After our successful introduction of quarterly objectives for Q1, we’re back with some big plans for the next 3 months.

Outcome 1 – Kanka is faster and easier to navigate

Kanka should get out of the way and let users worldbuild faster, rather than overload them with choices. Pages should load fast. Editing things should be fast.

Bet 1 – Sidebar rework

We’ve hinted at this recently, but we want to remove the sidebar entirely and move into a top nav bar with way better UX to navigate between categories and sections.

Bet 2 – Search improvements

Quick search should always use full-text search instead of hiding it behind another page.

Bet 3 – Description extraction

This is some technical word salad but will help tremendously on pages loading lots of data. The description field should be in its own table any only loaded when needed to reduce hydration and db read times for entries, articles, and campaigns. Currently a campaign’s description is fully loaded and parsed on each page load, when it’s only ever shown on the dashboard and campaign overview page.

Bet 4 – Form rework

Rework the main entry forms to have the image, name, and privacy fields always visible (sticky) above the tabs. Reduce jumping back and forward. Simplify the image uploading process.

Objective 2 – User activation and retention

A too big number of users create an account, create less than 3 entries, and never log in again. We want to tackle that with a few key improvements.

Bet 1 – Improve the getting started widget

The getting started widget has a bunch of very low value options (low click through rate, low completion, low impact on user activation metrics). We need to improve the list.

Bet 2 – Onboarding intent

The options selected in the onboarding intent should have a clearer influence on the getting startet widget. Currently it has a minimal wording impact and not an outcome impact.

Bet 3 – Simplify the first entry creation flow

When clicking on “create your first X” in the getting started widget, the entry creation form should be simplified massively to just focus on the basics, to lead to more new users actually creating content during their first session.

Bet 4 – Pre-renewal email

We previously had an email arrive just before a yearly sub was about to renew, but it broke and was never fixed. We need to fix this and bring it back.

Bet 5 – Paypal end of subscription email

PayPal subs are one-offs that don’t auto-renew, which can be confusing in a world where every other service hopes you keep paying without using the service. We want to send PayPal subs an email a few weeks in advance that their subscription is actually ending, and explaining how to keep using Kanka’s amazing premium features.

Objective 3 – Timeline Feature Overhaul

The timeline feature was added during the summer of 2020 and hasn’t received much love since, while some of our competitors have built some really cool timeline features. It’s time we play catch up.

Bet 1 – Gather feedback

We want to prepare and send out a survey to gather feedback on how people are using timelines, what parts are solid, and what parts suck. We expect this to directly tie in to a Q3 quarterly bet.

Closing words

We have some pretty big bets lined up that for the next few months. As usual, if you want some sneak peeks, consider subscribing and joining the discord.

Happy worldbuilding!