Took advice from you guys, need new roasting
Hey guys,
I was here again last week and got great feedback. I just updated my landing page (https://troosh.app/) based on your recommendations and want so see what you guys think about it now!
Specifically:
- Do people understand the idea, what we are trying to solve and what our app actually does?
- Are the benefits for mentors and students clear?
- Do people expect more interactivity or to see more info?
Some of the improvements I did from last time is accommodating images with each feature and explaing each feature in depth, added FAQ, removed useless illustrations and added social links.
TODO: Replace the image at the top of the landing page with a video, add an about page.
Thanks in advance for any feedback!
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I gave it 1 minute (more than what a random user would).
Seems like an interactive course that i'll probably have to pay for.
Reasons why i wouldn't download this app:
"Learn any skill" sounds nice, maybe i'll download it one day (never). IMO vague promises don't work.
Showcase strong mentors/course, pitch that and find users that want/need that knowledge that you're offering.
Second doubt, based on the screenshots. Is mobile really the best way to learn programming? I need to setup an environment, IDE etc... how is this any better than world class courses?
In essense while i understand what the app tries to do, i don't get the urge to download it. With an app like Duolingo i would have a clear reason why, i.e the app teaches Russian - i want to learn Russian, clear as that.
Hey thanks for your time, really appreciate it!
I need to get my headers on point, some are too vague. Great point.
The difference with world class courses is that it's less like a course, more like an internship where you work with your team on some clear tasks and when you get stuck you ask help from a senior. In my experience this is the point most devs (or any other job / field) experience existential crisis. Because courses just don't provide this kind of actual, real world experience.
I have been thinking about this but now that you mention it, I think programming is a very bad example and does little to no justice demonstrating the app.
Thanks for the feedback!
As a developer myself, i can confirm that the field is big and overwhelming. An experienced mentor or guide would indeed help me a lot when i was starting.
Make the offering more clear.
This is just me but a random website telling me about random mentors is not very convincing. Your product is not the knowledge, but the mentors. Sell the mentors.
Write testimonials and put them on the front page. "Get mentored on iOS development by Steve Apple.
Who's Steve Apple you ask? Let me tell you what an awesome iOS developer he is."
I'm not sure if that's your vision but clarify what you're selling.
Hi Bugz, great product! I agree with other Indie Hackers here - people will definitely expect more interactivity if you're claiming that it's the most interactive mentoring app.
To answer your questions:
"Do people understand the idea, what we are trying to solve and what our app actually does?"
Maybe, no, and yes.
To clarify: I think people do understand the idea - it's a mentoring app. However, it's pretty vague regarding what kind of mentoring you'll get. You only mention working on projects collaboratively later on in the landing page, and imho that is one of your main value propositions so I would make projects immediately clear because it will differentiate you from the competition.
I'd explain what you're trying to solve in the hero section. Is it ineffective mentoring that doesn't create actual results or give practical skills? (Solved by joining projects.)
Regarding what your app actually does - it lets mentees participate in projects that will give them real-world and actually usable skills they're getting mentorship for, right? Then make that clear. It's really a very important differentiator. :)
I'd also condense the sections. For example, instead of having image + text in separate rows, I'd create a slider that clearly and quickly explains how it works for mentees, and then - below that - how it works for mentors. This'd allow you to engage both supply and demand.
For mentors:
Right now, there's a lot of friction for mentors. They need to create projects, but what does that mean? What kind of projects? And how do they "earn from their projects" (as stated in your FAQ)? It would be good to give as many examples as possible.
Think about basic motivations for both supply and demand: why would mentees choose your app? Why would mentors choose your app?
For mentees, they may have been unhappy with other apps, getting only theoretical skills they couldn't easily use to upskill, make progress in their career, etc.
For mentors, they may want to share their knowledge, expand their network, and earn extra by leveraging their skills in a new, dynamic way that lets them connect with their students 1-on-1 (if that's the case).
In any case, it's important to address benefits for the end users and leverage their motivators for using your app to convince them to sign up. I know everyone says this and it's not easy, but once you've cracked that, you'll know exactly who you're creating your landing page for.
Finally, I think you should definitely clarify the pricing model. I noticed mentors can earn from project purchases and subscriptions - how do those work together, or against each other? It's a bit unclear at the moment.
Otherwise, I think it's a great app - well done! But I definitely recommend researching your target audience, talking to them (if you'd like, I can be an audience member for mentorship - I've been considering mentoring other budding copywriters for quite a while now - so feel free to pick my brains), and that's when you'll hit gold. :D
If you have any other questions, let me know. I hope this helped! :) Great work!
