selcouth
We did this on our new startup, and had a few complaints we are dealing with now. Just to make sure you avoid them:
1) if you redirect them to a signup page, make it SUPER CLEAR that their post/content wasn't deleted, that it is being stored until they register.
2) give them an alert as they are writing that they will need to be logged in to actually add it.
We had users complain that it wasn't clear that logging in would add their post, that they were afraid all that work had been deleted and it made them not want to continue. That wasn't the case, so we just had to add a little note, but still.
(We're also working now on just a lil ajax box that floats up above the post asking you to login, so you can see that your post is still there...)
I didn't read the catch phrase, but totally agree with you. Thats a mouthful, and it makes me think too much. Something like "Share your favorite hangouts, and discover new ones through your friends." or "Find and mark the hottest hangouts in your hood" Heheh
But in that situation, team definitely won out. Sure, the environment itself sucked, but you hardly noticed because of the group atmosphere.
So immediately I think "Four Square". I see you arent, but that sounds like it'll be your biggest competitor. How you plan to get users on board? B2B? B2C?
Little things: 1) I like the map where I get to click on the bubbles of numbers to a point. But once I zoom in on San Francisco, its a little weird to still have bubbles over neighborhoods. At that point I'd rather just see a list of the top places on the bottom, with pointers ala Google that change as I scan through the list.
1.a) ah, and when I got too close, all the bubbles just go away. How do I actually find the places? I thought it would be through the map...
2) The white check is a little confusing for "I want to see it" Can it be a totally different icon?
3) Ah, was worried I would have to remember the address of the place I added. Love that you have ACCURATE suggestions. :)
4) Rating with the stars is a bit tricky. I love that you do %, but I was momentarily confused when it scanned back down even after I clicked.
5) Super easy to use, congrats. Your UI is clear and concise - I was able to post with ease.
6) Do you have a phone app? In the works? That seems like it would be your most important thing. I would never think to do this sitting at home, but I would definitely do it while just leaving a restaurant, or sitting in a park with friends.
I dont want things that are ALWAYS challenging, or so hard as to leave me frustrated an unaccomplished at the end of the day. But I dont want an endless monotony of crap.
Looking at most everything in the new section, they all link to outside links, so I thought that was required - like Digg. I restated the question here AND linked, so I could get responses here without the need for people to follow the link. Extra traffic to Trogger was a bonus, sure, but after SXSW and the hype of Twitter that continues there, I was curious.
Neat and well written - agree wholeheartedly.
But a team of entirely newbies, first timers, and folks in their twenties should have an experienced advisor - or a few - to help them avoid hurdles. Up there with Passion is Experience, I say.
Sorry to leave you with some nasty scabs there. :(
You guys are a pretty tech savvy bunch - how do you use Twitter?
I would NEVER want to read a book on my phone; I spend enough time staring at a computer screen, and squinting to read or having to move the page would just really throw me out of the flow of the story.
Now, a research or informative paper/pamphlet I could see being great, especially if I could highlight text, insert bookmarks, etc. THAT I would use.
Picking up that entrepreneurial date.
http://troggerpath.wordpress.com/2009/02/09/find-that-entrepreneurial-valentine/
A bit of advice from one female entrepreneur, from her experience at start-up parties and tech mixers. Hopefully it helps you score at least A date with that cute young founder across the office/bar.