# whatayarn Overview

## Table of Contents
- [Quick Facts](#quick-facts)
- [Story & Positioning](#story--positioning)
- [Audience & Core Value](#audience--core-value)
- [Primary Site Pages](#primary-site-pages)
  - [Homepage](#homepage)
  - [Pricing](#pricing)
  - [Blog](#blog)
  - [Use Cases](#use-cases)
  - [Feature Pages](#feature-pages)
  - [Sign In](#sign-in)
  - [Creator Dashboard](#creator-dashboard)
  - [Public Channel Pages](#public-channel-pages)
  - [Legal](#legal)
- [Homepage Flow](#homepage-flow)
- [Listener Experience on Channel Pages](#listener-experience-on-channel-pages)
- [Creator Dashboard Details](#creator-dashboard-details)
- [Messaging Inbox](#messaging-inbox)
- [Channel Settings & Customization](#channel-settings--customization)
- [Plans & Pricing](#plans--pricing)
- [Limits & Entitlements](#limits--entitlements)
- [FAQ Highlights](#faq-highlights)
- [Support & Community](#support--community)

## Quick Facts
- **Tagline:** "Let podcast listeners send you voicemail - A link-in-bio voicemail page for your podcast. Listeners record or upload in seconds. Get MP3s in your inbox, no login for listeners."
- **Product:** Link-in-bio voicemail pages for podcasts and creators, with in-browser recording or uploads and MP3 delivery to email + dashboard inbox.
- **Created by:** Ty Lange-Smith (Aussie founder) with inspiration from local podcast communities.
- **Social proof:** Trusted by top podcasts and creators: C4 Canucks Hockey, Terror 404, Paddy Wagon, For Designer Business, This Is History, Coffee Pot Conversations, From Your Biggest Hater.
- **Domain:** https://whatayarn.com (production).
- **Demo links:** `/startup-tales` (live demo channel), `/whatayarn` (demo channel), `/signin` to create your own.
- **Contact:** `hellowhatayarn@gmail.com`; Reddit community at r/whatayarn.

## Story & Positioning
whatayarn was born from watching podcasts struggle with clunky voicemail workflows - recording in voice memos, emailing files, and dealing with limits and attachments. The product replaces those steps with a branded link that fits in show notes, socials, or newsletters. Listeners tap, record or upload, and creators receive clean MP3s in their inbox and dashboard.

## Audience & Core Value
- **Primary users:** Podcasters, storytellers, and creators who run listener Q&As, hotlines, or feedback segments.
- **Listener promise:** Tap a link, record or upload, review, and send in seconds. No app and no login.
- **Creator promise:** One link, branded page, control over duration and required details, MP3s delivered by email and stored in the inbox, plus share and embed tools.
- **Key outcomes:** More listener participation, ready-to-use audio clips, and faster episode turnaround.

## Primary Site Pages
### Homepage
Landing page with hero, feature cards, how-it-works steps, pricing with social proof, founder note, FAQ, and footer links.

### Pricing
Pricing page that reuses the landing sections and adds the Problem comparison (old way vs whatayarn), plus FAQ and About. Includes monthly/yearly toggle and Free vs Creator plans.

### Blog
Content hub with podcast and voicemail guides, comparisons, and how-to posts. Includes links back to Use Cases and Pricing.

### Use Cases
Real-world examples at `/use-cases` and `/use-cases/[slug]`, sourced from `content/use-cases/` MDX files.

### Feature Pages
Deep-dive feature pages at `/product/[slug]` for: build your page, collect messages, share your link, control submissions, messages to your inbox, and embed it anywhere.

### Sign In
Google or email-based sign-in. Quick access to the creator dashboard.

### Creator Dashboard
Channel switcher, design tools, messages inbox, and share tools (link copy, QR code, embed code). Free-plan usage banner and upgrade entry points.

### Public Channel Pages
Listener-facing pages at `whatayarn.com/<slug>` with branding, social links, and a multi-step recording flow. Compact mode is used for embeds.

