Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#1

Post by glen » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 6:34 PM UTC

We just finished up our marketing video and would love some feedback from the community. We've showed it to about 25 people so far and have received some solid criticism.

You can find it at www.nixty.com. Just click on the button that says "Catch the NIXTY vision".

Our specific questions are:

1. How do you feel at the end of the video?

2. Would you take the next step and explore the site?

3. Would you sign-up?

4. What don't you like?

You'll notice that there aren't specifics yet as to what the service will offer. We can't really disclose too much yet, but will in the near future. Our goals are to: 1. Show the big picture 2. Be open and welcoming 3. Encourage people to join us.

Thanks for taking the time to check it out.

Re: Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#2

Post by utnick » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 6:40 PM UTC

Pros: I like the background music.. video makes me feel happy for some reason

Cons: No specifics = no reason for me to sign up.

Re: Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#3

Post by glen » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 7:03 PM UTC

utnick wrote: post #2

Pros: I like the background music.. video makes me feel happy for some reason Cons: No specifics = no reason for me to sign up.

Excellent. Thank you. We will be addressing the specifics very soon.

Re: Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#4

Post by rms » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 7:05 PM UTC

I'm partway through the video and I got bored, I would have much rather read your mission statement. You aren't taking advantage of the video format. No one really makes straight flash GUI videos with scrolling text anymore.

I would have preferred 1 minute where you have a voiceover actor explain your mission, then 2 minutes where you go through the product. There's a web 2.0 marketplace where you can hire voiceover actors cheaply, or do it yourself. If you really can't talk about the product, I would still recommend having a voice talking about the mission.

Re: Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#5

Post by glen » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 7:10 PM UTC

rms wrote: post #4

I'm partway through the video and I got bored, I would have much rather read your mission statement. You aren't taking advantage of the video format. No one really makes straight flash GUI videos with scrolling text anymore. I would have preferred 1 minute where you have a voiceover actor explain your mission, then 2 minutes where you go through the product. There's a web 2.0 marketplace where you can hire voiceover…

Thanks for the feedback. I'm bummed that you were bored, but that is good to know.

We can definitely talk about the product. It is actually pretty compelling, so I think that would be pretty easy to do. I thought about doing something like that for the elevator pitch thing on TechCrunch.

Re: Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#6

Post by rms » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 7:12 PM UTC

glen wrote: post #5

rms wrote: post #4

I'm partway through the video and I got bored, I would have much rather read your mission statement. You aren't taking advantage of the video format. No one really makes straight flash GUI videos with scrolling text anymore. I would have preferred 1 minute where you have a voiceover actor explain your mission, then 2 minutes where you go through the product. There's a web 2.0 marketplace where you can hire voiceover…

Thanks for the feedback. I'm bummed that you were bored, but that is good to know. We can definitely talk about the product. It is actually pretty compelling, so I think that would be pretty easy to do. I thought about doing something like that for the elevator pitch thing on TechCrunch.

> I'm bummed that you were bored, but that is good to know.

I read fast so fixed speed text makes me uncomfortable...

Re: Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#7

Post by glen » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 7:15 PM UTC

rms wrote: post #6

glen wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm bummed that you were bored, but that is good to know. We can definitely talk about the product. It is actually pretty compelling, so I think that would be pretty easy to do. I thought about doing something like that for the elevator pitch thing on TechCrunch.

> I'm bummed that you were bored, but that is good to know. I read fast so fixed speed text makes me uncomfortable...

We thought about speeding it up quite a bit. 2 people have commented that it too slow. With you, I'd put 3 in that camp.

Re: Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#8

Post by sharp » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 7:16 PM UTC

1) good - it's a vaguely uplifting vid 2) yes - it isn't asking me for anything & makes me curious to hear more 3) I'd need more specifics as utnick mentioned 4) minor irritation when the soundtrack loop starts, and there's no clear signal that the presentation is over.

Re: Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#9

Post by glen » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 7:18 PM UTC

sharp wrote: post #8

1) good - it's a vaguely uplifting vid 2) yes - it isn't asking me for anything & makes me curious to hear more 3) I'd need more specifics as utnick mentioned 4) minor irritation when the soundtrack loop starts, and there's no clear signal that the presentation is over.

Thanks for the feedback and for answering the questions. I appreciate it. Snap. I thought we had fixed the ending. It should just stop and then fade out.

Re: Ask YC: Do you like our overview video?

#10

Post by jakewolf » Sun, Jul 06, 2008, 7:19 PM UTC

I started disagreeing with the video right at the beginning, "there are too many of us." Also questioned the numbers you used 600 something students/educator.