One App I’m Using
Hey,
Today we’re going to mix things up a bit. I’m going to give you a quick-and-dirty review of an app I’m using (screenshots included).
The app is called Primer and it’s by Google.
I’ll tell you:
- The backstory on Primer.
- How Primer works.
- Why I like Primer.
- What I’d change about Primer.
[Note: I have no affiliation with Primer or Google. This is just an app I enjoy using and find value in, so I thought I’d share it with you today.]
What’s Primer’s Story?
TL;DR: Primer is an app created by Google’s marketing team that teaches you 5-minute marketing lessons. The app was made by Google for Google.
How does Primer work?
First, go to https://www.yourprimer.com/
Or you can download the app from either link below:
Android – https://play.google.com/store/
Apple – https://itunes.apple.com/app/
Once you’ve downloaded Primer, open it up.
Here’s what you’ll see:
The app is minimal in design, which I like, and easy to use.
There are prompts that explain each section and action inside the app (see below). For our example, we’ll look at the Featured Lessons section.
If you tap Featured Lessons, the app takes you to this page:
At the bottom there’s a box that explains what different actions do inside the lesson.
If you swipe up the next card looks like this:
Note the progress bar at the top. This is a nice use of feedback for users.
If you keep swiping the lesson plan starts unfolding.
Typically there’s a short story. You’ll reach the occaisonal card that asks you a question about the story like this:
If you click on the check mark it takes you through a series of three cards with really easy questions to get you thinking. Here’s one:
Once you finish answering the three questions, there’s usually a summary for that section of the lesson:
If you continue swiping through the lesson cards you’ll eventually reach the end, where there’s a to-do list with action steps:
Here’s what the to-do list looks like:
Swiping right completes the to-do:
Swiping left deletes the to-do.
Some to-dos won’t be relevant to your specific situation so you can delete those:
If you want an overview of all the lesson cards or you need to go back to a specific card, you can tap the expand view button next to the progress bar:
Here’s the expanded view:
And that’s it.
7 Reasons Why I like Primer
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It’s easy to use. If you’ve used Tinder or any other swipe-based apps before, you’ll get it.
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It’s fast. Each lesson takes 5 minutes to complete.
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There’s storytelling. Each lesson tells a story, which makes lessons easier to remember.
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To-Do lists. Each lesson delivers action steps in the form of a to-do list. This takes the guesswork out of what you just learned and gives you no excuses to start taking action immediately.
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It looks nice. I’m a big fan of minimal design and Primer nailed the design.
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Killer content. Don’t let the simple design fool you. The content is grade A.
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Primer’s made by Google for Google. Whether that’s true or not, it makes the experience seem legit. I would never create or promote a product I would never use myself, so I like the philosophy behind the app.
What I’d Change About Primer
I really like this app and that’s saying a lot since I normally don’t like apps at all. Downloading, opening, etc. always seems like too much work compared to learning something from an article or email — which I can easily do by opening a new tab and searching online.
However, the minimal design of this app makes it seem less like an app and more like a swipe file you have on your phone that contains 5-minute marketing lessons.
The only thing I’d change about Primer is I’d add the option to view lesson plans in one long article format vs. the expand view with each individual card.
That’s it.
If you enjoyed today’s brief, let me know so I can bring you more of these types of reviews.
Nick Papple
Managing Editor
The Daily Brief