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Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

groovehq.com

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Re: Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

#31

Post by alexmturnbull »

alexbardas wrote: post #15

Great post, really made me take a deeper look into the product. I wasn't disturbed by the short video which explains most / all the features, but I can see the need of also having them as separate web pages (also useful for SEO). My main concern is that there is no free version at all, even for smaller teams / startups (1-2 members) and I don't know if it's possible to import data from other customer support SAAS.

Glad you enjoyed the post! re: free version-We have a 14 day free trial and are always willing to work with other startups on price. Ping me at alex@groovehq.com and we chat more...

Re: Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

#32

Post by latj »

crazygringo wrote: post #25
patmcc wrote: post #2

You know, I skimmed the article and liked it, and thought "hey, I'll check out GrooveHQ.com, see what their deal is" since I haven't heard of them before. And I get to a page where the only way to learn more is to watch a video. Instant turnoff. I'm in a quiet place, I don't want to make noise or plug my headphones in just to have any idea what it is you actually do. Please consider that people might want to read som…

Agree 1000%. Aside from the extra time playing a video takes (far slower than reading), I wouldn't be suprised if more than half of web users, at any time, are unable to listen to audio. At work, or on cell phone, it's not like a majority of people have headphones plugged in. Do the numbers show that videos are so much more effective for engagement and conversion, that it trumps all the people who are unable to watch…

I didnt get that far. I was just starting to read the home page when I got the horrible modal asking if I want to learn how to make $30k in a month and cancel link "No I dont want to grow my business". This page is somewhere between tasteless and sleazy.

Re: Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

#33

Post by diminish »

alexmturnbull wrote: post #26
probablyfiction wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Too often on HN, a "How My Company Did X" post doesn't include how Company actually performed X. They're typically generalized stories about platitudes. Kudos to Groove for following through with a concrete series of steps they performed that helped them accomplish their goal.

Thanks! We promised to bare it all :)

How many extra customers would being number 1 on HN bring? Would love to hear if you ve got such a number.

Re: Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

#35

Post by Ruska »

bbwharris wrote: post #11
patmcc wrote: post #2

You know, I skimmed the article and liked it, and thought "hey, I'll check out GrooveHQ.com, see what their deal is" since I haven't heard of them before. And I get to a page where the only way to learn more is to watch a video. Instant turnoff. I'm in a quiet place, I don't want to make noise or plug my headphones in just to have any idea what it is you actually do. Please consider that people might want to read som…

I've said this before, but they wouldn't do it if it didn't work. Just google "video engagement vs. text engagement". It really does increase conversions and alleviates a lot of confusion. It doesn't excuse the need for descriptive text, but rather complements any online offering. Seeing is believing. I agree with this sentiment, I too avoid video, but it is a very easily digestible format for a lot of people. Think…

That's their choice, obviously. I hate being forced to watch a video, and when I land on a page that only has video content I leave.

Re: Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

#36

Post by alexmturnbull »

diminish wrote: post #33
alexmturnbull wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! We promised to bare it all :)

How many extra customers would being number 1 on HN bring? Would love to hear if you ve got such a number.

Post coming up very soon about that affect :)

Re: Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

#37

Post by beambot »

diminish wrote: post #33
alexmturnbull wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! We promised to bare it all :)

How many extra customers would being number 1 on HN bring? Would love to hear if you ve got such a number.

It really depends on the product and the article content. When Lollipuff (women's fashion) was at the top of HN for "Our YC Application", we had very few real signups -- but lots of pageviews and time on site.

Having read the Groove blog post... I still have no clue what it is they do. Just putting a simple one-liner in the blog post may have improved conversions significantly.

EDIT: If the author of the article is listening... What Groove does is at least as important as your bio at the end of the article. Put something in the post. Or in the sidebar. Or somewhere!

Re: Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

#38

Post by alexmturnbull »

beambot wrote: post #37
diminish wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How many extra customers would being number 1 on HN bring? Would love to hear if you ve got such a number.

It really depends on the product and the article content. When Lollipuff (women's fashion) was at the top of HN for "Our YC Application", we had very few real signups -- but lots of pageviews and time on site. Having read the Groove blog post... I still have no clue what it is they do. Just putting a simple one-liner in the blog post may have improved conversions significantly. EDIT: If the author of the article is l…

Love this feedback :) Thanks so much for sharing. We try hard not to promote the product on our blog, having said that I think a simple 1 liner in the bio about the app would do well.

Thanks again, Alex

Re: Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

#39

Post by zipppy »

latj wrote: post #32
crazygringo wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree 1000%. Aside from the extra time playing a video takes (far slower than reading), I wouldn't be suprised if more than half of web users, at any time, are unable to listen to audio. At work, or on cell phone, it's not like a majority of people have headphones plugged in. Do the numbers show that videos are so much more effective for engagement and conversion, that it trumps all the people who are unable to watch…

I didnt get that far. I was just starting to read the home page when I got the horrible modal asking if I want to learn how to make $30k in a month and cancel link "No I dont want to grow my business". This page is somewhere between tasteless and sleazy.

Agreed. I abhor popups of any kind as it is, but to present the false choice that a user either [will subscribe to what you're offering] or [doesn't care about improving] makes me put on my "really?" face.

edit: Same with the free trial offer. The no option says "No, I like to pay for trials". I'm not choosing whether to pay for a free trial or not, I'm choosing whether to participate in a free trial or not. Ugh.

Re: Lessons Learned Going from Zero to $30k/Month in a Year

#40

Post by bbwharris »

Ruska wrote: post #35
bbwharris wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've said this before, but they wouldn't do it if it didn't work. Just google "video engagement vs. text engagement". It really does increase conversions and alleviates a lot of confusion. It doesn't excuse the need for descriptive text, but rather complements any online offering. Seeing is believing. I agree with this sentiment, I too avoid video, but it is a very easily digestible format for a lot of people. Think…

That's their choice, obviously. I hate being forced to watch a video, and when I land on a page that only has video content I leave.

I used to do that too. Now I squash my overwhelming desire to leave and I give it a shot. Almost everytime, I leave with a much better understanding of the product.
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