Show IH: Yspott a marketplace for parking spots ( go at it, I need your critique)
Sup guys,
I've been working on this for a while now. Yspott is a marketplace for parking spots. Designed to create a cohesive and efficient way of finding parking in real time.
It's still in the "MVP" stage, so this is only to show you guys what the landing page looks like. Please Please Please critique it, tell me what you think? , would you use it ? what you don't like about it or what would you like it to have included ?
Much appreciated guys!
PS: Feel free to sign up to the mailing list :) ( No spam)
Looking forward to your responses!
First congrats on getting to beta. That's something hard to achieve. To be clear, I'm hoping my feedback helps you
I could be wrong but this is a crowded space, with many competing companies already launched. What makes your product better? I don't feel the landing page answers that question. There are also no screenshots which is a bit strange for a product in beta. It would also help show people something that backs your claims like 'ease of use', 'direct messaging', and 'seamless parking'.
Almost every Product Hunt post is a good example of what your landing page needs
HI Chaostheory
Thank you so much for our insights.
I should have expressed myself better in the opening statement.
To your questions:
Not really. In terms of competitors, we only have a direct one. We -are in the marketplace for parking- Unlike parkwiz or spot hero , which use algorithm to exploit the free parking spaces in public parking garages etc. We instead enable people and companies alike to share/rent their parking spaces when not in use.
The screenshots were not available at the moment. The mvp that I built had more emphasis on the back end than in aesthetics.
I tried to make the landing page as simple and easy to understand. Form a customer perspective.
Did I answer your questions >??
Thank you for your response.
Yes. Could be wrong but a version of that probably needs to be on the landing page.
Not sure this applies to what you're working on but this sounded familiar: https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=412240643
Hmm.. will absolutely consider putting some kind of version on the page.
-It is a interesting concept but different form Yspott. They talked about being able to finding a spot or being able to share one .( which aligns with the marketplace analogy of Yspott) but it could be troublesome because you are monetizing on already free spots in the city. Creating a form of "cyber squatting" but for parking spots around you.
We target the parking spots that people don't use or partially use ( depending on the time of the day). These parking spots are their own -Houses, apartments, etc- and on the other hand we give business the choice of rent their unused parking spots after business hours.
Ah yeah you should be fine then
Thank you for your insights!
Will definitely look into adding some sort of visually statement to the landing page.
Hey Sandorie,
I think this is an interesting idea, but I'm not your target audience (don't own a car) so take my feedback with a grain of salt.
I'm a bit confused what you want feedback on, because you mention you've been working on this for a while but you're only sharing a landing page. Is it the idea you want feedback on? Or is it the landing page? Or are you trying to validate the idea with this landing page?
If you're trying to validate your idea by eliciting feedback on this landing page -- I'm not that's the best way to validate.
Here's one way you could validate this idea and test some of the underlying assumptions.
I would go to an area in a city near me where parking is in high demand. I would try to find a privately owned parking spot that fits the description you use on your landing page. I would try to rent the parking place from the owner and ask for permission to advertise it and rent it out to others. I would tell him it's because I want to test an idea for an "airbnb for parking app". I would then try to rent out this parking spot to drivers that are scouring the area for a place to park their cars through any means necessary. I could do this by putting up temporary signs advertising the parking spot or by walking around with a sign myself :). Or you could create a landing page just for this parking spot, take out some google ads for "<your city> parking advice" and send people to that page.
In doing so I would expect to find out more about:
With writing little to no code.
I would definitely try to get some real life feedback from your potential users before building a beta version, if you haven't done so already. There may be many hidden assumptions here you won't identify without getting out of the building.
As far as the landing page goes, the main thing that strikes me is that it sounds like a wikipedia entry. You're not speaking to a person who has a problem you're solving e.g. (1) easy, quick, safe parking or (2) easy passive income with a vacant parking lot. For this reason, if I'm not mistaken, most two-sided market places have separate landing pages for both sides of the market (e.g. sellers and buyers).
