into a product where it's in use to this day.

How would you market a product like this?

Re: Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

#52

Post by pbhjpbhj »

mstevens wrote: post #26
tomh- wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunately thats not an option, if you don't offer paypal, it will cost you users..

I was cheating a little, clearly a payment provider who sucks less will be just as popular with users as paypal, or they wouldn't suck less!

"Better the devil you know... " or so the aphorism goes.

We've a burger kiosk very close to and far better than McDonalds (IMO) but everyone still goes to McDonalds. Brand loyalty, advertising, etc..

Re: Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

#53

Post by ErrantX »

nudge wrote: post #50
ErrantX wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe. But don't forget that Hacker News types have problems that need solving too. Indeed if you solve one of our problems then you have two big advantages: a) a huge pool of tech-savvy seed users b) A much higher likelihood of useful feedback c) I would suggest, also, much better chance of revenue generation

I really meant in addition to HN type problems. But to respond to your 'advantages': a) I probably agree with this, although people can be evangelists offline too you know. It's just called word of mouth. b) This is almost certainly wrong. You think people who aren't tech-savvy are unqualified to define what they consider to be useful? c) Back this up, taking into consideration the fact that you might be competing wi…

>It's just called word of mouth.

Agreed, I've had some success with this in the past. However if you fix a specific problem common to many people here (as opposed, say, specific to Doctors) you can reach them instantly with one post. Your entire seed market is one click away :)

> You think people who aren't tech-savvy are unqualified to define what they consider to be usefu

No, but there is a pre-established forum for feedback (i.e. here). If you post an app here your going to get great feedback - if people are using your app I argue the feeback will be better/more specific

The only difference with other types of users is not that they don't know what they want but that a) they sometimes dont get what is possible/impossible and more importantly b) have trouble communicating their needs to you (that's not an unfixable problem Im sure)

> Back this up

This was probably something of a leap. However we often see people saying "I would pay X if you gave me Y" - usually from the already successful entrepreneur types. Im suggesting that people here are perhaps more likely to see value/not begrudge payment for a useful service.

Re: Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

#54

Post by ig1 »

Better online take-away service, I used justeat at the moment but it leaves a lot to be desired (have to enter credit card everytime, lack of details, poor search, food reviews, etc.)

Instant online quotes/price comparison for taxi services

Re: Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

#55

Post by maxklein »

corruption wrote: post #51
maxklein wrote: post #12

I have all this data that I collect and it's very difficult to make sense of it or to break it down into a form that tells me what steps I should be taking next to improve my bottom line.

I have the product you need sitting in version control. We never released it to market because when we went to start marketing it, it seemed too difficult to go up against the big guys so we scrapped it and integrated it into a product where it's in use to this day. How would you market a product like this?

The difficulty in this market is that each business has a different need. Each business has different data and requires different information.

So I'd break this up into individual plugins that just work, and that handle a specific problem.

So I send my data into your system, and you have different pipelines I can send the data into that provide me with different intelligence things.

And then afterwards, just approach all the business in the niche directly.

Re: Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

#56

Post by [deleted] »

thomaspaine wrote: post #7

I want a personal assistant for 5-10 hours a week. Not a virtual one because most of the things I want done are in meat space. Stuff like filling out forms, doing my laundry, waiting in line for me at the DMV, and dropping off my netflix returns in the mail. It sounds petty, but I really hate running errands and filling out forms. I'm considering hiring someone off craigslist.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

#57

Post by jcnnghm »

Quickbooks. Quickbooks is the single worst piece of software that I have ever had to deal with on a regular basis. I want to be able to reliably pull in all the financial transactions that occur for my company, and categorize them as quickly as possible. Quickbooks does this, but it fails on the reliably, all, and quickly aspects.

I also need to be able to import invoicing information from my billing software, and match that to bank deposits and credit card settlements.

Re: Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

#58

Post by limist »

mstevens wrote: post #38

Another problem I'd be very tempted to pay money to solve right now: I'm taking lessons in French. It's pretty cool. I'd like to find ways to improve my French at home. I'd love a site that would make it easy to find someone to video chat with eg skype with some (possibly minimal) teaching skills so I could practice conversation.

Have you tried/seen LiveMocha? http://www.livemocha.com It's social networking for language learners, mixing and matching native speakers (I have no affiliation with them).

Re: Ask HN: What problem is REALLY bugging you?

#60

Post by limist »

mstevens wrote: post #28
wlievens wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a google spreadsheet somewhere that circulated a few weeks ago.

Can't find it on a quick look at searchyc, do you remember any more details?

I think this is what you're referring to: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ag-R_ZlGO21NdE9HSWRk...
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