Feedback needed on new goal achievement web app

[AymericG]

Hi,

I am Aymeric, I am developing a facebook application aimed at maximizing people chances to accomplish their goals. It is called Dogether.

This message is not a spam and my application is not a scam as the application is 100% free and I am after genuine feedback.

I would appreciate if you could have a look at the application and suggest ways to improve it or give me your opinion about it.

For example, some people suggested I add features to support the 30 day challenges.

Would you use this application yourself? If not why? If yes, welcome!

Thank you,

Aymeric
Dogether
Dogether on Facebook
Goal achievement turned into a game.

[SimonKincaid]

The first thing I would say is change the name - I read it as 'Dog Ether' and find it hard to shake off now lol - thats just imho

It looks great and the features sound good but I'm don't normally go for apps because they can access my profile without telling me what they're looking at. Maybe it's because I'm not the biggest fb fan.

[spirit4711]

I don't use FB, just looked at the screenshots. The supporters feature is a strong one, I think, and finding people with similar goals too.

I like the name as well.

[sidsavara]

I first noticed the word "Dog" in the name, but got it after a second.

I like the design - clean and colorful

I am a bit jealous as I had the exact same idea, but you guys put it together . I wanted to make Life and Goals into an RPG

One suggestion (having not tried this out at all yet) perhaps you could allow some sort of multiple point scheme - so rather than just stars, you have physical, money, knowledge (whatever). I am trying it out and will report back with feedback! If it's good you can bet I will invite some friends in too

[sidsavara]

Quick Feedback:

Don't like the favicon. I know it says Do, I would prefer something that looks maybe looks like a sword or ring or something in there to reminer me what the app is (quests). Minor detail, but I think branding is important. Don't mean to offend, but the favicon does not look attractive next to the other ones on my bookmark bar

Allies page is not effective. I think you should automatically suggest allies (recently active, active people, same quest). Initial response as a user (me) is - ok, I need to find allies, where do I go?

It lost my quest! I added a quest, made a comment and now it is telling me I have no quests. Add wait a minute maybe I just commented and didn't click "Join This Group." Not sure.

My stars just dropped from 10 to 5. No idea why - maybe because I joined a new quest? Can I only have 1 quest?

Ouch now I am at 1 star and only 2%!

Ok you just became my supporter - awesome. Still have no idea how to become a supporter of anyone else. Clicking to someone's profile. Now I am a supporter of some random person. Giving them some feedback

Ok time to go to work will try it later in the evening. This is all stream of conciousness style feedback, hope it doesn't come across as harsh - as a software developer, I have a hard time getting realistic user feedback, and that is my intention here, to really give you realistic feedback

PS Your blog is awesome! i submitted your checklist to StumbleUpon and Hacker News

[AymericG]

Originally Posted by SimonKincaid

The first thing I would say is change the name - I read it as 'Dog Ether' and find it hard to shake off now lol - thats just imho

It looks great and the features sound good but I'm don't normally go for apps because they can access my profile without telling me what they're looking at. Maybe it's because I'm not the biggest fb fan.

Hi Simon,

you are not the only one coming back with the naming issue. This is why I use colors to reenforce the DO. Maybe I should show it like 'do-gether'?

Any suggestions for the name?

[AymericG]

Originally Posted by spirit4711

I don't use FB, just looked at the screenshots. The supporters feature is a strong one, I think, and finding people with similar goals too.

I like the name as well.

Thank you for having a look. Your feedback tells me two things:

1. I am losing potential users by being on facebook (but I also gain more due to the viral aspect of it)

2. The screenshots are useful

I believe the support of the community will greatly help the users to achieve their goals.

[AymericG]

Hi Sid,

Thanks a lot for this extremely valuable feedback.

You motivated me so much that I decided to push a new version with some of your feedback (The major change though is related to the introduction of "30 day challenges")

Originally Posted by sidsavara

Allies page is not effective. I think you should automatically suggest allies (recently active, active people, same quest). Initial response as a user (me) is - ok, I need to find allies, where do I go?

Excellent feedback! I will probably improve this page soon as it is the essence of the community building this application needs.

Meanwhile, I have added a paragraph to encourage people to share their profile link.

Originally Posted by sidsavara

Ouch now I am at 1 star and only 2%!

