Ask HN: Review my startup, pegby.com
Get stuff done collaboratively, from small tasks to complex projects.
http://www.pegby.com
We're a small team based in Chicago who've built a GTD web app that allows you to manage all your to-dos and projects in a simple visual interface that emulates "pegging" 3x5 cards to a board.
Boards can be customized according to the way you think, scaled to meet even the most robust project management requirements, and shared to get groups of people working together fast and efficiently.
We've learned so much from the HN community over the years. With Pegby now in open beta, we figured the time was right to ask for your thoughts on where we're at, and how best to improve.
Thanks in advance for all your help!
Stephen, Matt and Jerry
(
26 comments
| 15 points
| on HN
)
Love the design overall. Copy is quirky and humorous, but still feels professional. I agree with others that the vertical navigation is probably not the best. For some reason that is probably irrational, I hardly ever play product videos but love screenshots. Maybe that's just me.
In this HN post, you've given the app context. ie "Get stuff done collaboratively, from small tasks to complex projects." and "a GTD web app that allows you to manage all your to-dos and projects in a simple visual interface that emulates "pegging" 3x5 cards to a board." That explains a lot for me. However, that information isn't obvious when landing on the homepage. The "How it works" hints at it, but not as well as what you've written here IMO.
Minor things: Horizontal scroll slightly annoying. I'm using latest Safari (5.0.5) on OS X, 1440 x 990. The lined page behind the Add Cards to Get Stuff Done box doesn't line with the text for me. Slightly harsh on legibility.
That said, I'm looking forward to trying it out when I've got some time!
And the video is right in place, IMO. I doubt that the concepts of a product like yours could be explained briefly and clearly enough—submission text above failed for me in this regard. (BTW, Fog Creek's site redesign shows that people do watch videos: http://blog.fogcreek.com/our-marketing-is-up-fog-creek-and-w.... Yes, I believe that also applies to videos without Joel.)
Also, the first time I see ‘100% beta’ stamp. Awesome.
It's about making that first look count - most people won't give you a second one if they're not specifically looking for something like this. So you need to grab their attention right away, show what you're offering and make it easy to find out more.
With regard to the navigation.. look at what getflow.com does with the link at the bottom of the page or look at tumblr.com's "vertical" layout
The video makes me want to try it out. If I dare offer one suggestion...the guitar music is a bit bland and seems out of place with the video, maybe I'm missing something. Great job overall!
1. The vertical navigation is a complete fail.. I almost missed it and have to tilt my head to read the links
2. Instead of having a video (it's also not apparent that I need to click on the black box to play the video), have some screenshots that show how your app works.
Beaten to it, oh well :)
@ste101, @theradhouseteam