Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Startup with no direction seeking for guidance

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–18 of 18 posts

Re: Startup with no direction seeking for guidance

#11

Post by daerty0153 »

At times, just coding might not be enough to get your startup at the expected presence.

In my opinion, what you need is to first gain some insights on

- how to build online presence

- User experience

Ex: By having a first look at your site, it is not directly visible what your site exactly does. Then I looked for About link (for which I had to scroll down to bottom right)

There's a lot of data available on the net which you can use to improve in these areas. I would suggest instead of recoding and loading the site with extra features, if you are satisfied with current functionality, then try to build online presence first.(You may start with getting more likes for your facebook page)

Re: Startup with no direction seeking for guidance

#13

Post by aantix »

xtnzt19 wrote: post #10
manuletroll wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well in any case I have a hard time imagining that the framework you're using is really the cause of your main problem, the lack of users.

Sorry, but I didn't say nor even think that it's the cause of my main problem.

You state : >I don't know if the idea was wrong.

And then you state that you're going to rewrite, implying as if the rewrite is going to help.

I'll save you the rewrite; it's not going to help your lack of users.

At the very least you have a marketing/lack of awareness problem, at most you have a shitty idea problem. None of which have anything to do with the technology stack you're using.

Re: Startup with no direction seeking for guidance

#14

Post by keenahn »

Sounds like a classic case-study for Lean Startup methodologies.

Why did you sink 6 months into this without knowing if people actually wanted it?

Stop coding. Now. Go out and talk to your potential customers. What problem are you solving? How are people solving it now?

Best of luck, and hopefully this can be salvaged, or else it is a learning experience for next time.

Re: Startup with no direction seeking for guidance

#16

Post by xtnzt19 »

daerty0153 wrote: post #11

At times, just coding might not be enough to get your startup at the expected presence. In my opinion, what you need is to first gain some insights on - how to build online presence - User experience Ex: By having a first look at your site, it is not directly visible what your site exactly does. Then I looked for About link (for which I had to scroll down to bottom right) There's a lot of data available on the net wh…

Thanks for this. I'll take a look at those areas. Though I'm wanting more functionalities, will it be okay if I gather likes for the facebook page even though the functionalities I wanted are not yet implemented? (e.g. first impression of the site's current functionalities can make a visitor like/dislike the site)

Re: Startup with no direction seeking for guidance

#18

Post by daerty0153 »

xtnzt19 wrote: post #16
daerty0153 wrote: post #11

At times, just coding might not be enough to get your startup at the expected presence. In my opinion, what you need is to first gain some insights on - how to build online presence - User experience Ex: By having a first look at your site, it is not directly visible what your site exactly does. Then I looked for About link (for which I had to scroll down to bottom right) There's a lot of data available on the net wh…

Thanks for this. I'll take a look at those areas. Though I'm wanting more functionalities, will it be okay if I gather likes for the facebook page even though the functionalities I wanted are not yet implemented? (e.g. first impression of the site's current functionalities can make a visitor like/dislike the site)

I think it would be okay to create a 'Site new version coming very soon' landing page and take the main site down as you work on it. But main and the most difficult target would be letting users know what your site exactly does, how easy it is, how different it is: all of them without showing the actual site! ( maybe some simple text on landing page, and mostly through well drafted text publicity on social networks ).

Show users before adding the functionality that they actually need it.( that it was inherent). If you are able to do this correctly, then you could get yourself a good fanbase.

Basically, I would suggest to improve on promotional strategies before starting coding again (after a landing page). And also keep a clear view on how are you going to generate income( if you want to call yourself a startup :) )

Post reply on HN