Before launches, test app with existing AND new accounts 🐛
First beta launch, click on milestones would cause crash. We tested existing accoutns but not new so we missed it. Also later 29 dec we got a bunch of beta users but found still some critical issues couldn't launch (keyboard blocked text input, push notify not working)
Do proper QA testing and make a plan before launch
11/12/2020
Make sure we have backups 🌶
Lost chat and daily goals history several times in beta due to nasty bugs
Implement backups!
17/12/2020
Being fast to respond (10mins) to new signup or email works better 💨
During second beta round, got better response when acting on new users faster
Integrate with slack, notify fast when we're online and able!
21/12/2020
Analytics tools when used are useful (eg verify improvements) 🔍
When direct feedback is hard to get, especially use analytics (eg see dropoff points)
Create a process to ensure we're looking and learning from them
21/12/2020
Be honest and direct, ask for feedback when posting online 🙏
Post about beta in forums. Build long term credibility
Keep that up ⛳
21/12/2020
Need way to update live users in case of problems not fixed 📣
Had a bug can't go to prior day, but user couldn't know about it on website
Implement poll and/or redirect when we get time
26/12/2020
Often better ways to do things via tools (high roi on searching) 👨🎓
Eg- typeform for collecting poll input on the website, better than other types
Reminder to re/search first before choosing path
28/12/2020
Ok to have an opinion when posting, bad replies can still draw attention 🧨
A reddit post where someone criticized it drew more commenters and interest
Keep in mind to not play it safe in future posts
29/12/2020
In first emails, personal and personalized works well, clear it's not a bot 🤖
Emails with "you're on iOS right?" and including their name in short friendly casual email worked well
Keep doing that for the future
29/12/2020
Use templates to jumpstart designs, don't DIY! 🎨
First website done by hand, took forever and not as good start starting with a polished template
Keep doing that for the future
1/1/2021
Don't "launch" without a proper marketing plan 😌
Did a post to share the service.....crickets. Because didn't plan enough in advance and offer more content of value to readers
Create and execute a proper marketing plan
5/1/2021
Middle of day quick reminders in chat can help clients a lot 👨🏫
Switch from single a day to multiple short checks as well
Manage time and see how we can fit this in our day
8/1/2021
If we change domain things, make sure we test on email, Stripe etc 🐛
Change to domain settings to validate Stripe caused incoming email to be rejected, for a few days...
Check all domain impacted things when have a change
11/1/2021
Tracker graph is very motivating for clients and improved consistency ✔
Started to send manually through coach chat (separate spreadsheet)
Keep doing and integrate over time native into product
12/1/2021
Streamline UI before coding ☯
Developed a more complicated UI for iplan.to before realizing we could streamline a lot
Review UI on paper first better before start coding. Ask ourselves: 1/ how to streamline 2/ how to handle on different screens etc...
24/1/2021
Ask for feedback and think earlier eg- mockups 🤔
Got 3 great suggestion in iplanto at last minute (remove name, dont allow tick if no goal, remove cross and just have tick and blank), could have found out earlier by just sharing mockup screen
Ask earlier as part of our process 😅
24/1/2021
Be thoughtful in what advice is shared and might be a turnoff 🙃
Client left possibly related to comment about benefit of walking for "positive traits: openness, extraversion and agreeableness" (not sure if related/took wrong way)
Be thoughtful before sharing
25/1/2021
More catchy subject lines = better email open rates 👨🏫
Looking at open rates for past emails, varies from 10% to 50%, a lot depending on subject line.
Think before sending, and always a/b test
8/2/2021
In dev week, mix small visual improvements with bug/feature dev 🖼
First dev week, spent all time on hard bugs plus one important feature (forced updates) but nothing visible for users
Carve time for small stuff so folks can enjoy the visual/ui improvements and know the development is continuing..
14/2/2021
When one coach is not able to coach for a day or two, be sensitive to client privacy when handling 🙇♂️
Simon was sick for two days, awkward to know how to handle it
let clients know what's going on if that happens, given them the choice of other coach in interim if more than 1-2 days
22/2/2021
For marketing microapps, simple can work! Eg newsletter 🤓
Second microapp moreproductive.me worked a lot better to gain email signups, as the value is very clear and proposition (free productivity bootcamp) is strong...
Think of simpler things to try first 🤡
25/2/2021
For posts having a number eg 7 tips for increasing productivity works much better 🥢
Doing posting for more productive.me
Incorporate numbers more often into titles!
26/2/2021
When having transitions, give an extra reminder to clients 💁♂️
Beta end, told folks much earlier but didn't re-remind before the upgrade message
Plan and communicate in advance
1/3/2021
Sometimes takes a while to achieve client success - it can happen even if not immediately 🌞
Client hit a major fitness milestones (30 days in a row) whereas in earlier days couldn't build a streak.
Keep encouragement and actionable tips up, and know it may not be an overnight success...
15/3/2021
Having a way to get feedback on features helps see if using AND any bugs! 🎃
Implemented a way to see repeat status for daily goals in our coach interface. That helped us see people were using it, AND there was a bug we hadn't seen before
Think about how to get feedback/usage on major new features
11/4/2021
Developing mobile apps take much longer than web, consider it twice before starting one for marketing purposes ⏳
Don't Waste Today, a side project which main purpose was learning the framework took twice the amount planned, and most of the time went into setting up stuff (boilerplate)
Try to stick to web if possible
30/4/2021
Always set reminders for important dates eg- expired Testflight iOS build
Our iOS app build expired causing clients not to be able to login
Set a reminder when making a build or anything else with expiry date
13/7/2021
Founder type retention much higher than total client averages 🌞
Completed successful test with 10+ EA founders for 2 months
Figure out how to reach more of them
1/3/2022
Direct feedback via in-app polls very effective for quantifying relative interest in different roadmap items ✅
Implemented in-app polling and used it for gathering input on next feature prioritization
Keep using it regularly
9/3/2022
Onboarding live calls help with learning and retention 🤗
Wanting to understand our new customers - who are they, how did they discover us and what are they looking for etc.
Keep doing it, even if less scalable
5/8/2022
Landing page improvements reflect in better onboarding metrics 👋🏻
Hadn't done many landing page changes until recently
Keep continually making and testing changes to landing page