Ask HN: Review Our Website - Online Resume Management (cvboss.com)

[cvboss]

Hi All!

Please, review our website (cvboss.com). This is an online resume/cv management application. We tried to simplify the process of resume creation and maintenance as much as possible.

Your feedback would be very much appreciated. If you could also comment on speed/performance of the web site, that would be terrific!

Backend: Grails/Groovy/Java Front end: YUI Persistence: MySQL

Thanks a lot!

[3pt14159]

1. Pop-up right away = bad/annoying. 2. Having a bookmark/share box on the pop-up where the reflexive [x] should be (to close the damn pop-op = even worse. 3. After I finally figure out how to close the damn pop-up (by clicking 'try demo') what happens? ANOTHER DAMN POP-UP.

Now for the good news:

4. The actual app is damn marvelous. It is a great idea and the execution is good.

Here is what you have to understand though: 1000 people hitting your site will make a .5 second decision whether or not to stay. In that critical time you need to portray what you guys actually do QUICKLY! Slices of screen shots. Etc.. Check out freshbooks.com, (my employer) right off the bat what do you see?

"The Fastest Way To Track Time and Invoice Your Clients" "Send Invoices and Estimates Online" "Web Based Time Tracking" All with screen shots of the actual app and a giant toll free number, that inspires confidence in our longevity.

You should do the same with your service. "Professional, EASY, resumes and CVs in seconds" "We help you get to the interview, the rest is all you!"

Something like that. Polish (er... scrap and start over with) your splash page and you will have one solid product.

Best of luck

Edit:

You should also get a copy writer to start filling your blog with some actual useful content, unless you think you will have the time/will power to do it your self.

Right now it looks like you guys are just starting up (which is fine) but you should definitely hire someone to keep that blog roll going, or you are going to look stale. I know some good (University Educated) copy writers that could easily help you out there. The important thing to remember with a corporate blog is that absolutely no more than 20% of your content should be about your site. The other 80% should be useful (and original) articles that have to do with something relating to your service. "How to find companies with a good corporate atmosphere" "Crossing the t's on your resume" "The interviewer says 'come casual', but do they mean it?"

Hope this helps!

[cvboss]

Thanks a lot for your feedback, 3pt14159! Very practical advice, I would definitely start working on a new, better "selling" landing page. The idea of hiring someone to help with a blog is also good, however I think it might be costly for me at the moment... If you don't mind me asking, how much those guys charge? I understand there is a huge difference if I give my text to proof-read or order original content... Maybe some rough figure... Thanks!

[simonk]

The last 9/10 blog posts on FreshBooks are about FreshBooks?

[3pt14159]

Heh. That is true, a lot going on lately around integrations and sxsw. You got me here.

We did used to have many more "this is what we learned about server caches" type posts when we were starting out.

[simonk]

Opening the site automatically brings up a box to login or signup. Annoying as I didn't even know what the site did at all. Maybe just push everyone into a demo mode and put a sign-up link on there.

Also try and contribute more to a community before you spam it.

[cvboss]

Thanks a lot, simonk, I will look into this idea.

ps/ I didnt intend to "spam", really. It's just an attempt to get feedback from the community I highly respect and value. Anyway, point taken, thanks! :)

[simonk]

I understand and other people do it to. Just having a few karma points and comments elsewhere make people feel your here for more than to promote your business.

Also 3 pop-ups before I even get to the site?

[volida]

the UX is broken