At The Future of Web Apps London, Kevin shares the secrets to digg.com and wefollow.com's explosive user growth. He covers ten unique strategies that turn passive users into passionate advocates.
At The Future of Web Apps London, Kevin shares the secrets to digg.com and wefollow.com's explosive user growth. He covers ten unique strategies that turn passive users into passionate advocates.
You'll learn:
1. How to encourage users to tweet about your app 2. The concept of "The Circle of Life" in web apps and how it affects you 3. Growing your userbase: What worked and what didn't for digg, WeFollow and Pownce 4. And more ...
When I cover the Ego, it’s important to remember that I don’t believe these principles should dictate which features you’re building, but more as a way to evaluate how a certain feature may subconsciously impact the features usage
When I cover the Ego, it’s important to remember that I don’t believe these principles should dictate which features you’re building, but more as a way to evaluate how a certain feature may subconsciously impact the features usage
why has twitter exploded? it’s a popularity contest. It has turned celebrities into free spokesperson - that’s unheard of - this is millions of dollars of free media exposure. Love it or hate it, this has helped twitter grow
2: this turned celebrities into instant mouthpieces
2: this turned celebrities into instant mouthpieces
2: this turned celebrities into instant mouthpieces
Digg top user list was very important during the early days.
#1. Ego
• Ask yourself: Does this feature increase the
users self-worth or stoke the ego?
#1. Ego
• Ask yourself: Does this feature increase the
users self-worth or stoke the ego?
• If a user is contributing to my system, what
emotional rewards do they walk away with?
What (visible) rewards will they receive?
Twitter Followers
Why do followers work?
Why do followers work?
• Twitter provides a (largely) one way
communication platform - zero expectations,
approachable for any user
Why do followers work?
• Twitter provides a (largely) one way
communication platform - zero expectations,
approachable for any user
• Follower counts take on the form of social
currency - in the users mind the more the
better
Why do followers work?
• Twitter provides a (largely) one way
communication platform - zero expectations,
approachable for any user
• Follower counts take on the form of social
currency - in the users mind the more the
better
• Increased follower counts (even by spammers)
gives individuals the false impression of
audience
Digg Leaderboard
Digg Stories
#2. Simplicity
#2. Simplicity
#2. Simplicity
• Stop over building features
#2. Simplicity
• Stop over building features
• Pick 2-3 things to focus on
#2. Simplicity
• Stop over building features
• Pick 2-3 things to focus on
• Ask yourself: Is there anything
I can take out of this feature?
#3. Build & Release
#3. Build & Release
• Stop thinking you understand your users
#3. Build & Release
• Stop thinking you understand your users
• Learn from what they’re actually doing on
your site, not what you think they’ll do
#3. Build & Release
• Stop thinking you understand your users
• Learn from what they’re actually doing on
your site, not what you think they’ll do
• Decide on what you’re going to build... and
build it (avoid analysis paralysis)
#3. Build & Release
• Stop thinking you understand your users
• Learn from what they’re actually doing on
your site, not what you think they’ll do
• Decide on what you’re going to build... and
build it (avoid analysis paralysis)
• Build, release, iterate, and repeat
#4. Hack The Press
#4. Hack The Press
• Invite only system (Pownce, Digg v3)
#4. Hack The Press
• Invite only system (Pownce, Digg v3)
#4. Hack The Press
• Invite only system (Pownce, Digg v3)
• Talk to the junior bloggers
#4. Hack The Press
• Invite only system (Pownce, Digg v3)
• Talk to the junior bloggers
• Attend parties for events you can’t afford -
network w/influencers, bring a demo
#5. Connect w/your
community
#5. Connect w/your
community
• Start a podcast (it’s OK if not everyone
listens)
#5. Connect w/your
community
• Start a podcast (it’s OK if not everyone
listens)
• Throw a launch party, then yearly/quarterly
events - invite the press/influencers
personally - don’t tell the bar
#5. Connect w/your
community
• Start a podcast (it’s OK if not everyone
listens)
• Throw a launch party, then yearly/quarterly
events - invite the press/influencers
personally - don’t tell the bar
• Engage w/the community, be an active
participant your own ecosystem
#6. Advisors
#6. Advisors
• What technical problems are you going to
have?
#6. Advisors
• What technical problems are you going to
have?
• Advisors can be helpful in a whole slew of
areas (marketing/hiring/bizdev)
#6. Advisors
• What technical problems are you going to
have?
• Advisors can be helpful in a whole slew of
areas (marketing/hiring/bizdev)
• Stock compensation, typically not a board
seat, solid advisors help during fund raising
#7. Leverage your userbase
to spread the word
#8. Does your product
provide value for 3rd party
sites?
#9. Analyze your traffic
#9. Analyze your traffic
• Install Google analytics
#9. Analyze your traffic
• Install Google analytics
• Entrance sources (search?)
#9. Analyze your traffic
• Install Google analytics
• Entrance sources (search?)
• Paths through site
#9. Analyze your traffic
• Install Google analytics
• Entrance sources (search?)
• Paths through site
• Top exit pages
Tyhoon Um
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