The key problem in this sort of site is being evidently and memorably distinct from the numerous other similar options, from email to facebook to flickr. I'd have to register with you to figure out how you're different/better, which isn't worth the effort because I'm not convinced there's some obvious problem with the way I share photos & links right now that you guys have solved, just because you "applied the family perspective" or whatever.
You have to attach to an emotional need people have regarding their families. Here's one I think many of the folks on HN share: guilt about not staying in touch with family members that live far away. One way you might tap into that need could be to offer a "time-release" delivery option, where I can seed my family account with a bunch of photots, and your service can send them out to my family at a rate of say 2 per week. I'd get credit for being in touch with my family on a regular basis, and each email can be a starting point for discussions and stories that bring us together around a particular memory. Plus, we're coming back to your site again and again over time, and I wouldn't mind paying a few bucks per month if you could send printed photos to my grandma who doesn't use email.
For our great-grandmother we ended up getting one of HP's Presto printers. You pay a monthly fee (for the ISP) and the printer dials out on the phone line and downloads and prints any photos that have been e-mailed.
You set up a whitelist to avoid the spam issue, and then make sure you train people not to send all of those exciting forwards and 60-pic messages.
hey shimon, thanks for the feedback. in today's app world, you definitely have to be quick with designating the advantage/differences over other apps. we removed the whole registration issue, by being able to get started without an email, password / "another account". Any suggestions on how we could accomplish that would be more than awesome.
That's an interesting approach. The goal is to let people stay in touch, when doing so is pretty much a bitch. Doing printed photos is a rev stream we're looking into ie- via qoop or an equivalent.
Low barriers to entry are important, but they're not a reason to use a site. When a site has a great and obvious value, people will jump through all sorts of hideous crap to use it; and conversely, when I can't figure out why I should care, whatever's behind my back button is going to seem more interesting.
It's admirable to pursue great usability and I like your registration scheme, but I still need to smell the bacon.
You have to attach to an emotional need people have regarding their families. Here's one I think many of the folks on HN share: guilt about not staying in touch with family members that live far away. One way you might tap into that need could be to offer a "time-release" delivery option, where I can seed my family account with a bunch of photots, and your service can send them out to my family at a rate of say 2 per week. I'd get credit for being in touch with my family on a regular basis, and each email can be a starting point for discussions and stories that bring us together around a particular memory. Plus, we're coming back to your site again and again over time, and I wouldn't mind paying a few bucks per month if you could send printed photos to my grandma who doesn't use email.