Value Array examples?

[daru]

Picked an idea and currently working on the value array. In UNSCRIPTED MJ shows a value array for Uber since he had domain knowledge in transportation. Very helpful to grasp the concept!

To further improve my, and others value array, do you guys have other examples? Preferably from your own successful (or failed) businesses if you are comfortable disclosing that.

I can start.
My idea is a SaaS for older generation business owners in my native language. The value array is so something like this besides main features/benefits:

• Native language (English is often poor and a barrier to use this kind of software)
  
• Excellent support, call me whenever etc.
• Big text
• Main feature visualization/layout very clean and easy to scan
• Try-out without any need to fill out credit card number or other bullshit info like shoe size.
• About page with story about everyone talking about easy to use software that is very seldom accomplished. Software is stupid, not the user. Personal with high quality photo (my brother is a photographer).
  
• Overall super clean design.
• Educate user about this kind of software and pros/cons etc.
• Different pay methods (credit card, mailed invoice etc.)
• Very easy and clear login page/form
• Encrypted data, No-one except you will be able to see this data. (not in beta perhaps)
• Get started in minutes instead of hours compared to competitors
• Self-explainable user interaction
• Careful sales copy. Just list the benefits basically. (Target customer and the country I'm operating within is sensitive to pushy copy)
• Don't use fancy abbreviations, flashy words or English terms.
• Clear pricing and cancellation path
• Designing for older people makes it good for younger people as well. (I don't screen younger users/customers)
• FAQ with max 6 bullets. (if possible)

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I will post this twice since it is relevant to both threads:

I tried a new barber shop this week.

I went at a time when I thought the place would be empty with no wait.

I walked in and it was just me and another man with his daughter.

Two haircutters were cutting hair.

At the desk was a sign-in computer. I almost missed it but figured out that I need to sign in. The interface was pretty self-explanatory, so no worries there.

After signing in, it said I was next and that my wait was 10 minutes.

I ended up waiting over an hour.

What happened?

The man who was there (before me) did NOT sign in. He didn't see the sign-in kiosk.

When it was my turn on the computer, he threw a hissy fit. So the hairdressers took him and his daughter first. I didn't have a problem with that because he was there before me.

But the execution of this "system" was piss poor.

In the hour I waited, I counted at least 10 other people who came in. Some signed in. Others did not. One after another, customers came in and looked confused. Other's got frustrated and left. I saw 4 who exited.

The place was grossly understaffed.

The hairdressers did NOTHING to inform customers of the shop's process -- they just hoped that they saw the sign in.

In that hour I waited, I'd estimate this shop lost nearly $100. How much are they losing in the entire day? The week? The month? Could be $10K/mo, all due to poor execution.

Like the barber shop before this, I will unlikely go back. (And I haven't even discussed the haircut -- the main product!)

This is the essence of the value array and how it is dissected to provide relative value.

Any thing that can be improved or differentiated can be skewed positively to provide incremental value.

• Native language (English is often poor and a barrier to use this kind of software)

• Excellent support, call me whenever etc.

• Big text

• Main feature visualization/layout very clean and easy to scan

• Try-out without any need to fill out credit card number or other bullshit info like shoe size.

• About page with story about everyone talking about easy to use software that is very seldom accomplished. Software is stupid, not the user. Personal with high quality photo (my brother is a photographer).

• Overall super clean design.

• Educate user about this kind of software and pros/cons etc.

• Different pay methods (credit card, mailed invoice etc.)

• Very easy and clear login page/form

• Encrypted data, No-one except you will be able to see this data. (not in beta perhaps)

• Get started in minutes instead of hours compared to competitors

• Self-explainable user interaction

• Careful sales copy. Just list the benefits basically. (Target customer and the country I'm operating within is sensitive to pushy copy)

• Don't use fancy abbreviations, flashy words or English terms.

• Clear pricing and cancellation path

• Designing for older people makes it good for younger people as well. (I don't screen younger users/customers)

• FAQ with max 6 bullets. (if possible)

Correct. Analyzing a value array starts with analyzing what is currently being done in the market.

 

[daru]

I will post this twice since it is relevant to both threads:

I tried a new barber shop this week.

I went at a time when I thought the place would be empty with no wait.

I walked in and it was just me and another man with his daughter.

Two haircutters were cutting hair.

At the desk was a sign-in computer. I almost missed it but figured out that I need to sign in. The interface was pretty self-explanatory, so no worries there.

After signing in, it said I was next and that my wait was 10 minutes.

I ended up waiting over an hour.

What happened?

The man who was there (before me) did NOT sign in. He didn't see the sign-in kiosk.

When it was my turn on the computer, he threw a hissy fit. So the hairdressers took him and his daughter first. I didn't have a problem with that because he was there before me.

But the execution of this "system" was piss poor.

In the hour I waited, I counted at least 10 other people who came in. Some signed in. Others did not. One after another, customers came in and looked confused. Other's got frustrated and left. I saw 4 who exited.

The place was grossly understaffed.

The hairdressers did NOTHING to inform customers of the shop's process -- they just hoped that they saw the sign in.

In that hour I waited, I'd estimate this shop lost nearly $100. How much are they losing in the entire day? The week? The month? Could be $10K/mo, all due to poor execution.

Like the barber shop before this, I will unlikely go back. (And I haven't even discussed the haircut -- the main product!)

This is the essence of the value array and how it is dissected to provide relative value.

Any thing that can be improved or differentiated can be skewed positively to provide incremental value.

I did not realize how easy this part of the process is. I mean similar things happens every other day but did just not see it before. Now the hard part is of course to solve those problems. But finding needs and problems for a business idea is a non-issue. I now understand all of you who been keep saying that since I joined this forum.
Thanks MJ!

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I did not realize how easy this part of the process is.

Yea, when you start enaging with businesses from a value array perspective, suddenly ideas start popping up everywhere.

It's actually a bit unnerving ... for me, it's like being a kid in a candy store.

 

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[Madman1996]

Yea, when you start enaging with businesses from a value array perspective, suddenly ideas start popping up everywhere.

It's actually a bit unnerving ... for me, it's like being a kid in a candy store.

I know I replay to a old thread but there are hundreds of competitors out there how many should I check out thanks MJ