I have reduce the first level required points to show a higher percentage. (At the moment you gain points for each new supporter and for each comment from someone else on your entries)

Originally Posted by sidsavara

PS Your blog is awesome! i submitted your checklist to StumbleUpon and Hacker News

I saw the link on hacker news, thank you!

[spirit4711]

Originally Posted by AymericG

1. I am losing potential users by being on facebook (but I also gain more due to the viral aspect of it)

Yes, but the big plus is FB is easy to find unknown people with similar goals. So I would keep that if I were you.

Maybe add a possibility for non FB users: a separate website where people can sign up, and link from there with people from social networks such as FB, or to people in their own contact lists? A plus of that is that you'll collect lots of valuable email addresses from users for marketing purposes.

Alternative name: goalgether, goal-gether.

[sidsavara]

I don't know if the public hall is new, or just wasn't populated before. I think the concept is cool and I like it a lot - sort of like twitter

I think you definitely need to pull our profile pictures and use them as avatars (and/or allow custom avatars). Would really liven up that page.

Also, it all kind of runs into each other. Either a double space, different color, or something (the heading are not much bigger than normal text font)

Minor gripe, it appears slow for me. I am in Hawaii though, so may not be a legitimate concern.

Also, can we skip the "Start" button screen everytime I click the dogether (in my mind, "Home") button?

Final note, I think you should come up with some names rather than just hte 60% 1 star etc. LIke "Young Padawan" or "Goal Setting Jedi" etc. They are suposed to be quests so even Squire, Knight, Paladin, etc might be good.

I think the "Find Quests" screen needs an easy way to get back to it. Perhaps a "New Quest" button? I know it's called "Explore"

I just noticed the Quiz - you should make that more prominent. I think it might be an easy way to get new users, everyone on facebook loves quizzes. I think the results of the quiz are a bit frustrating though: I think it should try and suggest quests. Since you group them into 4 areas on the quiz, perhaps tag each quest as well (with 1-4 tags) and then based on strongest/weakest areas suggest quests. I imagine the quiz may be a low priority and long term you may be thinking the same things as I am about possibilities.

I think the public hall may be a better start page than explore - you can see what is going on with everyone else. And then maybe a prominent link that says "Start a new quest"

Another thing I wonder though is whether you will be able to get traction given that there is already 43things. Not complaining, just something to consider - make sure the app differentiates itself. You call it quests, they call it goals. Perhaps when people do something small (e.g., compelte 3 days of the 30 day challenge) give them a "Trophy" in their trophy case. That in turn could lead to a box they display on their FB Profile, which gives your app more exposure

Just thinking out loud here, so these may not all be good ideas. As a developer, I know I don't always listen to all my users because some of them are a bit out there and don't understand the product. If that's the case with me, please disregard as needed =P

[AymericG]

Originally Posted by sidsavara

I don't know if the public hall is new, or just wasn't populated before. I think the concept is cool and I like it a lot - sort of like twitter

Based on your feedback on this page, I have published a new version. I made it the default page for existing users and I have added a new functionality: the app suggests you actions to do today. So the Public Hall became some kind of Dashboard.

Originally Posted by sidsavara

I think you definitely need to pull our profile pictures and use them as avatars (and/or allow custom avatars). Would really liven up that page.

I agree, I added it to my todo-list. I have higher priority tasks I need to work on before I will implement this one

Originally Posted by sidsavara

Also, can we skip the "Start" button screen everytime I click the dogether (in my mind, "Home") button?

I added a link under the big Start button for existing users

Originally Posted by sidsavara

Final note, I think you should come up with some names rather than just hte 60% 1 star etc. LIke "Young Padawan" or "Goal Setting Jedi" etc. They are suposed to be quests so even Squire, Knight, Paladin, etc might be good.

The reason why I chose not to put names is to have infinite levels and to have a neutral first level (instead of Rookie / Beginner).

Originally Posted by sidsavara

I think the "Find Quests" screen needs an easy way to get back to it. Perhaps a "New Quest" button? I know it's called "Explore"

I have added links to it in several pages. Thanks for this feedback.

Originally Posted by sidsavara

I just noticed the Quiz - you should make that more prominent. I think it might be an easy way to get new users, everyone on facebook loves quizzes.

Maybe I could add a way to publish the results.

Originally Posted by sidsavara

I think the results of the quiz are a bit frustrating though: I think it should try and suggest quests.

The reasoning is that I want to ask people the questions to help them find the answers by themselves instead of trying to give them answers. But you are right that showing goals with a specific tag would be valuable.

