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Show HN: MindWallet.com Insanely Organized Social Media

19 points by mwdev ↗ HN
Show HN: MindWallet.com Insanely Organized Social Media

You can read this on MindWallet as intended here: http://www.mindwallet.com/?ItemKey=787541c7-0860-41ea-a21a-2322e06675c3&ParentID=48851752-ea96-40cc-bfb4-c8b07beba934

Hi HN. Here is my ‘project’: http://www.mindwallet.com

I’d love to get your feedback. I’m going to put a lot here about how I got here and where I’m going.

If you want a TLDR: I layered social media on top of the ‘todo list’ style app that has been popular recently because I think it is an amazing interface for do things beyond todo lists.

And here is a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNpAH7AGhIk (I’m sorry about the hiss, poor audio quality, and lack of editing..I’d rather be coding...I’ll fix it eventually)

13 comments

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OwlHuntr
Well, for one the copy needs some work. The list isn't even organized and there's about 3 or 4 different font-sizes/types going on all over the place. I feel like i'm on a 4chan clone than an app. Also I have no idea how to get really started on doing whatever your app does, no immediate call to action button. Keep working
mwdev
Thanks, I'm working on it. I'm still trying to figure it out for myself. It was something I know I wanted...and I use it constantly, but I'm still trying to figure out how to explain what 'it' is.
kaddar
(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!

mwdev
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.
nickconfer
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.

kaddar
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...

kaddar
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.

mwdev
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.

kaddar
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.
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ScottWhigham
Looks interesting. I like the name a whole lot.
revorad
Get rid of all that text on the homepage. Just put the video up. It's a new concept, so seeing it in action is important to convey the value.