J
junyu fang
Guest
In addition to writing code and polishing product details, independent developers must master one key skill: communication.
Communication not only determines whether or not users can gain trust, but also directly impacts a productโs downloads, usage, and reputation.
This article, drawing on real-world examples, summarizes common communication skills and pitfalls in independent development, hoping to provide inspiration for those on the independent development journey.
Many independent developers share a common trait: they enjoy coding but struggle with communication. They believe that โgood wine needs no bushโ and that a good product will attract users. The reality is, a good product doesnโt speak for itself; only communication can make others understand its value. Otherwise, a good product will be like a pearl on the beach, lost amidst a sea of sand.
Usersโ initial understanding of an app often comes from promotional posts posted by the developer on social media platforms. Users express their opinions in response to these posts, and the developerโs responses and attitudes are often considered part of the user experience.
When a user asks a question, different responses yield different results. Good communication can attract more users to experience your app. Once a sufficient initial user base is reached, app stores like the App Store and Google Play will improve your appโs ranking based on downloads and ratings. If communication with users is poor, you wonโt be able to attract these initial users, and thus fail to generate this positive feedback.
Communication also allows you to understand usersโ true needs. Many feature points and optimization areas may be hidden in user feedback, which can also represent potential market opportunities.
1. Highlight Strengths and Minimize Weaknesses
When introducing your product to users, focus on explaining why itโs worth downloading, rather than simply offering a duplicate app in the app store.
Donโt proactively expose your productโs shortcomings. If users ask about them, provide a reasonable explanation and a viable alternative.
2. Donโt Directly Reject Requests
When users raise requests, donโt immediately say โno.โ Your rejection could permanently lose them.
You can document and evaluate these requests first, and try to meet appropriate requests. For new requests, you can offer a positive response like, โIโll consider adding them to the optimization plan.โ
3. Provide Appropriate Reminders to Build Trust
During communication, you can highlight features that will be optimized later or explain areas that require payment. Being transparent and sincere can foster trust.
4. Offer Discounts Early on to Build Word-of-Mouth
In the early stages of app promotion, consider offering limited free access or free activation codes. Donโt be afraid to โlose money to gain publicity.โ
Discounts, free trials, and additional support are all designed to attract the first wave of users.
Some time ago, my mother was selling rice balls at a scenic spot and asked me to go to the wholesale market to buy the ingredients. During the process of buying the nori, I deeply realized the importance of communication, which inspired me to write this article.
At first, I went to a dried seafood store and asked the owner for 100 sheets of loose nori. The owner showed me plastic-wrapped nori. I thought the quantity was too small and only suitable for selling to tourists. The owner said, โWe donโt have bulk nori,โ without any explanation or other suggestions.
The second dried seafood store also only had plastic-wrapped nori. After learning about my need, the owner said he could add me on WeChat to contact the manufacturer, but he never heard back from me again.
Finally, at a grocery store, I told the owner about my need for loose nori. She took out plastic-wrapped nori, told me the price and quantity (15 yuan for 30 sheets), and asked me to calculate that buying 100 sheets would require about 3โ4 packages. When I asked if they sold bulk seaweed, she explained that they didnโt sell it โ it dried out and spoiled easily, so it had to be vacuum-packed.
This reminded me of selling seaweed at a scenic spot last year. Large sheets of loose seaweed needed to be cut into pieces and placed in square baskets, then sealed with plastic wrap to prevent prolonged exposure to air. Otherwise, the seaweed would change from crispy to sticky or dry, depending on the humidity, affecting its flavor.
After understanding why they didnโt sell bulk seaweed, I not only bought some from the proprietress but also bought other ingredients.
This is the difference in communication:
The previous vendors, lacking knowledge of the product, simply said โnoโ when unable to resolve the customerโs issue. The customerโs issue was shelved, and the transaction ended.
The proprietress went the extra mile, first satisfying my information needs and then providing a reasonable explanation. This effectively offered an โalternative solution.โ This not only closed the transaction but also fostered trust.
1. Responses to Product Comparisons
On Reddit, I promoted my Mac image compression tool, "ImageSlim".
Someone asked, "How does it compare to ImageOptim?"
I originally planned to honestly compare the pros and cons of each feature. Both are open source and free, but ImageOptim integrates more third-party libraries, and ImageSlim doesn't support GIF compression. The compression rates for formats like PNG aren't much different.
I sent this detailed comparison data to ChatGPT and asked them to translate it into English. They told me that my response might not be appropriate because many of the features were incomplete, which would give users a negative impression of my app compared to ImageOptim, potentially turning off potential users.
ChatGPT suggested I highlight the product's strengths and change my response to: "ImageSlim" and ImageOptim offer similar compression quality, but ImageSlim focuses on a different experience, supporting 47 languages, having a simple interface, using the native macOS compression engine, using third-party open source libraries, and offering drag-and-drop functionality. I briefly mentioned the differences.
