Ask HN: What's the best way to get people interested in your beta?
We posted beta signups (to open soon) earlier today for exipe.com and found weaker response than we would have hoped.
This is the post: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2258877
What could we do better?
6 comments
[ 0.40 ms ] story [ 19.3 ms ] thread1. It looks cheap - and I don't know how to explain that. 2. What's the story with the buildings? Is that the best image you can come up with? 3. The page is very sparse, but yet I have to scroll to see everything. 4. I don't understand the name. 5. What is the "best of local?" Exactly what are you bringing to me? 6. Why do I want to sign up? Tell me why! What am I going to get out of it? Be very specific, because right now, I don't have a clue. 7. Tease me a little. Make me WANT to sign up.
2. The value proposition is not easy to understand ("Browse, share, vote and discuss in a community that brings the best of local to you"). It also makes me think this will be just yet another empty community site.
3. Since I'm not excited, why would I join the beta?
I would remove everything from that page except the screenshot (put it on top), and the beta form. That'll at least make it look intriguing.