Comments on: How To Make BuyersVote.com Easier To Use (With Pictures) http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/ How to Quit Your Job and Start Your Own Business Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:09:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Brian Armstrong http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-2342 Brian Armstrong Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:31:17 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/#comment-2342 Yep, personal preference I guess. i know photoshop, but still find it gets in the way...pen and paper gives me the most creative freedom. Thanks! Yep, personal preference I guess. i know photoshop, but still find it gets in the way…pen and paper gives me the most creative freedom. Thanks!

]]> By: College Town Menus (CTM) http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-2328 College Town Menus (CTM) Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:46:25 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/#comment-2328 I like how you physically draw out everything before coding and software design. I have a hard time doing just that, I think its easier for me to do the software design (PPT or Photoshop) because I can easily rearrange everything and not waste so much paper with errors. Regardless, it's neat seeing how you can envision an idea/design and actually make it look and work exactly how you envisioned. I like how you physically draw out everything before coding and software design. I have a hard time doing just that, I think its easier for me to do the software design (PPT or Photoshop) because I can easily rearrange everything and not waste so much paper with errors. Regardless, it’s neat seeing how you can envision an idea/design and actually make it look and work exactly how you envisioned.

]]> By: Brian Armstrong http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-2145 Brian Armstrong Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:17:52 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/#comment-2145 Hey Chuck, yep great idea. I agree...i think part of the reason I find myself wanting to redesign it is that its not easy for my to sit down and add a ton of categories any time I stumble across something I want to add. Once I get it right I'd love to add a ton of content. I guess that's a good thing in itself, since I´m a regular user of the site I understand the target market :) Once I get the interface where I'm happy with it, I'll add a bunch of stuff. Hey Chuck, yep great idea. I agree…i think part of the reason I find myself wanting to redesign it is that its not easy for my to sit down and add a ton of categories any time I stumble across something I want to add. Once I get it right I’d love to add a ton of content.

I guess that’s a good thing in itself, since I´m a regular user of the site I understand the target market :)

Once I get the interface where I’m happy with it, I’ll add a bunch of stuff.

]]> By: Brian Armstrong http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-2144 Brian Armstrong Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:10:53 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/#comment-2144 Hey Gordie, cool I assume you got he recommendation from Tim Ferriss as well? Its a great book. I haven't decided entirely on the geo location yet either. It could all be done with tags, or people could use the optional location field I added. It probably shouldn't be asked for up front though. Thanks! Hey Gordie, cool I assume you got he recommendation from Tim Ferriss as well? Its a great book.

I haven’t decided entirely on the geo location yet either. It could all be done with tags, or people could use the optional location field I added. It probably shouldn’t be asked for up front though. Thanks!

]]> By: Chuck Cohn http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-2142 Chuck Cohn Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:42:53 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/#comment-2142 Brian, I've given this some thought and believe you need categories. The web is littered with companies that have lots of content but poor organization and thus make poor resources. The above post mostly references the *posting* of content. The value of the site is as a resource. So while you want to make it easy for people to post, it needs to be easy for people to find the topic that they're looking for. The fundamental issue I have with the site right now (and any new user generated site) is the lack of content. If there were 100 categories already on the site, I would be more likely to post - as you pointed out, there is a psychological block to a user creating a new category. As a way to ramp of the usefulness of the website and gain some traction that will encourage other users to participate, I believe you need to sit down (or have a virtual Indian Assistant sit down) and post 200 categories and 1-2 posts per category. As an individual user, it is hard to motivate yourself to post when there is so little other content - even though I know you're behind the company, Brian, and I have faith in your vision, it seems as if it may not go anywhere due to the sheer lack of content. Users who don't know you probably feel this way to a much greater extent. I think that taking a couple of days and posting a ton of reviews yourself will help the site catch on. Regards, Chuck Cohn Brian,

I’ve given this some thought and believe you need categories. The web is littered with companies that have lots of content but poor organization and thus make poor resources. The above post mostly references the *posting* of content. The value of the site is as a resource. So while you want to make it easy for people to post, it needs to be easy for people to find the topic that they’re looking for.

