How to attract users for a social platform requiring offline meetups ?
Hi guys !
My first post on IH =D !
I just launched my product yesterday (https://www.SewaYou.com) and feeling really excited about it! It tooked me around 6months to build it (learning a new framework/language takes time..!) while having a 9 to 5 full time job and being the only person building it.
So basically my product is a social platform Web App, connecting local people who are willing to help foreigners in need of translation/interpretation, and in exchange they can practice the foreigner's language.
It can be used offline (creating an announcement, pin a localization and get contacted by other users in their neighborhood) as well as online (chatting with people, asking languages related questions etc..).
I'm currently based in Tokyo, so I guess that the first step to get users and make them help each other in real life, is to promote my product directly to Japanese people and foreigners living in Tokyo/Japan.
But how do I do that ? Because it's still a young platform, users might be afraid of getting out there to meet some strangers...and meeting someone offline is really time consuming !
At the same time, should I also put a lot of effort to promote my product worldwide and not only focusing on Japan ? Or focusing in Japan and then promote it once it gets some traction ?
Also, I appreciate any feedbacks (features, design, UI/UX etc...) related to my product (https://www.SewaYou.com) =)
Thank you very much !
PS: I know that you'll ask, but a localized version (English/Japanese) is planned to be released !
I'd say focus on one location first. Seeing you are based in Tokyo: start there! Change your copy to reflect this.
By keeping it small like this, it's easier to target your audience and it's also easier to rank for these words. Think: what do people search for when in such situation.
Another advantage is, since you are based there you can/must do most of the initial meet ups yourself.
Only when you have one location running on its own, you can go explore other locations. Good luck!
Thanks for your feedback ! Yeah I guess I should start within my city by going out and talk directly to people ! :)
Congrats on launching.
I'd like to share an insight I learned from my business coach: do things that don't scale at the start. (The same concept is explained in a blog by Paul Graham, the YC founder.)
This means it is better to start promoting your product to your own network.
You probably know someone who needs the service provided by SewaYou. How about starting with these people? Work hard to make them really like your product, so they will invite their friends to use your product. Take their feedback seriously.
If there are not enough people, try to dive into local communities (either online or offline), and talk to your potential customers. Understanding their needs important.
I am sharing this because I am in similar situation. Good luck!
" Work hard to make them really like your product, so they will invite their friends to use your product." I really love this !!!
Yep, doing things that don't scale is the most efficient at the beginning, thanks !
I would suggest you to try social media channels. For example instagram works best in that case. You may use ingramer.com to attract audience before you start meetup. The best about this tool, it can engage with target audience you are looking for.
All the best!
I didn't know that, thanks for your sharing !
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