### Legal
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy live at `/tos` and `/privacy`.

## Homepage Flow
- **Hero** - Headline "Let podcast listeners send you voicemail" with the link-in-bio description. CTAs: "Create Your Page" (routes to `/app` when logged in or `/signin` when not) and "See How It Works" (anchors to the how-it-works section). Header nav includes Features, How It Works, and Pricing.
- **Hero image** - Masonry grid of real channel page screenshots.
- **Features** - Six cards sourced from `src/lib/features.ts`: Build your page, Collect messages, Share your link, Control submissions, Messages to your inbox, Embed it anywhere.
- **How It Works** - Three steps (Create your page, Share the link, Get MP3s in your inbox) plus a phone preview linking to `/startup-tales`.
- **Pricing** - Monthly/yearly toggle with Free and Creator plans. Includes a trusted-by logo strip.
- **About** - Founder note to creators, mission, and CTA.
- **FAQ** - Accordion covering sharing, embeds, delivery, limits, and cancellation.
- **Footer** - Brand block, navigation links, legal links, and contact details.

## Listener Experience on Channel Pages
- **Header block** - Channel avatar, name, description, and social link icons.
- **Workflow steps**
  1. **Record or upload**: In-browser recorder or file upload with a max duration set by the creator.
  2. **Review**: Playback and re-record before sending.
  3. **Details**: Title and optional description, plus name/email if required by the creator.
  4. **Confirmation**: Message sent view with playback and download.
- **Delivery** - Audio is sent as MP3 attachments via email and stored in the dashboard inbox.
- **Limits** - When free-tier limits are hit, listeners see an upgrade modal (not shown inside embeds).

## Creator Dashboard Details
- **Navigation** - Channel switcher dropdown, design and messages tabs, unread badge, and a share button. Free users see a usage banner with message counts and upgrade CTA.
- **Design view** - Profile header editing (avatar, name, bio), social links with drag-and-drop ordering, and a block-based settings panel.
- **Share tools** - Copy link, open the page, generate a QR code (downloadable), and copy iframe embed code.
- **Preview** - Desktop layout shows a live preview panel beside the editor.

## Messaging Inbox
- **Message list** - Card list with channel slug, duration, sender, timestamp, bookmark indicator, and tags (if present).
- **Filters** - Search, channel filter, unread filter, bookmarked filter, and clear filters.
- **Actions** - Mark all as read, open message detail, bookmark, download audio, and delete.
- **Pagination** - Paged results with first/prev/next/last controls.

## Channel Settings & Customization
- **Channel details** - Edit slug and SEO title/description (Creator plan).
- **Recording settings** - Max duration presets, name/email requirements, and email notification toggle.
- **Styling** - Background, title, body text, panel, button, and social icon colors.
- **Branding** - Toggle "Powered by whatayarn" footer (Creator plan).

## Plans & Pricing
- **Free:** 1 voicemail page, up to 25 messages total, 60s max duration, email notifications, and basic page setup.
- **Creator:** Up to 5 pages, unlimited messages, up to 10 min recordings, custom slug, SEO metadata, advanced colors, and branding removal.
- **Billing:** Monthly or yearly with a 20 percent yearly discount.

## Limits & Entitlements
- **Free tier:** 1 channel, 25 messages total, 60s max duration, no custom colors, no custom slug/SEO, no required contact info, footer branding always on.
- **Creator plans:** 5 channels, unlimited messages, up to 10 min duration, custom colors, slug/SEO controls, optional name/email requirements, footer can be hidden.

## FAQ Highlights
- **How do I share my link?** Use it in show notes, bios, newsletters, or link-in-bio tools.
- **Can I embed it?** Yes, copy the iframe embed code from the share modal.
- **Do listeners need an account?** No, they can record or upload without logging in.
- **Where do messages go?** MP3s land in email and the dashboard inbox.
- **How many messages can I get?** 25 on Free, unlimited on Creator.
- **How long can messages be?** Free is fixed at 60 seconds; Creator can set up to 10 minutes.

## Support & Community
- **Email:** `hellowhatayarn@gmail.com` for questions, bugs, or ideas.
- **Reddit:** Official community at [r/whatayarn](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatayarn/).
- **Blog:** Guides covering podcast voicemail strategy, alternatives, and setup walkthroughs.
- **More info:** Footer links provide access to documentation and resources.