How's my pitch?
Hello fello hackers,
My plan today is to hit the streets, and try and get some face to face feedback on the first version of my app from potential customers. I have decided that my beach head market are young travelers, before, during and after vacation. So I'm heading to the local hostels and hotels here in Dublin to see, if I can't entice a few people to try the app and get some feedback.
Wondering if anyone has done this kind of thing before, any advice?
Here's what I plan to say:
I am a mobile app developer and I've been working on this new app, which is a platform for organizing pictures, and allows you to make immerse experiences around them.
I have a basic version of the app available in the Play Store for Android phones, and I'm trying to do some market research to find out what people tend to do with their favorite pictures once they've taken them, and also get first impressions about this version of the app.
Cheers!
From the pitch I have no idea what the app is doing, apart that it's somehow linked to pictures, and neither does the pitch make me curious enough to try it.
Now it sounds too much like a marketing attempt and you try too much to explain "why" you want their feedback. I would rather just quickly explain what the app is about and then ask if they have the time to provide some feedback.
Cheers XCS, might write another post on how to went today, plans pretty much went out the window at first, but after a few visits, started getting some really positive feedback and new insights, so glad I did it!
I'd add [friendly greeting] and "can I ask you some questions about a mobile app I'm working on". That sets expectations and let's people know this is not panhandling or sales.
You might also check in with the hostels front desk just so they know you're not harassing customers. They might also have good insight.
Great advice Lakebed_io, that's pretty much how it went, I didn't go out today with a plan to get X number of users, just to get out of my comfort zone, get some initial impressions, and to hopefully get some hotel managers on board with allowing me to speak to customers on their premises. Ended up getting tonnes of feedback :)
Really good to hear! Comfort zone is hard and even just identifying your own comfort zone and getting outside it is a massive win. Can't say I'm great at identifying the edge of my own.
So, using Lean Startup, what assumptions have you confirmed or debunked? What is your next build, measure, learn loop?
Great point. I'm closer to confirmation, although I'm not there yet. A couple of problems. The folks that I spoke to today were not from my target demographic but I wanted to speak to some hotels first, to introduce myself, and to confirm that they wouldn't mind me speaking to their guests, which I think I achieved.
My value hypothesis is 2 parts, first that people are interested in new ways to rediscover old photos but also that they are willing to download a new app. I have made a few strides towards the first goal but not the second.
Something I just remembered is an idea I had a while back. A web app that you provide permissions to your social media, it then grabs a random photo once a month, prints it, and mail's it to you. As a way to "keep and enjoy the photos that get lost in the digital pile".
I do hear from people regret about not looking at or enjoying their photos as much. So I suspect you are onto something. Just a matter of refining the offering, targeting the right market, and monetizing. Simple really...
Small steps forward. You didn't take 2 steps forward but you did take 1 and forward is always better than backwards.
Good luck!
Didn't get an idea what’s the value of using it. When you are pitching you need to deliver real values very quickly. Focus on values, not on your software
Think also about you probably having had 10's to several 100's of views here and no one's the wiser about what your thing does..
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Cheers for the feedback csabaxyz! yes that was a typo in immersive. I imagine people will be super reluctant to install the app, that why I'll I have it installed on my phone and will just ask people if they want to try it.. That also why my pitch is short on details, I'm hoping people will think - "what's immersive?", and give me a moment of their time to try the app (on my phone). That the plan anyway!
You should have a thing communicated in 10 words or less, not have people guessing...
You might get people to have a look just out of agreeableness, bordem or your charisma..
Dressing like them might help as well..
Good luck