2. Hello
who I am what weâll talk
about
Michael Hollauf The Story of
Co-Founder of MindMeister MindMeister
Email: âą why usability is key
michael@mindmeister.com
âą (ab)using viral marketing
Skype / Yahoo / Twitter:
mhollauf
âą some other experiences
and observations
5. About Us
Who, MindMiester?
Collaborative web-based mind mapping tool
Based on Ruby on Rails & AJAX
6. About Us
Who, MindMiester?
Collaborative web-based mind mapping tool
Based on Ruby on Rails & AJAX
hmm...
7. About Us
Who, MindMiester?
Collaborative web-based mind mapping tool
Based on Ruby on Rails & AJAX
hmm...
Itâs like Google Docs, but for mind maps
19. Background
Our past
8+ years in IT industry
Lived through Web 1.0 boom
Quit to set up own company
20. Background
Our past
8+ years in IT industry
Lived through Web 1.0 boom
Quit to set up own company
Drivers to start own site
Liked Web 2.0 activity
Discovered Ruby on Rails in 2005
Free resources in company
27. The Plan
Create web-based mind mapping tool
Based on HTML / CSS / JavaScript / AJAX only
Enable real-time collaboration (with effects...)
28. The Plan
Create web-based mind mapping tool
Based on HTML / CSS / JavaScript / AJAX only
Enable real-time collaboration (with effects...)
Focus on
Simple and intuitive interface
Fewer features, no learning required
Appealing graphic design
45. The Name
Choosing the name
took nearly half a year
lots of beer mat scribbles and ajaxwhois
searches
46. The Name
Choosing the name
took nearly half a year
lots of beer mat scribbles and ajaxwhois
searches
It should be
unique
memorable
innovative, if possible
with available .com domain ... ?
54. Feb 12,
2007 Private Beta Start
Why you should do a beta phase
Two launches
quot;privatequot; makes it exclusive
You get lots of feedback ...
55. Feb 12,
2007 Private Beta Start
Why you should do a beta phase
Two launches
quot;privatequot; makes it exclusive
You get lots of feedback ...
Tips
Invite everyone you know (200+)
Add an invitation button / code
No longer than 2 months
Upgrade offer at end
69. May 1,
2007 Going Live
Statistics at Go Live Statistics one week after
Go Live
70. Other Awards
Best User Centered Design
Hasso Plattner Ventures
July 2007
Innovation Award 2008
Initiative Mittelstand
February 2008
European Top 100 Winner
Red Herring
March 2008
80. Design & Usability
Lessons learned
THE differentiator for MindMeister
Every euro spent on design is a euro well spent
81. Design & Usability
Lessons learned
THE differentiator for MindMeister
Every euro spent on design is a euro well spent
Less is so much more
82. Design & Usability
Lessons learned
THE differentiator for MindMeister
Every euro spent on design is a euro well spent
Less is so much more
Recommendations
83. Design & Usability
Lessons learned
THE differentiator for MindMeister
Every euro spent on design is a euro well spent
Less is so much more
Recommendations
Get a great designer on board
84. Design & Usability
Lessons learned
THE differentiator for MindMeister
Every euro spent on design is a euro well spent
Less is so much more
Recommendations
Get a great designer on board
Target non-technical users
85. Design & Usability
Lessons learned
THE differentiator for MindMeister
Every euro spent on design is a euro well spent
Less is so much more
Recommendations
Get a great designer on board
Target non-technical users
Watch every Apple demo
97. Marketing
Doâs
Write to bloggers
Post site to app portals
Create an API
98. Marketing
Doâs
Write to bloggers
Post site to app portals
Create an API
Write regular newsletter & blog posts
99. Marketing
Doâs
Write to bloggers
Post site to app portals
Create an API
Write regular newsletter & blog posts
âAdd to del.icio.us / diggâ button
100. Marketing
Doâs
Write to bloggers
Post site to app portals
Create an API
Write regular newsletter & blog posts
âAdd to del.icio.us / diggâ button
Spend time (and money) on SEO
101. Marketing
Doâs
Write to bloggers
Post site to app portals
Create an API
Write regular newsletter & blog posts
âAdd to del.icio.us / diggâ button
Spend time (and money) on SEO
Be generous with Premium accounts
102. Marketing
Doâs
Write to bloggers
Post site to app portals
Create an API
Write regular newsletter & blog posts
âAdd to del.icio.us / diggâ button
Spend time (and money) on SEO
Be generous with Premium accounts
Track everything!
103. Marketing
Doâs
Write to bloggers
Post site to app portals
Create an API
Write regular newsletter & blog posts
âAdd to del.icio.us / diggâ button
Spend time (and money) on SEO
Be generous with Premium accounts
Track everything!
111. Other Experiences
Business Model
Don't start charging before its really stable
Carefully select premium features
Viral / âSpread the wordâ features
Business Use features
Think of students etc
114. Other Experiences
Technical Issues
Everybody has them
It pays to be honest and upfront
Explain why it happened (and why it wonât happen again)
Announce maintenance windows
117. Other Experiences
Support
Excellent,
Be responsive - people love thanks! It's so great to
getting an answer within receive such a positive
response from you, it's such a
minutes refreshing change from all
the other websites that
just ignore my
Hi
... thanks for Michael,
the quick Well, thatâs about the
reply. Makes me fall in fastest turn around
support Iâve ever had.
love with Mindmeister Not even enough time
even more! ... to think about going
118. Current Status
Investment round closed
New version
out soon
Business and
Academic
Editions
Lots of new
features!