New online business/project

New online business/project

Author
Discussion

wtd

Original Poster:

818 posts

234 months

Saturday 24th March 2007
quotequote all
Its a site I had an idea for a couple of weeks ago, and its my little project to see if one can create a self pepetuating site, which effectively when it reaches a critical mass will be user driven.

The idea of the site is you purchase a little advertising square, you then own that square until someone out bids you, when this happens you get your initial money back plus 50% of the profit...

The reason its self perpetuating is people buy the squares (basically taking a punt that the site will be popular) then link to the site on forums, blogs etc, which in turn drives more visitors to the site, making their square more valuable, and then can benefit when the square re-sells!

As I am trying to get this kicked off, anyone who signs up for a box who is interested in a free advertising box and a 50% profit share when the advert box gets out bid, sign up for a box, choose a free box, the minimum value and put (PH) after your name and I'll give it out for free! Email me at steve at fiftyfiftywebpage.com for the site URL and I will send you the link!

Also any ideas to help reach critical mass would be appreciated!!!


Edited by wtd on Saturday 24th March 07:48

Leftie

11,800 posts

236 months

Saturday 24th March 2007
quotequote all

Sounds so simple it has to work.

Will you just have the 96 squares or pages and pages of them 'themed' up? I could see some advantage in it being like a trade directory and people may pay money to be next to a competitors square, or adjacent to a business that could provide them with spin-offs (call girls/viagra/STD clinics). As long as it stayed cheaper than the usual directories, and in that cae what are your admin costs to collect and share the profit, because that could be cumbersome. But what happens then if my neighbour gets out-bid and I end up next to an ad for pile cream or a rent boy?

There is at least one spelling error too ( theres/theirs).

Nice idea, I wish you well. Get on Dragons' Den matey!

wtd

Original Poster:

818 posts

234 months

Saturday 24th March 2007
quotequote all
Funny, a mate of mine suggested exactly the same thing, have different pages for appropriate content!

I think though that before its possible, it needs to be a bit busier!

Wheres the spelling mistake, i'll fix it as soon as I see it haha

JamieBeeston

9,294 posts

266 months

Saturday 24th March 2007
quotequote all
Sounds good so long as, as you say, you can hit critical mass...

now.. where to host it

oggs

8,813 posts

255 months

Saturday 24th March 2007
quotequote all
JamieBeeston said:

now.. where to host it



I know where he could

Leftie

11,800 posts

236 months

Saturday 24th March 2007
quotequote all
wtd said:
Funny, a mate of mine suggested exactly the same thing, have different pages for appropriate content!

I think though that before its possible, it needs to be a bit busier!

Wheres the spelling mistake, i'll fix it as soon as I see it haha



I think the error is on the explanation page

jamesuk28

2,176 posts

254 months

Saturday 24th March 2007
quotequote all
First thing I would do is remove this from a public forum, unless you want your idea nicked.

wtd

Original Poster:

818 posts

234 months

Sunday 25th March 2007
quotequote all
Jamie, thanks i hope it does meet critical mass!
I will email you re the hosting thanks.

Leftie, yup found it thanks! any more let me know I'm not known for my brilliant spelling

James, kinda a catch 22 there mate lol

mikef

4,905 posts

252 months

Sunday 25th March 2007
quotequote all
Signed up and good luck with the page

Looking at some of the existing ads, you may want to give the owner the ability to change their colour scheme and to preview the ad on the setup screen. Combinations like red text on blue may have sounded like a reasonable choice when selecting colours from a palette, but I suspect people may not click on an ad they can't read

wtd

Original Poster:

818 posts

234 months

Sunday 25th March 2007
quotequote all
yeah a preview is next on the cards m8, also added for your site!

Mattt

16,661 posts

219 months

Sunday 25th March 2007
quotequote all
I filled in the form on the site

Good idea!!!

wtd

Original Poster:

818 posts

234 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
Thanks Matt,

I've added your square, but there are still PLENTY OF FREE ONES still available!!

If anyone can blog this, link to it, add it to forum sig's etc, that would be FANTASTIC!!

Cheers,
Steve

Mattt

16,661 posts

219 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
How about contacting a few papers or online news-sites? Perhaps it will give them a bit of a 'filler' item?

wtd

Original Poster:

818 posts

234 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
yeah i will be having a press release when i've filled all the free squares so i can monetise the investment for myself and for the free square holders.

944pi

84 posts

221 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
I signed up - box 19 but managed to hit enter and saved before I was ready to, hence the "in Nottingham and" nothing. Doh.

Great idea, hope it does well.

Phil

Carrera2

8,352 posts

233 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
YHM

muppetdave

2,118 posts

226 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
Added one - and as you say - you can place yourself right next to a complementary business - which I have

igiveup

2,875 posts

283 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
Good Idea, I have signed up, but just one thing. For any Computer/web novices might be worth putting little click able pop up boxes explaining what each box is about when signing up. ie URL Title & URL Text

wtd

Original Poster:

818 posts

234 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
Hey Phil, try again, choose box 19 and a bid of 0 with the correct text and I will add it over the first one

all those who sent mail, YHM

And the help popup, very good idea, I'm in the process of adding the box preview so you can see what it will look like, but shall also add help links to say what each field is for!!

egomeister

6,716 posts

264 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
wtd said:
Hey Phil, try again, choose box 19 and a bid of 0 with the correct text and I will add it over the first one

all those who sent mail, YHM

And the help popup, very good idea, I'm in the process of adding the box preview so you can see what it will look like, but shall also add help links to say what each field is for!!


Nice concept - I've just submitted my square. Good luck with the project!