Product Design Design Strategy UX Research 2023
As Linkst.ar grew rapidly, gaining 30,000 new users in just 6 months, there was an increasing demand for easier international payments. User research revealed that existing services charged over 10% in fees and caused weeks-long delays. Recognizing the benefits of integrating a seamless payment system, I was tasked with designing an in-product payment gateway. This included an e-wallet feature to store payments until users were ready to withdraw their earnings, enhancing the platform’s usability and appeal.
Research and usability
As Linkstar operated as a multifaceted platform, combining portfolios, job hunting, and freelance marketplaces, I conducted multiple user interviews to identify personas who would benefit from the international payments feature. The results showed that 65% of users were interested, and 70% of them were willing to pay a small subscription fee for the feature if satisfied with the service.
I held meetings with stakeholders and the product team to define goals and set KPIs. We decided to use Stripe as the primary service, with Linkstar functioning as an e-wallet to store users' received payments. We established use cases for different personas and incorporated a design strategy to ensure ease of access in each journey. Using a step-by-step methodology, I designed the integration and utilization of the Linkstar wallet.
Result
The Linkstar Wallet was launched in beta to test security, protection against scams, and usability across customer journeys. With an effective marketing strategy, it achieved a 70% adoption rate among users, who appreciated the low service charges and prompt scheduled withdrawals. To enhance success, tutorials in both Urdu and English were developed, alongside a dedicated wallet-focused landing page. Within 6 months of its launch, Linkstar processed over $100,000 in international payments for its users.