nithyad
nithyad on Hacker News
User reaction. When we introduced our premium service (this we did with the consent of our power users) after almost one year of giving free service, many that joined new, wrote hate mails saying how everything in the internet should be free. That's when we decided this has to be subtle. The basic service is free. And, when a user clicks to share a track privately or choose higher bitrate streaming, we prompt him/her to upgrade cos those are some of the premium features in Muziboo.
After experiencing the service, users become comfortable and also know exactly why we are better than the lot of other free services.
In B2C subtlety in this matter helps. But you can't do that in B2B. Potential customers evaluate your service based on the pricing.
@Pedro It is here:
http://www.muziboo.com/pro/'Plans & Pricing' is a very B2B expectation where customers come with the idea of paying for a service. In a B2C service users only come with the expectation of trying out a service and if they comfortable pay for premium services. So, we show this page only after a user creates an account.
Users can actually be put off seeing a 'Plans n pricing' page especially for a service like Muziboo.
The answer is: Yes, we did that intentionally :)
Typically in a B2C business, users don't care much to know how long you have existed or how long you will exist. If you shut shop, they switch to using another free service.
But that's not the case in B2B. I do agree that B2B is more lucrative. But, how do you convey to your potential customers that your service is here to stay. Businesses are not comfortable moving from one service to another. And, with so many start ups dying fast or pivoting fast, what's the best way for a service to build trust with its potential customers?
@pajju thanks. Yeah I guess the video on the site should be more story like than being detailed like this. Will incorporate.
Posted by
nithyad on Friday September 23, 2011 @06:46AM
from the teamblog.supportbee.com dept.
If you keep blinking continuously you don't lose sight of the yellow dots. But this is so strange!
Like yummyfajitas's explanation. The original post is too long and convoluted...
Spam needn't be taken into account. Also, the tiers can be based on a range - let's say upto 500 tickets, between 500 and 1000 and so on.
@pbreit Most companies (not going to name names) know involving people or an entire team is what is needed to deliver great support but put in efforts to cap usage in that direction to make more money(which is okay). The lie here is how they claim they are by what they are doing helping their customers offer awesome support. Our contention is there are more sensible ways to monetize and we have no qualms calling a lie a lie.
It's tough to use real data because it is subjective. All I am saying is one should at-least give oneself a chance to find out what that threshold is. The books that I recommended in that post helps in that. Also, the Pivotal tracker suggestion works for me. Probably it will work for others too. But, do people that mindlessly work even know it is necessary?
In case the founder managed to hire you, I would say the founder is much smarter because he could hire the smartest which makes the founder the smartest in the room.
Posted by
nithyad on Monday July 11, 2011 @08:09AM
from the nithyadayal.com dept.
@jevinskie I can so relate to you! It was such a pleasure talking to him. The fantastic part was knowing that his team actually had fun all the while. It was like they never had a drab moment:)
Posted by
nithyad on Tuesday June 14, 2011 @10:13AM
from the blog.supportbee.com dept.
Posted by
nithyad on Monday June 13, 2011 @11:06AM
from the nithyadayal.com dept.
Hope I visit you in Singapore before you move out to another part of the world!
Posted by
nithyad on Tuesday May 31, 2011 @12:49PM
from the blog.supportbee.com dept.
Yeah, what works for one doesn't work for another. I hate people dwelling on my mistakes. It is not like I can't see those, and need to be told every time I make one. I would want my partner to believe that I am as aware and I am working towards being better. Nobody wants to remain clumsy!
@qeorge I have conveyed it to him. But I guess, it's his first natural reaction. I am sure he's trying his best...I didn't mind the advice!
"Anyway, it irks me when people have difficulty doing things that seem trivial to me. It irks me precisely because I don't think I'm better than them, and thus am confounded as to why they seem to have more difficulty." - You sound like my husband.
I keep dropping things and I keep forgetting stuff. But, he getting irked only makes things worse for me; I get super-conscious and nervous and end up blundering more. I manage everything smooth when I can tell myself that how he feels doesn't matter.
Posted by
nithyad on Monday May 23, 2011 @11:24AM
from the nithyadayal.com dept.
I also have a problem with the way mathematics is taught currently where the student is more adept at the mechanics than the philosophy of mathematics. If anybody is attempting to change that, my best wishes. I don't necessarily have a problem with the current system of notations. It is just the method of teaching that lacks.
Just started with 'What is Mathematics' by Courant and I am totally hooked on. He talks about everything from why we chose to adopt the decimal system to why pi was needed to solve certain problems.
As Hammock says, the author has to be clear about defining the problem itself. Is it mathematics as it is represented today which is lacking or the method of teaching which is lacking
Non-savvy users usually look for a FAQ or a 'Contact us' page in case they have questions about the service. You can have a Get Satisfaction widget too for the savvy ones to offer feedback.
One is to add categories and the other idea is to have a good search. Your customers will look up the FAQ when they have a need and probably not right when they start using the service.
A good 2 minute video will be helpful if you want your customers to have an immediate understanding of your service.
Posted by
nithyad on Friday May 06, 2011 @12:36PM
from the blog.supportbee.com dept.
Lot of people in my height weight range probably. I already see all the cells in and around that range filled.
Posted by
nithyad on Tuesday April 05, 2011 @09:57AM
from the teamblog.supportbee.com dept.