Privacy-centric spins on existing apps
I just found YouMail, an app which provides voicemail and receptionist services. Its exactly what I want!
EXCEPT.. their privacy policy talks about them capturing your data for selling off to ad networks.
Instantly, I don't want this app. I know every app is selling my data.
Do you think being "privacy focused" is a good spin on existing, validated ideas, to help you compete?
It might be worth looking at the marketing for services that tout privacy. They seem to focus pretty heavily on privacy being just a facet of their service, with usability being king.
Signal (the chat app), ostensibly has an explicit focus on communication privacy. They use quotes from people with an intense need for privacy (CEOs, whistleblowers) about why they trust Signal. But they also focus heavily on features - the screenshots show pretty modern chat features (stickers, typing presence, emoji, inbox, pictures, etc). And this is all right at the top, above the quotes.
The email client Hey takes a different approach, since they offer privacy features but don't center their message around privacy. The premise of their marketing is that they give you control of your email inbox. Privacy (deleting trackers, etc) is just a facet of it.
I see some tailwinds around the user not being the product. Check Neeva the google search engine without ads. I am a beta tester so if you have any questions let me know. There is also Vero (fb no ads) and many others.