Users aren't shareholders. When answering questions about a product's strengths and weaknesses, you don't need to reveal every flaw. The key to communication is making them feel it's worth trying.
2. The Wrong Refusal
Another user left a message asking for a free product activation code, and I immediately declined.
But then I reflected: Since the app is open source, I could have simply given them the GitHub link and told them they could download the packaged app there, or provided a TestFlight link.
Each early user can potentially bring more exposure and feedback. Rejecting them directly means missing a potential channel for promotion. If I had offered an โalternative solution,โ they might have thought the app was suitable and shared it with their friends. If I had declined, they might never have used my product.
So, when a user asks for help, donโt be quick to refuse. Try to find an โalternative solutionโ for them.
These techniques apply not only to independent developers but also to restaurants, barbershops, and takeout businesses:
To attract customers, restaurants must consider offering low-priced dishes. For example, if a customer wants half-price shredded potatoes for 6 yuan, donโt reject their request outright. Instead, offer the half-price option and let them in first to view the menu. Offer smaller portions and explain that the half-price option applies to the smaller portion, while the larger portion is the menu price.
If a restaurant doesnโt actively attract customers during mealtimes and no one is dining in, new customers may assume the food is unhygienic or tastes bad, leading to a lack of diners and a lack of patronage. Good restaurants are always busy. When there are no customers, restaurants must quickly attract them, even at a loss, to keep customers inside. This will attract more customers.
Barbershops are similar: when business is slow, they need to create buzz; otherwise, passersby might suspect their barbers are not good.
On food delivery platforms, new businesses need to rely on fake orders to drive their initial orders, which will boost traffic. Otherwise, no one will order from a food delivery restaurant without reviews.
The same applies to independent developers. App Store and Google Play rankings are influenced by factors like downloads and ratings. Without an initial user base, your product will be difficult to discover.
Whether youโre a restaurant, barber shop, food delivery service, or independent developer, you must attract as many users as possible in the early stages, allowing more people to understand and experience your product. Your service attitude will also leave a good impression on potential customers. If your product and service attitude is good enough, users will promote your product. If users donโt like your product, you wonโt lose anything.
Remember: Code makes a product exist; communication makes it usable.
Independent developers are both technical developers and, most importantly, salespeople.
Continue reading...
Communication not only determines whether or not users can gain trust, but also directly impacts a productโs downloads, usage, and reputation.
This article, drawing on real-world examples, summarizes common communication skills and pitfalls in independent development, hoping to provide inspiration for those on the independent development journey.
โ . Why Communication is More Important Than You Think
Many independent developers share a common trait: they enjoy coding but struggle with communication. They believe that โgood wine needs no bushโ and that a good product will attract users. The reality is, a good product doesnโt speak for itself; only communication can make others understand its value. Otherwise, a good product will be like a pearl on the beach, lost amidst a sea of sand.
Usersโ initial understanding of an app often comes from promotional posts posted by the developer on social media platforms. Users express their opinions in response to these posts, and the developerโs responses and attitudes are often considered part of the user experience.
When a user asks a question, different responses yield different results. Good communication can attract more users to experience your app. Once a sufficient initial user base is reached, app stores like the App Store and Google Play will improve your appโs ranking based on downloads and ratings. If communication with users is poor, you wonโt be able to attract these initial users, and thus fail to generate this positive feedback.
Communication also allows you to understand usersโ true needs. Many feature points and optimization areas may be hidden in user feedback, which can also represent potential market opportunities.
II. Core Communication Skills
1. Highlight Strengths and Minimize Weaknesses
When introducing your product to users, focus on explaining why itโs worth downloading, rather than simply offering a duplicate app in the app store.
Donโt proactively expose your productโs shortcomings. If users ask about them, provide a reasonable explanation and a viable alternative.
2. Donโt Directly Reject Requests
When users raise requests, donโt immediately say โno.โ Your rejection could permanently lose them.
You can document and evaluate these requests first, and try to meet appropriate requests. For new requests, you can offer a positive response like, โIโll consider adding them to the optimization plan.โ
3. Provide Appropriate Reminders to Build Trust
During communication, you can highlight features that will be optimized later or explain areas that require payment. Being transparent and sincere can foster trust.
4. Offer Discounts Early on to Build Word-of-Mouth
In the early stages of app promotion, consider offering limited free access or free activation codes. Donโt be afraid to โlose money to gain publicity.โ
Discounts, free trials, and additional support are all designed to attract the first wave of users.
โ ข. Real-Life Case Study: Nori Buying and Selling
Some time ago, my mother was selling rice balls at a scenic spot and asked me to go to the wholesale market to buy the ingredients. During the process of buying the nori, I deeply realized the importance of communication, which inspired me to write this article.
At first, I went to a dried seafood store and asked the owner for 100 sheets of loose nori. The owner showed me plastic-wrapped nori. I thought the quantity was too small and only suitable for selling to tourists. The owner said, โWe donโt have bulk nori,โ without any explanation or other suggestions.
