Launching my "startup” CVcka.cz
I just finished my first project after I learnt how to code and graduated from NEXT Academy bootcamp in Malaysia.
THE VISION - www.CVcka.cz
The project aims to help transfer a person’s full potential into their CV.
The core function is that a visitor can upload their CV and we will review it & provide a feedback. The review is a half-automated by a computer reading what you’ve got in your CV and a half-manually by providing a personal comment from an expert (HR/marketing).
Example here.
You can either fix all the issues we will alert you about by yourself or you can ask us to fix it / make a new CV by the latest HR trends - and this is the business logic how the project will make money.
An e-commerce page where you can buy your CV, cover letter or LinkedIn profile - just provide us some brief information about yourself and we will make you a bespoke CV for you.
The inspiration came from www.cvknowhow.com - this project received investment from a millionaire and one of the investors from Dragon Den - James Caan. Another example of a similar project is www.cvnow.com.
THE DIFFERENCE - cvknowhow
There is basically no difference in functionality, but there is a language different. The vision of my project is that it will be translated into local languages across EU - Germany, Polish, Czech, Spanish, Slovakia and of course English. On the end, we could provide a CV in any EU language to anyone.
THE MARKETING
The marketing tool would be the outstanding free CV review and then email marketing and data-driven marketing. Helping / converting as many users who asked for a free CV review into our paid customers. Measure & increase ROI.
THE TECH SIDE
I learnt how to code ~ 3 months ago in Malaysia. To build this project from scratch on my own was challenging. So many obstacles, so many things I learnt.
This is the result - www.CVcka.cz:
Tech stack: Ruby, Rails, PostgreSQL, JavaScript, jQuery, TDD (RSpec, Capybara, FactoryGirls, Guard), Git, ActiveAdmin + Devise, ActiveMailer: Sidekiq, Redis & background jobs, AWS S3, Slack webhook, GoPay payment gateway, Drift Live Chat, Heroku, Bootstrap, Slim ...
THE MISTAKES
1. My coding mind was stronger than my business mind:
I started to explore new technology / principles on the project instead of focusing on building MVP (minimum valuable product) & launch it as soon as possible. I was playing around and tried to implement every cool feature I found on the internet.
2. Forget the CORE function
I forgot what is the core function - the free CV review. I started to work on the e-commerce side even without knowing if people would take the first step - to upload their CV (full of worth data). I started to offering too soon other services that I have no idea how I will do it yet - like LinkedIn & cover letters. There is definitely not enough content to convince customers to buy these ones.
3. Split choices with call to action
Thanks to the e-commerce page I split the call to action elements on each page to two: REVIEW YOUR CV | OR | BUY OUR CV.
If I’d keep the call to action just for the Review your CV, two situations can happen: 1. A visitor will upload their CV (~ 50%) or 2. A visitor will leave (~50%).
Because I split the call to action, there are three situations: 1. A visitor will upload their CV (33%), 2. A visitor will want to buy CV (33%), or 3. A visitor will leave (33%). If they would click on the “buy CV”, there is no enough content and communication how we will actually build it so the visitor will probably leave (resulted in losing 66%). Of course I can add the content and make it better but this will take lots of time without knowing what the customers actually want or getting feedback. The core function was the most important step to convert visitors to customers.
4. Automation too early
There is no real potential customer who used the website yet. Even of the fact, I started to automate most of the processes. When someone will upload their CV, I will get a Slack notification with a link, where I will just add the overall score and a comment on the CV. That’s it, that’s my job.
The other things are automated. After the review is done, it will also send an email to the user with the review - and although the email template is so beautiful, it won’t be personal anymore. After ~ 24 hours it will send another email with another cool tech toy - TYPE FORM - to ask for a feedback - instead of asking me personally and communicate with users: what was their expectation... if the review was correct... if they need any help etc. I just automated it and spend some extra time in developing these features that might actually hurt the project.
5. The colourful design
I didn’t set any colour pattern that I will use throughout the project - or brand identity if you want. I started with yellow, red, gray but I ended with blue, yellow, red, gray and green - which does not look a professional at all. I feel like looking at a coloring book for kids.
WHAT I WOULD DO BETTER NEXT TIME
1. I’d keep the core feature in my mind all the time and focus on building it instead of playing around with the codes. I’d avoid thinking about the business side if it is possible and build it later after getting some real feedback on the project. Now I understand why MVP is so powerful. Just one call to action - which is in this case to upload CV - get an email address in return for further communication.
2. I would avoid any automation on this early stage and instead communicate with customers one by one directly - asking for feedback etc.
3. I’d do some wireframing what I want to actually accomplish and some brand/colour pattern with a little help of websites like: http://colorhunt.co/
4. I would launch it at least 1 month earlier and build on top of the core function other features by feedbacks I’d receive - and focusing on the content deeper.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE PROJECT
I will launch some PPC campaign and I will see how many people who are looking for a job will actually upload their CV for a free review - I will also ask them what they think about the project, if the review is useful for them and if they’d be willing to pay someone to make them a perfect CV.
I will measure everything and I will see what I will do next - I might make it simple with a single call to action element or add more content and tried to convince people to buy our services. (?)
WHAT IS THE FUTURE IN GENERAL
I hope this is my first project of many. I already got a few more ideas for next “startups” I’d like to build them and at the same time avoid all the mistakes I made here.
For example, a subscription based website where you can add your friends + their birthday and we will send you a notification a few days before their birthday to choose a simple present for them (like a wish card or something) and we will send it to them on the day of birthday - every single year. There are a few challenges that I will need to solve: How to market it, How to communicate it, What present it could be... There is also a vision - not just birthdays, but also anniversaries etc, but again, make it simple on the beginning and keep the MVP simplicity before anything big (and automated).
FACTS
#1: Finished & launched the project on my birthday 19th May 16 a few days ago when I turned to 26 years old guy.
#2: The first time I wrote about the idea was ~ 1.5 years ago here.
#3: I pitched the idea on the NEXT Academy bootcamp in Malaysia (photo above).