PLEASE WAIT WHILE IT LOADS

Live Prototype

What is Martello?

Community of homeowners that share and recommend contractors, freelancers, businesses and services.
Focuses on supporting small businesses and local contractors.
Vetted and community approved businesses.
No solicitation allowed unless a bid is requested.

VALUE PROPOSITION

Home improvement through connection - not solicitation.

DISCOVERY

The Market

Age: 33-55

Buying Situations

New homebuyers (many of which are buying lower cost houses and saving their spending for improvements), and current home owners that are refinancing while interest rates are low and remodeling

Motivations

Interest rates are so low that people can move and 78% of people have the same or more disposable income after the move. People also want a larger space since they are working from home, and are willing to move to a new city or state.

Moving Situation

People are moving to new towns, and 63% of Redfin users have put bids on houses that they have never seen

*Trulia / Remodeling on the rise
**Redfin / CEO US housing market statistics

DISCOVERY

Pivot

Original Concept

Businesses creating mood-board posts to promote themselves or through marketing companies – and our members would inquire through their posts.

Our Pivot

We have moved to a community app where members can post project pictures and recommendations for home related projects.

Reasons

Team members working on this app unanimously felt, at this time, that we wanted to promote these businesses through word-of-mouth and giving community members the platform to control what they wanted to see and who they wanted to talk to.

DISCOVERY

Revenue Model

1

2022 Q2

Business monthly fee
Sponsored ads

2

2022 Q4

PPC Campaigns
Bidding System Fee %

3

2023 Q2

Tiered Subscription
Badge/Features Fee

DISCOVERY

Competitor Analysis

Yelp

Threats

Lists service providers, requesting quotes, reviews

Strengths

Verified license, amount of companies already listed

Weaknesses

No social aspect, not all reviews have images

Threats

inspiration board, a lot of content, social sharing

Strengths

Can search projects for inspiration, can buy products, stories

Weaknesses

Not all posts have connecting links, links take you off the app

EXPLORATION

Plans

Members can publicly talk communicate with each other about Businesses. Businesses can observe but cannot solicit a member unless invited (they will be banned if reported).

Community members can open a post to ask advice, following members can comment and suggest businesses they have used in the past.

Members can rate any star-ratings they want. However, we want to support the small businesses registered on our app so comments are only open to 4 and 5 stars.

Members can invite businesses to contact them through posting a job that businesses can bid on. When a member posts a job, businesses get access to member information through the messaging system.

EXPLORATION

Userflow

Members can publicly talk communicate with each other about Businesses. Businesses can observe but cannot solicit a member unless invited (they will be banned if reported).

Community members can open a post to ask advice, following members can comment and suggest businesses they have used in the past.

Members can rate any star-ratings they want. However, we want to support the small businesses registered on our app so comments are only open to 4 and 5 stars.

Members can invite businesses to contact them through posting a job that businesses can bid on. When a member posts a job, businesses get access to member information through the messaging system.

Member Board

Bottom Navigation

Business Directory

Select Interests

Recommendation Posts

Ask for Recommendation

EXPLORATION

User Testing and Iteration

Original Plan

Swiping

We originally wanted a swiping interaction like a dating site so that users can easily add posts/businesses they like with one action. We quickly pivoted as soon as we realized dating actions charge for accidental swiping. We do not have any plans to charge our members on Martello.

Iteration

Sliding

We decided to go with a sticking slider so our members can still add with one action/single finger – but can easily make edits and also see which posts they’ve saved.