from Hacker News

The developer dilemma: idea is easy, building is easy, selling is impossible

by tomdeal on 8/3/11, 9:32 PM with 6 comments

• by gage on 8/3/11, 10:03 PM

  I think you're doing the right thing by writing this story up and posting it on HN. You certainly got me to check the game out. Keep it up!

• by dreamdu5t on 8/3/11, 11:20 PM

  Selling doesn't matter. Just get users and people will give you money to be a startup. It's the thing to do you know.

• by Lukebream on 8/4/11, 2:15 AM

  Your article is an interesesting read and despite it's length I stuck with it to the end.

  I didn't try the game but I did click thru and have a look at your homepage / landing page and to be honest it's not very inspiring.

  It really didn't motivate me to register. There is too much text and to be brutal it's not pretty enough.

  You game us being compared to an iPhone app... If you take a look at a typical iPhone apps landing page ( if they have a web presence) they are visually stunning. They are also very simple and you immediately (in 5 seconds) get what the app is all about.

  Fir example you need a big button for a user to get started. It's too confusing at the moment.

  There are loads of web tutorials on 'landing page optimisation' you should start with this.

  Then once that is sorted then you can work on driving some targeted traffic and see what happens.