First I want to say, I did not expect this, but this is amazing feedback! Thanks for taking so much time writing this :D. I certainly took a ton of notes and have a lot of work to do, but that's for the best!
I have a few questions:
So our pricing model basically is: You subscribe to a mentor at a fixed, relatively affordable price ($7 / month) to get access to all his resources and can join one of his / her projects for free. The rest of the projects are one-time purchases at a custom price set by the mentor. This makes it easy for mentees to start learning affordably and bail if they are not into it. For the people that really like the mentor they can pay more for the rest of the projects, which is a great deal for the mentors as well.
Should I address this on each feature respectively or add a different section all together just for the pricing?
Since it's more like a network trying to bring 2 different audiences I am having trouble finding the optimal way to attract both mentors and mentees. Maybe it would be a better idea to attract mentees for the features (top half of the landing page) and attract mentors for the earning potential and dynamic work environment (bottom half of the landing page). Not sure if this sentence makes sense :D
Anyway, thanks again for taking the time to help me improve! Where can I contact you? Would love to pick your brains more!
Hiya Bugz, awesome - I'm so happy my suggestions helped! :)
I'd put this in a separate pricing section, and make it one of your main benefits, as well. Something like: "Start learning with a base subscription. Happy with your mentor? Awesome! Get even more access to projects led by them."
You can always A/B test. :) But yes, mentees are definitely the main priority.
Regarding picking my brains, I'd love that! I'm on Twitter at @LanaRafaelaC, or you can send me an email. If you click on my profile, you should see that li'l envelope icon. I'd love to talk to you about this more! :)
I'm not quite sure if this is an app to find mentors, or a learning platform where I go to learn new skills.
Yes. This clears up some of the confusion around point one. Crisp up your intro.
Im not sure what you are asking here.
This is a bit confusing to read through. Not sure it makes sense.
Is not responsive.
Thanks for letting me know! What device / browser are you on?
Chrome
Hey, first things first. Great work and looks like you put a lot of heat and soul into it. Very good.
I also think it’s ready to get real people feedback. Don’t get analysis paralysis. People in here can tell you plenty but it’s not until you start sending traffic to it that you really start to get data.
..
I do have a thought when it comes to the product. I’m leery from both a mentor and mentee perspective that anyone can become a mentor. I think you suggest a lower quality of mentor and thereby service when anyone can be a mentor. People want to be mentored by proven and experienced.
I’d suggest somehow that you frame it in a way that it’s exclusive to be a mentor. You must meet a certain threshold and criteria to get the badge of mentor.
That is the value proposition for mentor programs. You can get training from the best. Not from John a few houses down from me.
It may be as simple as changing some of your language on the lp to “apply to be a mentor” instead of anyone can be a mentor.
This way, you can tell the customers that they have access to proven and experienced mentors.
Very cool idea. I’d actually like to learn more about it.
I would try to focus one a specific niche, e.g. tech or fitness and expand later on.
I think it is easier to grow and build trust with the customers when focusing on only one niche.
Like: "learn everything in tech with world class mentors"
I work myself on a waitinglist feautueture supporting referrals. I'd be happy helping you to grow your email list.
If you're interested email e at [email protected]
Hi! Here are some of my suggestions.
Things I didn't like:
Things I liked:
Hey thanks for the feedback, will definitely work on these!
The first fold of the website can have a better subtext. A good rule of thumb is
Heading --> What is your value proposition.
The current heading tells me that it's the most interactive mentoring app, but it doesn't tell me why should I go through the rest of the website.
Subtext --> How are you helping people achieve this.
The current subtext "Get started on any skill affordably, as learning should be" does not support the idea of the interactive mentoring app, but adds a new proposition that it is affordable.
You can also increase the importance of the newsletter button by having a proper CTA in place. Once you launch, add some testimonials as well. Social proof will work well since it's mainly people coming to get mentored.
I am not sure if you are working on this or not, but the website on my device is looking too spaced out, could consider adding a media query that limits the growth with higher resolution screens.
Let me know if this was helpful
Damn you are right, I completely forgot bigger screens. Also true, I need to work on the hero section.
Thanks for taking the time giving feedback!
Happy to help!
Hi Bugz,
I think the expectation is that when you say "The most interactive mentoring app" you will spend more of the landing page backing up that claim. You spend a lot of time on benefits for mentors and students and one would think that is mostly the same across all mentoring apps.