Ask HN: Need feedback on my landing page as a first timer | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Need feedback on my landing page as a first timer

5 pointsundopamine14 comments

I'm working on https://undopamine.com?src=hn , currently in the idea validation stage. I've come up with a "minimum viable" landing page.

As a first timer on frontend, I'd appreciate all feedback - headline, design, product, anything. Thanks!

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1. There is so much space in the bottom. Why its scrollable despite not having that much content?

2. After submitting the form, the network tab shows I made whopping 87 requests!

3. You could give some love to the social icons too. I would probably add hover effect similar to what you have in "Join Waitlist" button but shows respective color.

4. No padding around your content for mobile viewport.

Otherwise looks good. Can't wait to try this out :D

Noted. Thanks for taking out the time for this! Reassuring to see you liked the idea.

Does not work with javascript blocked via ublock origin.

Instead, a giant blue bird svg takes up most of the page, scrolling down there is another giant svg, and then a tiny amount of unformatted text.

Thanks. I'll see if I can detect blocked js to show an alternate layout.

If you create the base page as static html plus css then there is no need for "detecting" blocked JS, because the page will display properly everywhere.

And if what shows with the JS blocked is all that is there, then there does not look to be any reason there should be any JS on this page to begin with.

You have two images, images display fine without JS. Although given their native size they need some css or width=/height= attributes to corral them into size. And a small amount of text (no need for JS to display text) and one form field and a submit button (both handled by basic html forms and posting to a CGI endpoint).

The only use of JS as of now is 1. storing URL source param (optional), and 2. to prevent redirection on pressing 'submit'. This one I can probably work upon. I've used tailwind CDN (was warned not to on prod). Didn't know it gets blocked too, as evident from the ugly formatting + those huge SVGs.

Here is how it renders with all JS blocked: https://0x0.st/HLFl.png

That, here, is your first exercice as a first timer. You'll receive many such requests and your job is to decide whether they're relevant to your objectives or not.

It is a discipline even with yourself; just because you think adding something would be cool doesn't mean it's important and doesn't automatically put it on the roadmap.

A highly underrated piece of advice. This is exactly why I launched this website in this state before making any improvements whatsoever.

You probably want to fix the page title:

  <title>Document</title>

Nice catch, fixing it.

First, congrats on getting your idea out there for validation!

Since you asked for feedback, here's my critique of your existing copy:

1. It looks like the primary benefit is "One Click". I don't have a multiple-click bookmarking problem, so this doesn't immediately speak to me.

2. I don't know what link hoarding is, so I may or may not be overwhelmed by it.

3. I have no intention of ever sorting out the mess, and you haven't convinced me the mess is a problem worth solving.

4. There's nothing to tell me what this product actually is. Is it a browser plugin? SaaS? Will it cost anything? Is it open source? Will you be copying my bookmarks into a new system called Undopamine? Or will you be making changes to how my bookmarks are organized in the browser? If it's a browser plugin, which browsers will be supported?

5. Why the name "Undopamine"? Is anyone looking for an antidote to dopamine? Kudos on finding a unique and memorable name, though.

K so that was a lot of negative, and I'm sorry about that. As a peace offering, can I offer the following rewrite for you?

* * *

# Bookmark it all and let Undopamine sort it out.

Overwhelmed by all the great content out there? Wouldn't it be great if someone organized all your bookmarks for you, so you can find what you need when you need it?

Meet Undopamine, your AI bookmarking librarian.

## How AI-powered bookmarking works

1. %This is where I would explain how your product works%

2. %And why it works that way%

3. %Except I have no idea how it works, so I can't%

## Export your data anytime

%This is where I would explain how the user's data isn't locked in. People are understandably wary about committing their time and energy into using a product that might not be around in a year from now. Make sure they know they can take their data with them anytime.%

## Early adopter perks

- First 6 months free

- Special early adopter pricing of only $X

- %Etc. Give the user a reason to sign up now rather than wait to see if your product takes off.%

* * *

Basic gist:

1. Clearly explain what the product's benefit is. ("Bookmark it all and let Undopamine sort it out.")

2. Explain why bookmarking is a problem.

3. Drive the point home. (Copywriters call this agitation. Make the problem feel as big as you can.)

4. Explain how it works. Ideally, show it. If I'm still reading, it's because you've sold me on the problem. So now you have to sell me on your solution. What are they signing up for?

5. Address their objections. They're thinking them anyway, so you might as well raise them and address them. Two objections that came to my mind are concerns about whether the product will still be around in a year (i.e. is it worth my time?) and whether it would be affordable today and tomorrow.

Good lord, did you just casually drop an absolute goldmine of copy advice for me to implement? I might as well have spent weeks reading up on this and still came up with a lousy one.

It's people like you that make us peasants visit here on the regular. I'll implement the entirety of what you suggested. Thank you for this!

I’m glad you found it helpful!! Good luck!

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