The fundamental issue I have with the site right now (and any new user generated site) is the lack of content. If there were 100 categories already on the site, I would be more likely to post – as you pointed out, there is a psychological block to a user creating a new category.

As a way to ramp of the usefulness of the website and gain some traction that will encourage other users to participate, I believe you need to sit down (or have a virtual Indian Assistant sit down) and post 200 categories and 1-2 posts per category. As an individual user, it is hard to motivate yourself to post when there is so little other content – even though I know you’re behind the company, Brian, and I have faith in your vision, it seems as if it may not go anywhere due to the sheer lack of content. Users who don’t know you probably feel this way to a much greater extent. I think that taking a couple of days and posting a ton of reviews yourself will help the site catch on.

Regards,

Chuck Cohn

]]> By: Gordie Rogers http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-2140 Gordie Rogers Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:45:31 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/#comment-2140 Hi Brian, What a coincidence. I just finished reading "The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing" two days ago. Awesome book, though I think they may be due for a new edition as a few of the examples are out of date. e.g. Donald Trump is back on top and richer than ever now and it makes it sound like "New Coke" is still around. However, a great book on marketing worth reading still. I'm looking forward to you revamping Buyers Vote. How will the geographical difference issue be dealt with? Will the geographical location just be a category determined by people putting it in as a tag or what? Keep up the good work. Your posts are a good combination of practical and inspiring. Gordie. Hi Brian,

What a coincidence. I just finished reading “The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing” two days ago. Awesome book, though I think they may be due for a new edition as a few of the examples are out of date. e.g. Donald Trump is back on top and richer than ever now and it makes it sound like “New Coke” is still around. However, a great book on marketing worth reading still.

I’m looking forward to you revamping Buyers Vote. How will the geographical difference issue be dealt with? Will the geographical location just be a category determined by people putting it in as a tag or what?

Keep up the good work. Your posts are a good combination of practical and inspiring.

Gordie.

]]> By: Brian Armstrong http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-2135 Brian Armstrong Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:16:42 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/#comment-2135 I realized it's probably unclear from my drawing, but the category field is a text field, not pull down, sorry bout that :) I realized it’s probably unclear from my drawing, but the category field is a text field, not pull down, sorry bout that :)

]]> By: Brian Armstrong http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-2134 Brian Armstrong Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:13:48 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/#comment-2134 Hi Tori, thanks for the comment. There are no predefined categories. It's open ended so you could pick anything you want. Good idea allowing people to only add one item and delaying the captcha. Hi Tori, thanks for the comment. There are no predefined categories. It’s open ended so you could pick anything you want. Good idea allowing people to only add one item and delaying the captcha.

]]> By: Tori http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/comment-page-1/#comment-2132 Tori Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:17:19 +0000 http://www.startbreakingfree.com/967/how-to-make-buyersvote-com-easier-to-use-with-pictures/#comment-2132 Hi Brian, Some quick thoughts on your 1st image... 1)So, the user picks from pre-defined categories, yes? How long do you anticipate that list being? 2)I add multiple items to review at once? If so, then I'm not sure I think that matches typical behavior...I'm probably only thinking about one thing I want to review at a time, no? 3)As for the captcha prior to creation, I'd consider delaying it, until after the review has been written and ready to post. The more the user has invested, the more likely they are to plow through the tiresome bits. :) Hi Brian,

Some quick thoughts on your 1st image…

1)So, the user picks from pre-defined categories, yes? How long do you anticipate that list being?

2)I add multiple items to review at once? If so, then I’m not sure I think that matches typical behavior…I’m probably only thinking about one thing I want to review at a time, no?

3)As for the captcha prior to creation, I’d consider delaying it, until after the review has been written and ready to post. The more the user has invested, the more likely they are to plow through the tiresome bits. :)

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