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Comment by kaddar | Hacker News Reader

(Edit for the HN readers: This comment and following comments were posted in response to an earlier frontpage design.)

I posted this on shacknews but to duplicate the discussion over here on hackernews, here's my feedback:

The frontpage splash for this is really hard to read. It's obtusely written. It focuses on features, not the narrative. It focuses on buzzwords, not what it does. I kind of get it from your long video, but I doubt anyone has the patience to learn about this. There are a lot of social tree-based todolist applications out there, so to win in this space you have to be really really really focused on UX over functionality.

Best of luck though, I think you have some interesting ideas!

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Here's some concrete suggestions:

Instead of :

" What is MindWallet? blahblahblah "

Maybe something like:

With MindWallet, you can socially or privately organize your plans and goals. Simplify problems by breaking them up into subtasks and coordinate with friends to complete tasks on-the-fly. MindWallet enables you to manage your to-do list instead of having it manage you.

MindWallet:

* Displays your current tasks and lets you break them into subtasks

* Communicates with friends within your to-do list

* Integrates with social networks

* etc...etc...etc...

Instead of:

"Get addicted to MindWallet in 10 steps: blahblahblah"

Make this be a direct link that says: (Get started with mind wallet.)

Then, this link opens a view to facebook connect.

When the user completes that, show them an automatically-created first task list.

For the first time creating a task list, show them guide indication arrows to important CRUD operations (e.g., "Create your first goal =>)

Think of this like a videogame tutorial, you have to show them by making them do it. Continue down your list, implementing each task as a tutorial step that you hold their hand through. As an anecdote, my grandmother recently couldn't figure out how to click a recipe link on my facebook news feed. I said "Cool recipe" and had the link posted. She couldn't figure out that blue text was a link. You have to really help nontechnical users.

I actually do that. If you sign up you get a filled out list that has 'create my mindwallet' crossed out and a space to put a todo list for the day.

I'll consider getting rid of the list. On the splash page. The more I look at it the more I realize it is too much.

Yup, less is more. Especially on an application main page. If you explain it somewhere else, just put a huge pretty button to click to find that guide, and don't give them directions anywhere else except the FAQ/Documentation page you have.

Thanks for the feedback. Design has been my weakest link for sure. And I need to edit the video. Much thanks for checking it out.

ask for less from Facebook. I didn't even try it based on your permission requests. I'd recommend asking for just the minimum of what you need and then if they need to access a feature that requires more ask for it then. Do a progressive rights request or have some video explaining the service.

Right now with the simple design and just text most people won't offer you their Facebook rights.

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