The second dried seafood store also only had plastic-wrapped nori. After learning about my need, the owner said he could add me on WeChat to contact the manufacturer, but he never heard back from me again.
Finally, at a grocery store, I told the owner about my need for loose nori. She took out plastic-wrapped nori, told me the price and quantity (15 yuan for 30 sheets), and asked me to calculate that buying 100 sheets would require about 3โ4 packages. When I asked if they sold bulk seaweed, she explained that they didnโt sell it โ it dried out and spoiled easily, so it had to be vacuum-packed.
This reminded me of selling seaweed at a scenic spot last year. Large sheets of loose seaweed needed to be cut into pieces and placed in square baskets, then sealed with plastic wrap to prevent prolonged exposure to air. Otherwise, the seaweed would change from crispy to sticky or dry, depending on the humidity, affecting its flavor.
After understanding why they didnโt sell bulk seaweed, I not only bought some from the proprietress but also bought other ingredients.
This is the difference in communication:
The previous vendors, lacking knowledge of the product, simply said โnoโ when unable to resolve the customerโs issue. The customerโs issue was shelved, and the transaction ended.
The proprietress went the extra mile, first satisfying my information needs and then providing a reasonable explanation. This effectively offered an โalternative solution.โ This not only closed the transaction but also fostered trust.
IV. Independent Development Cases
1. Responses to Product Comparisons
On Reddit, I promoted my Mac image compression tool, "ImageSlim".
Someone asked, "How does it compare to ImageOptim?"
I originally planned to honestly compare the pros and cons of each feature. Both are open source and free, but ImageOptim integrates more third-party libraries, and ImageSlim doesn't support GIF compression. The compression rates for formats like PNG aren't much different.
I sent this detailed comparison data to ChatGPT and asked them to translate it into English. They told me that my response might not be appropriate because many of the features were incomplete, which would give users a negative impression of my app compared to ImageOptim, potentially turning off potential users.
ChatGPT suggested I highlight the product's strengths and change my response to: "ImageSlim" and ImageOptim offer similar compression quality, but ImageSlim focuses on a different experience, supporting 47 languages, having a simple interface, using the native macOS compression engine, using third-party open source libraries, and offering drag-and-drop functionality. I briefly mentioned the differences.
Users aren't shareholders. When answering questions about a product's strengths and weaknesses, you don't need to reveal every flaw. The key to communication is making them feel it's worth trying.
2. The Wrong Refusal
Another user left a message asking for a free product activation code, and I immediately declined.
But then I reflected: Since the app is open source, I could have simply given them the GitHub link and told them they could download the packaged app there, or provided a TestFlight link.
Each early user can potentially bring more exposure and feedback. Rejecting them directly means missing a potential channel for promotion. If I had offered an โalternative solution,โ they might have thought the app was suitable and shared it with their friends. If I had declined, they might never have used my product.
So, when a user asks for help, donโt be quick to refuse. Try to find an โalternative solutionโ for them.
โ ค. Universal Communication Strategies
These techniques apply not only to independent developers but also to restaurants, barbershops, and takeout businesses:
To attract customers, restaurants must consider offering low-priced dishes. For example, if a customer wants half-price shredded potatoes for 6 yuan, donโt reject their request outright. Instead, offer the half-price option and let them in first to view the menu. Offer smaller portions and explain that the half-price option applies to the smaller portion, while the larger portion is the menu price.
If a restaurant doesnโt actively attract customers during mealtimes and no one is dining in, new customers may assume the food is unhygienic or tastes bad, leading to a lack of diners and a lack of patronage. Good restaurants are always busy. When there are no customers, restaurants must quickly attract them, even at a loss, to keep customers inside. This will attract more customers.
Barbershops are similar: when business is slow, they need to create buzz; otherwise, passersby might suspect their barbers are not good.
On food delivery platforms, new businesses need to rely on fake orders to drive their initial orders, which will boost traffic. Otherwise, no one will order from a food delivery restaurant without reviews.
The same applies to independent developers. App Store and Google Play rankings are influenced by factors like downloads and ratings. Without an initial user base, your product will be difficult to discover.
Whether youโre a restaurant, barber shop, food delivery service, or independent developer, you must attract as many users as possible in the early stages, allowing more people to understand and experience your product. Your service attitude will also leave a good impression on potential customers. If your product and service attitude is good enough, users will promote your product. If users donโt like your product, you wonโt lose anything.
VI. Summary: Golden Rules of Communication for Independent Developers
Emphasize strengths first, then address weaknesses.
Donโt say โnoโ easily.
Be sincere and transparent.
In the early stages of promotion, even if it means making concessions, you should focus on building user base.
Use explanations and alternatives wisely, avoiding blunt refusal.
Remember: Code makes a product exist; communication makes it usable.
Independent developers are both technical developers and, most importantly, salespeople.
Continue reading...
