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Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

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Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

#1

Post by sark »

I have seen lots of good information getting exchanged (things like answers to common questions, reviews etc.) on internal mailing lists - especially on my "off-business-topic" office mailing list that eventually gets buried in individual mailboxes and lost. It's a shame, particularly because the information is of really good quality (no spam/trolls since it's on a closed trusted mailing list). http://www.askurpals.com is my attempt to harvest it for the use of wider audience.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Also, if you can suggest an effective way of reaching wider audience/users I'll be very grateful :)

Thanks!

Re: Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

#2

Post by nextmoveone »

I honestly think your application could leverage facebooks userbase to gain traction.

But then the problem of monetization becomes a lot larger.

If you dont want to do that, let me import my gmail contacts or yahoo contacts and pick them, then have their email responses threaded. or dont make them log in to answer, just let them click a link and enter the answer.

Re: Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

#3

Post by sark »

nextmoveone wrote: post #2

I honestly think your application could leverage facebooks userbase to gain traction. But then the problem of monetization becomes a lot larger. If you dont want to do that, let me import my gmail contacts or yahoo contacts and pick them, then have their email responses threaded. or dont make them log in to answer, just let them click a link and enter the answer.

Thanks for your suggestion. I'm not too worried about monetization right now. Do you mean I should create some sort of Facebook widget to link to my site or just try to get the word out on the facebook?

Re: Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

#4

Post by raghus »

sark wrote: post #3
nextmoveone wrote: post #2

I honestly think your application could leverage facebooks userbase to gain traction. But then the problem of monetization becomes a lot larger. If you dont want to do that, let me import my gmail contacts or yahoo contacts and pick them, then have their email responses threaded. or dont make them log in to answer, just let them click a link and enter the answer.

Thanks for your suggestion. I'm not too worried about monetization right now. Do you mean I should create some sort of Facebook widget to link to my site or just try to get the word out on the facebook?

I think he means a Facebook app. That way you don't need to explicitly email your friends.

But I think there's currently a Facebook app that does something similar, can't recall its name...Questions or something.

Re: Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

#5

Post by andresvi »

“Get answers from people you know!” Is the first thing that sticks out from your site ...What problem is this solving? Isn't this why we use e-mail for? Those were questions I asked myself when I first looked at your site... After reading on I got to the ACTUAL point of your site… what is: neatly organized community knowledge base. So in my opinion you need to emphasize this part more…or even change those two sentences. I am just afraid that lot of people won’t read on if their first impression is same that I had…

All the best to you

Your idea isn’t bad at all.

a guy from Estonia.

Re: Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

#6

Post by shaunxcode »

Maybe make another way of browsing on-going topics/articles other than by searching. I tried a few keywords and couldn't get any results so I gave up. If I had been able to click through a menu or what not to find "most active" or by category I would have spent more time and had the opportunity to see your product "in action".

Re: Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

#7

Post by shawndrost »

andresvi wrote: post #5

“Get answers from people you know!” Is the first thing that sticks out from your site ...What problem is this solving? Isn't this why we use e-mail for? Those were questions I asked myself when I first looked at your site... After reading on I got to the ACTUAL point of your site… what is: neatly organized community knowledge base. So in my opinion you need to emphasize this part more…or even change those two sentenc…

"change those two sentences" -- I concur. I would change your pitch to something like "build a knowledge base for your organization". Also, the name.

Re: Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

#8

Post by shawndrost »

How about allowing an email user interface? If I cc q+myOrganizationName@askurpals.com it'll automatically save the email (and all subsequent replies) to askurpals.com/org/myOrganizationName. That way I don't have to change my routine, or get my coworkers to change their routine.

Re: Ask YC: Feedback on my new project http://www.askurpals.com

#9

Post by shawndrost »

sark wrote: post #3
nextmoveone wrote: post #2

I honestly think your application could leverage facebooks userbase to gain traction. But then the problem of monetization becomes a lot larger. If you dont want to do that, let me import my gmail contacts or yahoo contacts and pick them, then have their email responses threaded. or dont make them log in to answer, just let them click a link and enter the answer.

Thanks for your suggestion. I'm not too worried about monetization right now. Do you mean I should create some sort of Facebook widget to link to my site or just try to get the word out on the facebook?

If you make a facebook app, you can piggyback off their friend list (=address book) to make things easier for your users.
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