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I've spent quite a bit of time on your site today and I have put together some thoughts below based on that experience, plus my experience starting Whinot and finally my experience working with other entrepreneurs in your same situation.
I think your bigger issue at this point is probably around converting the existing traffic that comes to your site instead of spreading the word about your service. If you had 10,000 visitors tomorrow, would you be ready for them? Or do you want to make your service even more awesome before you worry about that?
When I first got to the site, I was not sure what Kumbuya was for a good 10 - 15 minutes. If I didn't have an interest in figuring it out (to help here), then I would have bounced off the home page pretty quickly. To encourage a more awesome experience for your existing users, focus on these three things:
These three things will give users a reason to join Kumbuya. Once you have made a small group of people very happy, then you can worry about driving a lot of traffic to the site.
Your focus should be on quality of a few first and worry about quantity later.
I think your bigger issue at this point is probably around converting the existing traffic that comes to your site instead of spreading the word about your service. If you had 10,000 visitors tomorrow, would you be ready for them? Or do you want to make your service even more awesome before you worry about that?
When I first got to the site, I was not sure what Kumbuya was for a good 10 - 15 minutes. If I didn't have an interest in figuring it out (to help here), then I would have bounced off the home page pretty quickly. To encourage a more awesome experience for your existing users, focus on these three things:
- Make it more clear what exactly Kumbuya is. Shorten that long paragraph of light grey text and make it more clear.
- Make it easier to see examples of the current "wants" on the site. You give examples of running a marathon and stuff, but I don't actually see a "want" anywhere. If you made the logo smaller, you would have a ton of real estate to use for this.
- Show a couple wants which have been successfully met. Early on you are going to have to do that the hard way (aka asking your friends and family). You have to show the complete cycle of a business meeting a 'want'. Right now it looks like all the wants are still open with not a lot of traction.
These three things will give users a reason to join Kumbuya. Once you have made a small group of people very happy, then you can worry about driving a lot of traffic to the site.
Your focus should be on quality of a few first and worry about quantity later.
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Heather McDonough advised on 10 Feb 2012
Business Counselor at Virginia Department of Business Assistance
As someone who had never seen the site before, I agree that there needs to be a more clear explanation of what exactly the site will accomplish. It seems to me that it is like a cross between Kickstarter and sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, but I'm not exactly sure. And I don't know how I feel about logging in with Facebook just to find out.
Maybe you could put together a quick video with screenshots that shows the typical deal or want process (kind of like a whiteboard video).
I love the concept of using social media and the deal site format to help people, charities, etc. I'd like to know more specifics about how, exactly, Kumbaya does that. Maybe a few testimonials from users, charities or businesses who have benefitted and what the site has done for them.
Maybe you could put together a quick video with screenshots that shows the typical deal or want process (kind of like a whiteboard video).
I love the concept of using social media and the deal site format to help people, charities, etc. I'd like to know more specifics about how, exactly, Kumbaya does that. Maybe a few testimonials from users, charities or businesses who have benefitted and what the site has done for them.
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Hi Joshura :) Unless you will find a way to explain better and faster what Kumbuya is (I still don't really get it) any traffic you bring to the site will be totally lost. None of the interested early adopters will visit your site again if they are confused during the first visit.
I totally agree with Kyle's advice regarding improving 'pitch' side of the website. In the same time I have the feeling that due to the complexity and uniqueness of the service changing the pitch will not be enough.
The whole model is confusing. It seams like people can want anything, anywhere. There is no clear indication what 'wanting it too' really means and how entering a desire to the system will make it a reality.
So I don't think spreading the word about your start-up is an issue at the moment. It's the value of the service, clarity and simplicity of it and also successful solving of peoples problems which will make the difference. If you don't address those issues first you will loose visitors within few seconds as shown here: www.tellmeyoudidnt.com
I totally agree with Kyle's advice regarding improving 'pitch' side of the website. In the same time I have the feeling that due to the complexity and uniqueness of the service changing the pitch will not be enough.
The whole model is confusing. It seams like people can want anything, anywhere. There is no clear indication what 'wanting it too' really means and how entering a desire to the system will make it a reality.
So I don't think spreading the word about your start-up is an issue at the moment. It's the value of the service, clarity and simplicity of it and also successful solving of peoples problems which will make the difference. If you don't address those issues first you will loose visitors within few seconds as shown here: www.tellmeyoudidnt.com
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Heather McDonough advised 3 months ago
As someone who had never seen the site before, I agree that ...
As someone who had never seen the site before, I agree that ...
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