HydraIRC's gets a new website!, ooh, very nice Options

[Hydra]

Ok, so fair enough, I should be coding on HydraIRC instead of creating this wonderful new website for you all!

This website represents HydraIRC's professional sleek image as the new IRC client of choice, I hope you all agree with me that this new website rocks!

Don't forget to grab the recently released HydraIRC v0.3.090 from the downloads page.

[Hydra]

Cool, this new site rox0rz!

[duckman]

hell yeah it does

[Guest_Some guy..._*]

Yeah, and anonymous users can post news comments now too...

[cynic]

The new site is a nice improvement. However, you should seriously consider removing the image at the bottom of this page: http://www.hydrairc.com/index.php?page=downloads

You can say "Microsoft Windows", "Microsoft Windows XP", etc., insofar as saying the software runs on it or requires it. However, you can not use their name or logos to help promote your product. You also cannot use their logos simply to state that you support it.

The only acceptable use of their logos is the official MS logo program. However, 1) that logo isn't one of them, 2) HydraIRC clearly does not meet the qualifications of the logo program.

Thats just something I thought I'd point out. Overall the site is definately a lot sleeker and more professional appearing than the old one; good job :]

Another tip: I would have thought you wouldn't care about such issues, but since the tag line "the professional IRC client" is pure marketing, I'll assume you do. Tag-lines serve little purpose other than to insult people's intelligence unless there are things there to back it up. This one is better than that one? Why? This one is more professional? Why?

Simply stating something is better is useless; you'll be hard-pressed to prove it since its subjective. In fact, you'll be driving them away before they even start using it because of their natural bias toward what they are already comfortable with. Stating it is "professional" isn't much different. But, there is an alternative :] In general, you're better off focusing on what distinguishes it from the others. Thats a lot more concrete (whether people like the distinguishments or not, they exist and can't be denied, thus people are less likely to be negatively biased right from the start).

Thats not to say that you can't stick with the "the professional IRC client" tag line, but consider pointing out some key things about it that makes it that way... what distinguishes it as being more/most professional? (in terms the reader can related to and understand; no programmer talk... you're impressing less people than you think)

That's just some thoughts based on a few books I've read about software marketing. I realize that few software developers make good marketing people as they are two entirely different areas of study, but it doesn't hurt to consider what those who specialize in the field have to say. No, I'm not one of them, I'm just relaying some of the things I've read over the years.

[Guest_Guest_FryGuy_*]

His IRC client definately is more professional looking than mIRC. A quick glance at the about page will tell you why

[Hydra]

The only acceptable use of their logos is the official MS logo program.  However, 1) that logo isn't one of them, 2) HydraIRC clearly does not meet the qualifications of the logo program.

Just to let you know, I have the documentation for MS's Logo Program and the HydraIRC client is working towards and eventualy expects to achieve the logo certification requirements, however unless someone donates cash i don't think i'll be submitting my app to ms for testing as I certainly can't afford it...

[Guest_Guest_*]

Last I checked, you no longer have to pay the verisign fees for logo certification. Instead, you can download the framework from MS, run it yourself, then submit the logs to them. They have made it a bit easier, not to mention cheaper But, the submission and maintenance is still a time consuming task; its something single-author programs rarely have time for.

We certify the projects I develop at work. I've toyed with the idea of doing it for some of my own side projects. However, in the end, it always comes down to this: I'd probably expand my user base more and please existing users more by taking the time that would taken on the logo certification process and spending it working on new features or enhancements instead. I guess it depends on how much you think that logo gives you in terms of new users.

In the land of IRC, one also has to consider that many people are anti-MS, even if they use Windows. Yes, its silly, since its usually for no good reason other than its l33t to be anti-MS. Personally, I wouldn't care whether or not such people used it. Granted, it is a large potential marketshare to toss out, but in a free application who cares? And, in a shareware application, they probably wouldn't buy it anyway. Just a thought :]

His IRC client definately is more professional looking than mIRC. A quick glance at the about page will tell you why

No doubt. imho, it appears that mIRC's developer doesn't even know that UI standards exist let alone ever actually read a book or two on it. I'm sure near 100% of all of HydraIRC's users would rightfully agree. However, I was referring to the thought pattern of the person who looks at the web page.

Keep in mind, most new users will be mIRC fans. Why they are fans of it I have no idea, but they are nonetheless. So, they look at the site. Right away, they see a claim like "this is better" and without giving it a fair chance they'll be like "har har ha ha, mIRC rulez". Thats because saying something is better is subjective and, when combined with someone's biased opinion because they are fans of the alternative, you can't win them with such a statement (after all, you really can't prove it). If anything, it has the opposite effect.

You can, however, draw focus to things that distinguish it amongst the others. There are plenty of them. For example,
1) it has a sleek modern interface (something mIRC and xchat lack)
2) it is free (something mIRC and Klient can't say)
3) it is actively developed (something bersIRC and dIRC can't say)

One could list several more, but you get the idea. For each of those, one could envision someone looking for a new IRC client based solely on that reason. Perhaps the "sleek modern interface" borders subjectivity, but the others sure don't. Those are purely factual and can't be denied. Granted, its hard to say all that in tag line, but if little more focus were put on that instead of just stating that its "more professional", you might be better off.

I did read some things along those lines, but it seemed to be to filled with with "developer talk" (WTL, etc.) instead of user talk. Most users are not developers.

To sum that up, HydraIRC is definately an improvement over mIRC in terms of UI/usability. However, it is a daunting task to convince most mIRC users of that. For that matter, it is a daunting task just to get some of them to give it a chance. I'm just suggesting things that might help that.

I could suggest some reading material related to software marketing if anyone is interested. There are suprisingly few books on the topic, but I have read a few decent ones.

[llee176]

cynic, guest, etc - are all hard A$$ developers - wanna be coders this tight A$$ED? I mean please - this product is great due to a couple things - for normal users (not geeks like yourselves) - and attractive! FLAME AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[Guest_Guest_*]

ok, I shall :] First, I'm not a "wanna be coder". I went to college for many years for it, I've been programming for a living for many years, etc.

Second, where in this thread did you read people saying it wasn't a great program? Nobody is saying that. But, no program is the "ultimate best it can be". If that were the case, development would be done... there would be no new versions, ever (because it would already be as good as it can possibly be). But, thats not the case for this program or any other program I know of. So, you shouldn't expect the suggestions to stop.

[Guest_Guest_*]

btw, this post, the last post and the one before that from "guest" are all from me... "cynic". I'm not used to forums letting me post without signing in and I didn't realize until after I posted that this computer didn't have a cookie set to automatically sign me in.

[ternami]

great site!
just add a default background color or image
(i think you'll want to use white as page background)

[Guest_Wenya_*]

Website is beautiful and so is program, too. It took me a while to understand the navigation system, but that's not unusual at all

Thank you so much for that great program. I haven't even thought about using any other client after I found this one.

[Guest_ender_*]

The website looks nice, as long as you don't change the default colors. Since I use gray for background, all the niceness is lost... Add background and foreground colors for default text, it'll look much nicer.

[Idoxash]

The new web-site looks and works great. I've not try the newer version of Hydroirc but I'm sure it's as kewl as the ones before it. I shall download it and put it thrue the test soon. Keep up the great work and as some has pointed out before never lose sight of the users for they make your programe what it is.

--Idoxash