I'm open to your ideas if you care to share them here.
Discussion
Okay, let's start with the flow for relays:
All active relays should be listed in the client interface with subscribe & designate options presented clearly (e.g. global). When click on any relay, a simple explainer text should appear giving basic info about the relay and it's cost (if any).
The relay list should be sortable by activity, ascending order and other relevant methods so users can easily filter and pick and choose their preffered relays from the entire list of relays. The default sorting should show the top 3 relays by activity and places 4th and 5th available for "promoted" relays: relays paying the client for occupying that position. Highest daily bidder wins the promoted spot and gains extra visibility. Below 4th & 5th are the remaining relays sorted by the current selected sort option.
Hidden off to the side is a little icon that, when clicked, opens an advanced relay menu where users can add new relays by their wss:// and other advanced options that are cumbersome.
By implementing this UI you will:
- Make it orders of magnitude easier for new members to understand, access and subscribe to relays, whilst retaining advanced options for more experienced users.
- Give new relays an opportunity to get exposure whilst driving revenue for the interface/client/app. There are many ways to further expand on this for niche relays.
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I'd be happy to visually design it for you for free. This, as well as many other flows that will greatly improve UX and/or provide further monetisation options (that aren't malicious and don't wreck incentives).
So take on advertisers. That's an idea, though it's my last resort. I would much prefer users to fund the app.
Is "take on advertisers" actually all you understood from my comment? I sincerely hope not.
Your basic premise is to take on advertisers, which is something I wish to avoid at this time. I get that wasn't all you had in mind, but my goal is to have users pay for the app, not third parties -- if at all possible.
Users pay for the app. okay where? How? Why? Where to find relays? Which relays to pay for?
Good luck if you think users will jump through all those hoops on their own to accomplish that. Build it as an intuitive functionality into the client, that's THE premise. Not advertising.
In short order there will be thousands of relays, maybe tens of thousands. I think tools to find and compare Relays is a good idea.
I’m not sure the nostr apps should do it or take sponsorships though. But a good space to start thinking.
I think sorting Relays by language first and then by capabilities to filter spam would be my top criteria.
Why in the world would NOSTR client interfaces NOT try to offer the best relay sorting experience possible???
That is a strong incentive for users to choose 1 client interface over another.
I use multiple search engines and multiple web browsers. I don’t necessarily want them tightly coupled.
I will pick the best app(s) for the speed, discovery, and zap features. For me, relay filtering is something I learn about independently of the app. YMMV.
