Re:Ask HN: Competing with Free
by mschaecher on Saturday May 15, 2010 @08:55PM
(#1351024)
Compete on aspects other than price.
If your product is truly better--there is one advantage you want to hold.
Make sure you have developed and designed an amazing first user experience. Sign up and user the competitors app--What sucks? What could be better? What wows you? Make the experience so good people want to pay you
Another good one, compete on service/support. It takes commitment but if products are very similar, the service and support can be presented as what you are really paying for.
Check their user forums/FAQ/Knowledge Base/GetSatisfaction, whatever they have, find out what current users gripes. wishes, and problems are. Use that intelligence in your product development and messaging/marketing.
If your product is truly better--there is one advantage you want to hold.
Make sure you have developed and designed an amazing first user experience. Sign up and user the competitors app--What sucks? What could be better? What wows you? Make the experience so good people want to pay you
Another good one, compete on service/support. It takes commitment but if products are very similar, the service and support can be presented as what you are really paying for.
Check their user forums/FAQ/Knowledge Base/GetSatisfaction, whatever they have, find out what current users gripes. wishes, and problems are. Use that intelligence in your product development and messaging/marketing.
Out. Hustle. Them.