Ask HN: How would you launch a Social media payments platform

#1

Post by djaygour » Thu, Nov 07, 2024, 5:06 PM UTC

Hey HN

I'm building a social commerce payments platform called KuwaPay that will allow users you shop directly from social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. So I made an MVP, it's a link to a checkout page where customers can buy products in a few clicks and brands can use that in their ads or stories and highlights.

First, how do social media platforms like Instagram and others allow me to integrate my payments app on their platform? And what other feature you as a buyer or seller would like to use in it? Shopping through social media (social commerce) is a big opportunity in the next few years as I have tried to make an Instagram store. I am building on the problems I faced as a seller and buyer.

Share your thoughts on this. Your advice would help me a lot thank you.

Re: Ask HN: How would you launch a Social media payments platform

#2

Post by jschveibinz » Thu, Nov 07, 2024, 8:23 PM UTC

Advice:

1. You built something but it’s not an MVP. It's an early prototype. There will be more before you get to an MVP.

2. You need to research your target social media application fully to understand the requirements for your product. Talk to them. Research them online. Read about developing with their platform. Understand the limitations and permissions for doing what you intend to do.

3. Talk to users of the target social media platform. How do they do business? How might you provide value to them?

4. Compare your concept to other payment platforms: PayPal, credit cards, Apple Pay, Square, etc. How is your product different? How is it more valuable to the customer?

5. When you have answers to all of these questions and you have analyzed all of the research data, THEN you will have enough information to decide if you go to the next step which is building a set of requirements that will then drive the development of a MVP.

Good luck and be well.

Re: Ask HN: How would you launch a Social media payments platform

#3

Post by djaygour » Fri, Nov 08, 2024, 5:12 AM UTC

jschveibinz wrote: post #2

Advice: 1. You built something but it’s not an MVP. It's an early prototype. There will be more before you get to an MVP. 2. You need to research your target social media application fully to understand the requirements for your product. Talk to them. Research them online. Read about developing with their platform. Understand the limitations and permissions for doing what you intend to do. 3. Talk to users of the tar…

Hey, Thanks for your advice. Now I am talking to users, and businesses and getting valuable data. But Instagram and other social media platforms may not be allowed to use my payment services on their platform. So I can tackle this?

Re: Ask HN: How would you launch a Social media payments platform

#4

Post by djaygour » Fri, Nov 08, 2024, 5:19 AM UTC

jschveibinz wrote: post #2

Advice: 1. You built something but it’s not an MVP. It's an early prototype. There will be more before you get to an MVP. 2. You need to research your target social media application fully to understand the requirements for your product. Talk to them. Research them online. Read about developing with their platform. Understand the limitations and permissions for doing what you intend to do. 3. Talk to users of the tar…

Here is the first product which I made. Here's how it works:

1. A customer finds brand's ad or story and clicks on the link.

2. They're redirected to a checkout page, where they fill in their details and click 'Buy Now'.

3. Next, they're redirected to PhonePe to complete the payment using their preferred method.

4. After payment, the customer is redirected to a feedback page.

5. Once payment is confirmed, you receive an order confirmation email with all order details, enabling you to fulfill the order.

Re: Ask HN: How would you launch a Social media payments platform

#5

Post by djaygour » Fri, Nov 08, 2024, 6:13 AM UTC

djaygour wrote: post #3

jschveibinz wrote: post #2

Advice: 1. You built something but it’s not an MVP. It's an early prototype. There will be more before you get to an MVP. 2. You need to research your target social media application fully to understand the requirements for your product. Talk to them. Research them online. Read about developing with their platform. Understand the limitations and permissions for doing what you intend to do. 3. Talk to users of the tar…

Hey, Thanks for your advice. Now I am talking to users, and businesses and getting valuable data. But Instagram and other social media platforms may not be allowed to use my payment services on their platform. So I can tackle this?

How I can talk with social media platforms for this?

Re: Ask HN: How would you launch a Social media payments platform

#6

Post by jschveibinz » Thu, Nov 21, 2024, 5:15 AM UTC

djaygour wrote: post #3

jschveibinz wrote: post #2

Advice: 1. You built something but it’s not an MVP. It's an early prototype. There will be more before you get to an MVP. 2. You need to research your target social media application fully to understand the requirements for your product. Talk to them. Research them online. Read about developing with their platform. Understand the limitations and permissions for doing what you intend to do. 3. Talk to users of the tar…

Hey, Thanks for your advice. Now I am talking to users, and businesses and getting valuable data. But Instagram and other social media platforms may not be allowed to use my payment services on their platform. So I can tackle this?

You're welcome, glad I could assist. Find ways to talk with people who already work with Instagram, etc. to find ways to learn more and make connections with the company. They may have a developer program that you can contact. Good luck and keep going.