Shifts

We recently launched our brand-new product, Shifts (https://everhour.com/shifts), which helps manage schedules and track time for non-desk and shift-based employees. But guess what? Things didn't go exactly as planned. We had some expectations, but reality had different ideas. In this post, I want to share some details, make conclusions and receive your feedback.

Misaligned expectations:
I thought we'd quickly get a bunch of users, will start talking to them, gather feedback, and quickly prioritise our next sprints. But that's not what happened. I thought since we already have a domain, website, a blog, and some traffic, people would flock to our new product naturally. Well, turns out they don't care much.

I had a bunch of exact todos for the first week. I wanted to reach out to early users from betalist, notify folks who stumbled upon our landing page and joined the waitlist, spread the word on our social networks, and get listed on various startup directories.

Directories are separate topic. Meh. Most of them doesn't work, or they want you to pay a listing fee upfront. And you typically figure this our on the last step of your submission process. It felt like a waste of time and money. In case you've had a different experience and results with directories, please share!

I don't want to spam everywhere (for the sake of backlink) or send annoying emails. I want to be smarter about it. Quality over quantity.

We haven't hit up ProductHunt yet. Obvious place! But I want to do it a bit later. Plus I still doubt if it's the right kind of place for our target audience, which hypothetically includes restaurants, retail, wellness and fitness etc. I don't want to be the odd one out. But hey, there are other industries out there too. We'll see how it goes.

In it for the long haul:
Sure, I want everyone to know about our new product ASAP. But we're in this for the long run. It's like a marathon, not a sprint. I don't want to burn out before we even get started. High expectations and poor progress instantly drive you into depression. It is especially difficult when you already have another product, fairly prominent, a product that earns millions of dollars, and you need to start everything from scratch. On the other hand, it's a good shake.

Here's what I’m thinking in the short term:

• Find appropriate groups on Facebook and LinkedIn that fit our niche.
• Get the product listed in blog posts about similar tools (even though it's been tough in the past).
• Look for cool places to share our product and get the word out.
• Prepare for our launch on ProductHunt.
• Give Google ads a try.

I’m also planning to:

• Write blog posts that target easier keywords to get to SERP fast.
• Create in-depth articles on the main keywords.
• Keep improving the product with new features that users actually need.

Why we believe Shifts better than the rest:

• It’s free (at least until the end of 2023), so it is possible to save some money.
• We kept it simple, without all those fancy features that just confuse you.
• We're all about communication and listening to what users want.
• We're ready to adapt and make the product better based on real feedback.
• We promise discounts in the future to early adopters.

But let's see if it's enough for someone to decide to spend their time on us.

Got something to say? Good or bad, please don’t be shy.

Today I am excited to share some fantastic news! After months of hard work and dedication, we are thrilled to announce that our Shift app is now officially live!

What's even better? The Shift app is completely free to use! We have designed it with the aim of simplifying your shift management process and making your life easier. Our primary goal in the coming months is to engage with as many early adopters as possible, gather valuable feedback, and prioritize the future development of the app.

While it's important to note that our project is still in its early stages, and certain functionalities may be lacking compared to existing tools, we firmly believe in creating something that truly caters to the needs of our users. Unlike established competitors, we are eager to listen, adapt, and evolve based on your feedback.

Now, we invite everyone to try out the Shift app and be part of shaping its future. Your input is invaluable in helping us refine and enhance the features. We encourage you to explore the app thoroughly and share your thoughts, suggestions, or any issues you encounter. Your feedback will guide us in making the Shift app the ultimate solution for all your shift management needs.

To get started, simply visit our website (https://everhour.com/shifts ) and create your account. We have also prepared a user guide (https://support.everhour.com/category/583-shifts) to assist you in navigating through the app effortlessly. If you have any questions or need any support, our dedicated team is here to assist you every step of the way.

Thank you for being an early adopter of the Shift app. Your involvement and feedback are crucial to our success. Together, let's redefine how shift management is done.

We can't wait to hear what you think!