Deal Websites (Groupon, 5pm etc)

[technodup]

Anyone work for one or have experience in launching one?

I'm not wanting to replicate one but I have an idea which crosses into that sort of territory and am curious to learn about it.

Of particular interest is the number/quality/source of email addresses it takes to become attractive to potential merchants.

[jammy_basturd]

They are a classic Lean Startup success.

First they went to a few local businesses and asked for some deals they could put to their customers. Then they went and got some customers to send their newsletter too. To begin with they simply had an Excel spreadsheet of names and email addresses. Each week they'd be on the phones getting more deals from shops and each week word of mouth would spread and more people would sign up to their newsletter. As their mailing list grew they started automating parts of their process and website.

All in all their website isn't massively difficult to set up or copy. I'd thoroughly recommend just using Wordpress and one of the many Groupon copycat themes on ThemeForest, along with a Campaign Monitor/Mailchimp plugin to test your idea out before investing too heavily.

Feel free to ask/PM me anything about both the Lean Startup process or the website tech.

[technodup]

jammy_basturd said:

I'd thoroughly recommend just using Wordpress and one of the many Groupon copycat themes on ThemeForest, along with a Campaign Monitor/Mailchimp plugin to test your idea out before investing too heavily.

I had a look at Themeforest. Am I right in saying between Wordpress, a bolt on theme and Mailchimp or equivalent I'd be up and running from that side of it?

The merchant side I understand, it's close to our current business. I just want to get a better understanding of the tech/investment before I speak to our web guy.

[bigweb]

I worked for the startup which Groupon bought out to become Groupon UK.

I echo the hove comments. I actually think they have a place in the market for Local businesses as long at voucher numbers can be limited by either design or small database.

[Frimley111R]

A local one is possible but its an issue for efficiency vs. the likely financial return.

[jammy_basturd]

technodup said:

jammy_basturd said:

I'd thoroughly recommend just using Wordpress and one of the many Groupon copycat themes on ThemeForest, along with a Campaign Monitor/Mailchimp plugin to test your idea out before investing too heavily.

I had a look at Themeforest. Am I right in saying between Wordpress, a bolt on theme and Mailchimp or equivalent I'd be up and running from that side of it?

The merchant side I understand, it's close to our current business. I just want to get a better understanding of the tech/investment before I speak to our web guy.

Yea, you'd have the bulk of what you'd need, depending on your exact process. You may need to find an additional plugin to create the voucher and limited the number of uses - you may leave that up to the supplier.

Really and truly you should be able to thrash out a basic process and website in less than a week. This is why there are so many Groupon replicas, it's an easy business model and business to replicate.

[technodup]

jammy_basturd said:

Really and truly you should be able to thrash out a basic process and website in less than a week. This is why there are so many Groupon replicas, it's an easy business model and business to replicate.

Hmm, interesting. Thanks.

Like I said I don't want to replicate them exactly, although it's good the web side isn't any barrier in time or cash terms.

Do all of these sites generate their customers email addresses organically and directly or do they obtain lists of people from other sites who have opted in to offers/info from 'trusted partners'?

I know which I'd rather for speed and scale but I'm wondering about the value of one v the other e.g. how many bought on a list would equal a proper organic one.