Sporttin.com – All About Sports

Share This Post

10 Comments

1. 

   Indy Singh April 9, 2014, 2:58 pm

   Hi Yash,

   Created an account on Sporttin and added a video… “Shooting hoops through google glass”.  Instead of just providing links to images and videos, allow users to upload videos directly to your site, this way you own the content and not Google (YT).

   On the homepage prior to the user logging in, make some content visible…that way the user can see that there is some interaction going on through the site.  Maybe the last post(s) should be made visible, along with most recent members?

   As I understand it, sporttin is a social network for sports – how does a user that is logged in find/communicate with other users.  If you look at rodinhoods, there is an IM feature at the bottom which allows users to find and communicate with other users.  I don’t see anything like this on sporttin.  

   The events and fixtures feature sounds promising – but would have some major hurdles such as why wouldn’t a user just create a facebook group for sports and invite people through there.  Why would they NEED to use your service?

   The domain name is a little hard to remember and spell, and does not pass the radio test.  Would have chosen a better domain for this site, but others on this forum would argue that the domain name itself doesn’t mean ANYTHING – its in the service… I beg to differ on that point.  Having a memorable and relevant domain name will help cut down your marketing spend in the future.

   I like the concept but would need much more to keep my attention and users engaged!

2. 

   Yashwant Joshi April 9, 2014, 6:27 pm

   Hi Indy, Thank you for detailed and honest feedback! appreciate it. Clearly gives a feel that you have explored the site…

   To some of your points made from inclusion, development of site features – Direct upload of videos, most recent/last update visible on homepage and User/Member online feature were considered at the time of building but due to budget constraints (as this version is built from personal savings) for having them included took a backseat. We are working and planning to have them introduced in near future in phased manner. This hopefully should add value from new features introduction point.

   Good to know that you find events and features as promising. To you point on why not use FB for this…valid point but if so, why has it not happened so far on FB yet? I guess then that is a positive. Moreover it would make sense to use sporttin.com as a central sports utility platform given it is a concept/platform developed for all about sports..

   on domain name initially little different to remember/spell but hoping if ones like zynga, tumblr, airbnb, myntra etc could become popular, hope is for sporttin and google key ad words should help as well…

   once again thanks for your feedback …keep writing for further suggestions.

   Regards

   Yashwant.

    

3. 

   Abey John April 11, 2014, 12:32 pm

   Hi Yahswant,  I just had a look at the site and here are my comments:

   1) Where is the content? On a sports site I expect to see the content first before anything else.  A login page is just plain wrong. If this is a network of sports fans the first thing I’d like to see is an intuitive path to my sports community. Once I see my community then being presented with a join/login option makes much more sense.  

   2) The design looks terrible.  Needs a lot of work.  

4. 

   Yashwant Joshi April 11, 2014, 7:11 pm

   Hello Abey, Thanks for your feedback.

   We are working to develop the design to make it more appealing..the login page would as well be revamped shortly.

   don’t think you have registered as most of the things you expect are available on registration.

   keep sending your feedback for improvement along with any positives you may wish to let us know.

   Regards 

5. 

   Abey John April 12, 2014, 7:44 am

   Hi Yashwant,

   I guess I may have been a bit too quick to fire from the hip and did not factor in the current stage in your development cycle.  I’ve signed up and had a look around but I am still not able to get a sense of what to do with the site.  

   Your idea, if I understood it correctly, is to provide a social layer around sporting events and creating communities around each sport.  Brilliant idea. The social web is still in its early stages and community portals around passions are the next wave for sure.

   Design goes to the heart of the user experience.  It goes beyond having a pretty facelift using a rad UI designer and punchy copy written by an ace copywriter.  You need to architect the UX (user experience) from the ground up which means from the moment they land on your site.  

   In its current avatar it looks like a bunch of social features, that is available on any UGC (user generated content) site, with the social elements still missing and nothing I have seen so far actually makes me want to hang around.  There is also no seeming connection to sports other than the useless ticker running at the top spouting platitudes about the ‘glory of sports’.

   For example, why would I, as a sports fan want to write an article.  Or upload a video or add photos? What is the context.  The UI does not give me any hints about the context in which this action should happen.

   User registration as a first step to gain access to your site is “wrong”*.  There is a huge psychological commitment when you are asked to register and unless there is a compelling reason most people will bounce away.  Remember this, a visitor according to google gets a first impression of the site within 15-20 milliseconds and takes a decision whether to remain or bounce away within the first 3 seconds.  

   (*”wrong”: is relative to the current context of your site’s growth and evolution.  If your site cannot be experienced without being logged in, your landing page should entice the visitor to sign up.  For example, he or she should be able to get a feel for all the fans on the site for his/her sport, should be able to see his/her friends who have already signed up – easily done with that facebook facepile widget thingy – and should be persuaded to join in the conversation by signing up)

   Since you are trying to socialize the sporting community your site design has to reflect that aspect from even before registration. 

   Like I said, brilliant idea, but the current development direction looks like it is headed into the miry swamp of vision-execution disconnect.  Looking at the site as it stands, it would look like the developer has jumped into coding based on a bunch of ideas that have been bounced about.  That’s typical with developers.  They are impatient to get to the coding part.  

   What you need to do is take a step back think through the entire UX, translate that into a minimally functional UI that will Attract & Retain Sports Fans. I would suggest going back to the drawing board and redoing the wireframes and really think through the elements, and remove everything that does not have a legitimate reason to be on the page.  Would also suggest getting the book on UX design: Don’t make me think. Especially since you are sinking your personal savings into this.

6. 

   Yashwant Joshi April 12, 2014, 1:41 pm

   Abey, Thanks vm for meaningful feedback. This really helps!! Agree from face lift perspective that would entice people we have to work to do. Many of your points coincide with what is already on our drawing board but due to budget constraints we could not go all out with a bang. Our near future plan is to work on all of them with an aim to incorporate them shortly.

   really like you pointers for developments that almost matches ours!! points taken..

   Regards

    

7. 

   Abey John April 12, 2014, 5:18 pm

   Glad to be of help.  All the best! 🙂

8. 

   Yashwant Joshi October 4, 2014, 1:31 pm

   Hello All,

   It has been almost 5 months from my first post about http://www.sporttin.com new sports community portal showcase on Rodinhoods.

   It was indeed an experience and learning to go back to the drawing board from the feedback received especially from Indy and Abey.

   I have made every attempt withing limited resources to face lift sporttin.com with a new look.

   Better and appealing UI, Content and Context to create an impact when any user lands on the site.

   There are few final touches I am working with my team to complete in next few weeks.

   In addition I am also planning to introduce some new features and functionality that be help sports lovers.

   I would be glad for you to check out new look of http://www.sporttin.com and help send any constructive feedback,inputs for further development and as well create site’s awareness among sports fans

   Lets Play/Lets Share…..All About Sports

   Regards

9. 

   asha chaudhry October 6, 2014, 12:04 pm

   hi yashwant,

   i updated your post from your comment. it would’ve got lost 🙁

   i suggest you add the new look & feel there (a screenshot will do) – but more so, add the new logo as well. while tweeting your post i was looking for your handle and dismissed you owing to the different logo! then i had to go to your site and re-check…

   so kindly add your twitter handle at the end of the post as well.

10. 

    Yashwant Joshi October 6, 2014, 6:54 pm

    Thank you Asha, appreciate your help!

Comments are now closed for this post.