New APP - How to flog this thing?

[fisicx]

You are right about the funding, we want (have) to start slow and build it through hard work. We wont get funding for this! I dont think so anyway.

So right away you are adding another level of interaction. And the shopkeeper won't actually know who is in front of them (when 5 people with the app active are in the queue). I spoke to a number of people yesterday who would be prospective clients (not users) and all of them said they would only be interested if it was built into their POS. They want to be able to scan the app screen on the customers phone and everything else is automated. If they have to use a tablet/phone/PC to manage the points they wouldn't even consider signing up.

Join UKBF as a full member and you can get the app and the admin reviewed and ripped to shreds so that it's perfect when you come to launch.

Don't take the criticism personally, the advice will be all good and if taken on board will see some big improvements. Just looking at your site I can already see issues with the app GUI.

And you need to sort out the site URL urbanmob.co.uk doesn't work. It sends me here: http://urbanmob.co.uk/defaultsite

 

[UrbanmobJoe]

What business are they in if its ok to ask?

 

[Annoying Donkey]

The people we have spoke to have suggested to us that if the local hair dresser says have 10 styles and the 11th is free or a reward like that, this will very much encourage them to go to the same stylist.

Most women don't need an incentive to go to the same hairstylist. They tend to go to the same one anyway. Why give away money when you don't have to...

What car are you after?

McClaren P1. Yes, this petrolhead is buying an electric car...! Second hand to boot...!
Deal's not quite done yet, even so, I've driven it more than the owner...

 

[UrbanmobJoe]

Most women don't need an incentive to go to the same hairstylist. They tend to go to the same one anyway. Why give away money when you don't have to...

McClaren P1. Yes, this petrolhead is buying an electric car...! Second hand to boot...!
Deal's not quite done yet, even so, I've driven it more than the owner...

Some businesses care about rewarding their customers. Lots and lots do it. It really does encourage repeat business. Gina cant get in with Tracey on a Monday will now wait until Wednesday when she can for example.

Whats wrong with a Tesla?

 

[UrbanmobJoe]

So right away you are adding another level of interaction. And the shopkeeper won't actually know who is in front of them (when 5 people with the app active are in the queue). I spoke to a number of people yesterday who would be prospective clients (not users) and all of them said they would only be interested if it was built into their POS. They want to be able to scan the app screen on the customers phone and everything else is automated. If they have to use a tablet/phone/PC to manage the points they wouldn't even consider signing up.

Join UKBF as a full member and you can get the app and the admin reviewed and ripped to shreds so that it's perfect when you come to launch.

Don't take the criticism personally, the advice will be all good and if taken on board will see some big improvements. Just looking at your site I can already see issues with the app GUI.

And you need to sort out the site URL urbanmob.co.uk doesn't work. It sends me here:

My target market don't have POS systems. That's why I am after them!!

 

[fisicx]

Who then are your targets?

Just about every shop I go into in the high street has a till and a scanner or a card reader. I spoke to to a bunch of local shopkeepers (who's websites I look after) and the point I made above was their reaction. They want integration not something standalone. They want it linked to their accounting software, CRM and a button on their till.

 

[fisicx]

Some businesses care about rewarding their customers. Lots and lots do it. It really does encourage repeat business.

So they will ask why pay £22/month for something they already do for free.

Don't get me wrong, I thinks it's a idea that has potential but it's nowhere near ready for launch yet. You need 3-6 months market testing before you do any marketing. And I'd work on a break event after 2 years and a profit after 3. You might be making a living of the thing after 5 (date may vary). The point is it's going to take years until you see a decent return on your investment.

That's not me being negative, it's the reality of running a business.

 

[UrbanmobJoe]

Can you point me in the direction of resources on how to do more market testing please?

 

[fisicx]

Choose 10 local targets. Give them a tablet with everything set up and let them run with it.

Visit once a week to see how it's going

Or Google market testing companies and get some quotes.

Two resources I use a lot are:

https://usabilityhub.com
https://www.usertesting.com

There are others.

But 6 months of live data with local businesses will tell you if it works. Another year will tell you if its viable.

 

[Alan]

Years back, the Locally name we acquired wasn't for local websites, but for a local loyalty scheme.

The plan, which would have worked, was to integrate into the card reader machine's payment processors. Local shop keepers loved the idea - no extra technology, no extra steps, just sign up the customer and then accumulate reward points and then remarket back to the customer.

Obviously, we couldn't build the back-end that links to all the banks, but we didn't need too as an American company was doing so and was planning to come to the UK. Unfortunately ( for us ) is they built it in the US but never came here ( yet ).

 

[UrbanmobJoe]

Choose 10 local targets. Give them a tablet with everything set up and let them run with it.

Visit once a week to see how it's going

Or Google market testing companies and get some quotes.

Two resources I use a lot are:

There are others.

But 6 months of live data with local businesses will tell you if it works. Another year will tell you if its viable.

This is way out of what we can do in terms of financing. I think sometimes starting small and seeing how things go within the budget you have is do able. If we put our heart and sole into it for a year and it doesn't work, what have we lost? If I take your advice and it doesn't work, I have lost a lot. I get you are advising the book way, but that's not the way we can go. The advice is great on here but it presumes we have been given a million pounds and then asked what would you do.

 

[Alan]

If we put our heart and sole into it for a year and it doesn't work, what have we lost?

A year of your life, your heart, your sole and the opportunities missed.

 

[UrbanmobJoe]

As the football saying goes......

"You all offer great skill and advice on a wonderful pitch, but can you do it on a cold night in Stoke?"

Do you have THOSE skills?

 

[UrbanmobJoe]

A year of your life, your heart, your sole and the opportunities missed.

I would have to be able to handle and and get over that, as long as I didnt lose my house id be ok.

 

[fisicx]

This is way out of what we can do in terms of financing. I think sometimes starting small and seeing how things go within the budget you have is do able.

Only if you offer it for free for six months. No one is going to pay for the product until they have done a trial

If we put our heart and sole into it for a year and it doesn't work, what have we lost? If I take your advice and it doesn't work, I have lost a lot.

Welcome to the world of business. A huge number of businesses fail within a year despite pumping time effort and resources into the thing. It's the chance you take.

I get you are advising the book way, but that's not the way we can go.

It's not the book way, it's just a good way to introduce the business to potential clients. A decent marketing budget is necessary for just about everything these days and it's the thing most startups forget to budget for.

Have you trialled the product at all? By that I mean worked with a shopkeeper for a week watching for bugs and problems?

 

[UrbanmobJoe]

We have taken all the advice on board and are going to put this off for a month while we come up with a more solid plan. Once we have that I will come back and see what you think...

Sorry, I should have said ill come back for you to rip that plan apart as well haha.

Thank you everyone for the advice.

 

[RJ05]

I have read through this thread with interest, as I am involved in the same kind of project, the advice given has been spot on.
Our Loyalty business does integrate with woo commerce and now a leading Pos system, and does not suffer from app churn