Holy smokes Jessems! Talk about good feedback!.
First and foremost; thank you for the detailed review.
I think i didn’t expressed my self properly in the title. I’m looking for feedback on the landing page itself.
I’ve collected feedback for the idea itself already. Did a small mvp launch within the vecinity of Miami Beach and the response was great. It was more of a backend play- hence the lack of visual images in the landing page. I’m working on the UI as we speak, once i have something presentable I’ll include it within the landing page.
I’ve heard that argument of creating a two sided market place before, will most certainly look into it as the ui progresses. I belive is a valid point indeed.
Thank you so much once more for you awesome feedback!
Hey Sandorie!
Congrats on the progress here! I wanted this when I lived in Boston and even filed this one away in the ole list of ideas. So I’d definitely use this (If I didn’t now live in the middle of nowhere)
Do you plan to create a detailed landing page for each side of the market? One for folks micro-renting their parking spots and one for the people on the parking side?
The following is anecdotal as I don’t have experience building marketplaces. But I'm trying to look at this from the side of a supplier landing here for the first time, looking for details on renting my space. The first and third features as I scroll explain features from the view of a buyer side. I might be looking for a little reassurance on what happens if I list my spot. Am I protected from people overstaying and I need my spot? How do I know what vehicle to expect in my parking spot? A simple rating system like Uber/AirBnB might help here over time?
But as a whole, the landing page gets across what you’re after and I think it’s a great start!
I think once you have your UI at place you're comfortable sharing, a gif/video framed in a mock phone showcasing how easy your app is for each side of the market will be an important component to test.
And I might also consider mirroring that email collection form above the fold?
HI Modette,
First of all, thank you so much for your prompt response.
You bring up really good points, I hadn't thought about creating a separate section of the page that explains in detail each aside of the market ( aside from the landing page). I see how this would make sense for people who need more info for them to sign up.
I just started working on the UI, so as soon as I have something worth showing, ill put some visual friendly mock up to help with the whole process.
Once again , thank you for your insights I'll make sure to include them :)
Slick site, and a good idea that's been validated by a few others.
I don't have much in the ways of critique yet, but I run http://doyourpark.com and would happily to do a write up and honest review yspott to get you some eyeballs (whenever you'd like that to happen)!
Hi PVan,
This is truly phenomenal! I would love to do something with you and www.doyoupark.com
I'll send you a follow up email.
Thank you for you kind comment and for reaching out!
Hey Sandorie! Congrats on getting this far. Here is my first impression:
I didn't fully understand what the main selling points were. "Why should I care?" I had to scroll half way down the page before I found the real reasons why this is a cool idea. "Find quick and inexpensive parking spots in real time." and "Rent your unused or timely-used household, apartment or business parking space." I'd move both of those statements up top, front and center.
I'd also recommend placing your sign up form above the fold. If your goal is to get them to sign up, show them the form immediately.
I don't live in a large city with parking problems, but I'd still consider using this if I was traveling to SF or another large city. I've gone to Giant's games and had to hunt for a parking spot. It would be nice to have a reserved spot waiting for me when I got there.
Good luck!
Hi Pauldessert.
You make a very valid point. The message should be concise and quick to the eye. I will play around with those options and put them within the first scroll of the page. that way they see why they should care and why is it important.
I agree with the movement of the fold as well, will correct it.
We all got to park, one way or another right? this is why we are here "Ypostt, parking made easy " :)
Thank you for reaching out and for the valid feedback!
Have you ever heard of Haystack? They tried to do a similar thing in Baltimore a few years ago. Planet Money did an interesting episode about it.
This may be a silly question, but I do not find the info whether the MVP you are building is cross platform or any specific platform such as iPhone or Android? It may give a clarity to get target users to sign up. Just my thought.
Won't repeat other comments - it looks like your product needs to change people's habits to be successful... this is normally tricky. Including some social proof on the landing page (testimonials etc) would be a good start.
Good luck!