Ask HN: Rate my value proposition

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2119003

by clinton • 16 years ago

4 13 16 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Looking for feedback on the following:

UserMetrix helps companies build software that pleases more users, with less development effort; this is achieved by combining application analytics, with classical error logging and novel usability logging.

Would love to hear your thoughts on if you think this would be useful and feedback on the general concept.

jcr• 16 years ago

Your stated "value proposition" is too vague. The only thing implying the use of "metrics" to achieve the goal is the company name, "UserMetrix," but that leaves one to wonder, "What metrics?"

rcfox• 16 years ago

<product> accomplishes <generic goal> with the bonus of <unsubstantiated claim>. It uses <meaningless term #1>, <meaningless term #2> and <meaningless term #3>.

I'm not trying to be mean. It's just that blurbs like this tell the reader very little about the product. If you want to give a very short description, say very specifically what it does, not how it does it or how you think it might be used.

clinton5• 16 years ago

Very fair point - I found it difficult to condense the proposition while still providing all the details. Perhaps I could lengthen the proposition, i.e. have I tried to make it too short?

ampelmann• 16 years ago

I have to agree with the others that it's very vague. However the usability logging to make better software got me interested because I am starting a software in a similar field. Can I reach you via OpenSHAPA?

clinton5• 16 years ago

You can reach me via contact _at_ usermetrix _dot_ com

magee• 16 years ago

awful... this is a value proposition to who? Investors, Users, the world at large? I don't know how you make whos life easier and why should I pay for it..

clinton5• 16 years ago

Thanks for the frank feedback, here is some more content I have been working on for an 'about' section:

UserMetrix combines application analytics with error and usability logging, allowing you to instrument your software to seamlessly capture user feedback.

Data is collated in a central location, providing you with:

Analytics A high level summary of your application's popularity and stability.

Decision Support Problem prevalence allows you to focus on the issues affecting users the most.

Improved Error Reporting Details of application errors that include how to reproduce problems with ease, simplifying debugging.

Supported platforms: Java, Android

Does this convey the target audience a little better?

lachyg• 16 years ago

Don't want to be harsh or anything, but I still don't know what you do.

clinton5• 16 years ago

Honest feedback is exactly what I am looking for, I have struggled to convey the concept with just words alone.

Here is a sample report that my application generates: http://usermetrix.com/projects/2 Hopefully this makes it a little clearer, and perhaps might give you a few thoughts on how I might do a better job conveying the concept?

toumhi• 16 years ago

too vague but also too weak: "that pleases more users" (weak formulation, vague statement). Be bolder than that! Be specific, and focus more on benefits than features. Also, your target group is not well-defined enough ("companies"). Good luck!

jefflinwood2• 16 years ago

I think that's pretty vague.

I took a look at your sample report (http://usermetrix.com/projects/2) and your home page, and it looks like you have a combination of Java AOP logging and exception logging to a database, and then you make a report based on that? Is there anything "actionable" in the report?

So the people buying this service will be Java end-user app developers and their managers, no one else will really need it?

How about: "UserMetrix lets Java and Android developers measure feature adoption and exception message trends across applications to pinpoint usability and functional problems before your users notice"

clinton5• 16 years ago

Hey Jeff,

Thanks for taking the time to work that up - your value proposition is a huge improvement.

Currently Java end-user app developers and their managers is very much the target audience.

The biggest thing that is actionable in the report is the most likely reproduction steps - see http://usermetrix.com/log_messages/8805/error for an example.

Provides developers with a huge head start on narrowing down and pinpointing the root cause of a problem rather than just the symptom, NPE or whatever.

jefflinwood2• 16 years ago

Great! Glad I could help!

You should probably tie software versions (of the app being instrumented) into your tracking and reporting as well, so if errors are still being thrown, that's because the user's on 2.0 and the bug is fixed in 2.0.1

Ask HN: Rate my value proposition

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