Show IH: Annotely - Screenshot annotation tool
As a side project I'm working on an online image annotation application. Which is now turning more into a multi slide 'how to' guides editor.
The story behind is kind of interesting:
- it all started back in 2010 as a side project of a side project
- never taken it too seriously and left it untouched until 2019
- after discovering it had a decent number of users.
- rewritten from Flash to JavaScript in 2020, let aside again
- rewritten for the second time at the beginning of 2022
Webpage
Initial idea was to create a simple image annotation tool for better feedback. Currently it evolved more into an application for creating multi slides 'how tos'. Users can upload multiple screenshots add annotations and share as a slideshow or video.
Never did any buzz around it nor marketing. No idea yet how the pricing will look like nor which features will be free.
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Love this story, Matt - especially the journey from a side project to something with real user traction. At HitechBPO, we handle data and image annotation for AI systems, so I’m always interested in how different annotation workflows evolve for user-facing tools. Your “multi-slide how-to” approach sounds like it could help teams explain visual processes better. Really neat idea!
Love this! Let's get this listed on startups.fyi??
Thanks for an idea will do this
Hi mate!
@RichardGao already explained everything in detail.
It looks like a side project. You need to remove "but me coffee" button and add you pricing chart.
On the other hand, it doesn't have the best UI but I'm using Lightshot ( https://app.prntscr.com/ ) on my Windows computer. It's better to do something local instead of browser while you're rewriting the whole project.
Good luck!
Thanks! Since the beginning it was meant to be a browser tool mostly for users who cannot install 3rd pary software
Hey! I think it's a simple and very interesting product. For monetizing, I would improve your website more first.
I think you should have an overview video that describes all the features and showing people how to use them rather than laying them out on the site. It would make it easier to digest.
This video should replace the gif you have now showing dark mode vs light mode.
As for pricing itself, I would recommend a free version that only lets you use the highlight, textbox, and arrow option. Essentially all most of the options that are already available for just using the snipping tool on your computer.
The paid version would include everything else, and for what it does, it shouldn't be too expensive.
Do you have data of what people are paying for the "buy me a coffee" section (btw, unless it's intentional, it was spelt "bye" me a coffee on your website)?
If you have enough data, you could price based on the median of donation prices, since that's likely what the demand for the product is.
I would also begin with a free trial for the full use of the product (1 month is good) for all users. Once the trial ends, it will be downgraded to the free version unless they put in their card and pay for the paid version.
If they refuse to keep the upgrade, I would also have a survey sent automatically to them asking why.
Overall, I think your product is lacking in terms of what it does for a paid version. However, if you add more features, I think it more would be willing to pay for it.
Speaking of feedback, I'm currently developing an AI API that allows devs to access AI through a cloud API for developing AI apps and projects, and I would love your feedback on the website or pricing once we launch if you have the time.
I post frequent updates on twitter, and our pre-launch website is coming soon, so you can follow me there for more info: https://twitter.com/TheRealEtch
Good luck on your product! It's not something I would use, but you've already got a user base, so the demand is definitely there.
I really appreciate the time you've spent on sharing your thoughts with me. All you wrote makes a lot of sense to me. Thanks
No problem!