Originally Posted by sidsavara

Another thing I wonder though is whether you will be able to get traction given that there is already 43things. Not complaining, just something to consider - make sure the app differentiates itself.

I know 43things, but I grew frustrated of it. I believe they don't push the social interaction enough. You list your goals and that's it.

Anyway, thanks for all your important feedback!


On a side note, I actually visited your blog at the start of the year when I was experimenting with virtual assistants (Experimenting with virtual assistants | Aymeric Gaurat-Apelli). Funny

I finally stopped using TimeSvr because I couldn't find tasks of less than 15 minutes that would be worth delegating instead of doing myself. Do you still use virtual assistants?

Cheers!

Aymeric

[TiffyLove]

I just checked out the app and I actually use facebook often. It took me a minute to really figure out what I wanted to use the app for.

I think have the groups a little more organized would be great and maybe a searchable feature to search for groups one is interested in would definitely help.

Other than that, I think this app is wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to create it.

[AymericG]

Hi Tiffany,

Thank you for trying the application out

Originally Posted by TiffyLove

I think have the groups a little more organized would be great

How would you prefer them? Presented by categories? Or is it the group page itself that is confusing?

Originally Posted by TiffyLove

maybe a searchable feature to search for groups one is interested in would definitely help.

I have tried to do that on this page, did you see it? Dogether on Facebook

Originally Posted by TiffyLove

Other than that, I think this app is wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to create it.

You made my day Developing an application is rewarding when you get encouraging feedback like yours, thank you!

I left a few comments in Dogether on your entries, I hope Dogether will drastically improve your chances of success, that will be my focus in the months

Cheers!

Aymeric
Dogether on Facebook
Goal Achievement Game

[sidsavara]

I love the new version! The "Dashboard" style view is perfect for someone like me. Thinking about the flip side of it, I am someone who likes to be able to quickly see everything and have access to all the features (hence I really enjoy dashboards)

I am not sure whether a "wizard" style intro would be helpful for other newbies (e.g., first time you log in it says "Would you like a tour?" - directs you to take the quiz (or skip it) see what a quest is, has you add a couple, supporters, etc)

Also, perhaps you could add a way for us to "randomly" support new people with similar (or the same) quest. Like maybe if someone new joins up in a quest we are in, and we haven't gotten too many notifications from the app today, show a notifications that says "Hey Sid, Mike also joined quest __be fit__. Why don't you __view his profile___ or __support him___?" No idea if this is feasible

On the dashboard - wondering if there is an easy way to just show me quests I am in, and let me update status directly

Just noticed it sends me a notification when I update the "Wall" of a quest.

Question - how do other people see my 30 day challenge? Can they? Perhaps you could find a way of displaying that instead of/in addition to the stars? No idea what a good way to do this is, just throwing it out there.

I like the list of tasks and next actions, I am not sure if it is helpful to the application for me. My perspective is I always like more features, but that needs to be balanced against additional options which may confuse users. I guess I just don't think I will use the task list, since I already have a task list outside the app. It would actually be nice if I could make tasks that are public, and so when I add a task it posts to my dogether "profile" (e.g., "Sid is going to go ___buy a pullup bar___. It is a [low/medium/high/top] priority") and then when I check it off, it says "Sid Savara completed task "___buy a pullup___ bar" after __6__ days". I personally don't like stuff posting to my facebook wall, but perhaps other people might like somethign like this - and then that may be another way to market the app

Tracking page is not working for me - not sure if it is me or the app. I think if you do enable tracking, it should automatically post directly to the quest "wall" as well so people can see and comment (just my 2 cents, don't have to listen to me if this is not the purpose). Basically, I think everything that I do that is "good" should be made public so other people can give props/comments

Also, can you add a feature like a thumbs up versus just commenting? Maybe instead of a thumbs up, a high five? My concern is without something like this, it'll lead to less comments/support. OF course, having that feature could also lead to less comments in lieu of a lazy "high five"



Ok time to work! And regarding virtual assistants, at this moment I do not have any actively working for me. I am actually trying to phase out all additional work and tasks from my life, and then once I am down to a manageable amount of things, bring in virtual assistants again in a very focused way. I really enjoy having virtual assistants, sometimes to help me out, and sometimes because I think it is jsut fun to have someone else to delegate to (even if the task is not that useful - e.g., find me a restaurant for dinner)