Webturtle
Sep 21st 2005, 10:00 pm
I have this nagging idea that keeps coming back to me ... and since I'm a web designer/project management/information architect with relational db background but no current programming skills, I'm stuck with it in my dome, swirling around. So here is a hypothetical...
Basically, without giving away the idea, I want to do something similar in nature to epinions.com but on a MUCH smaller scale. One niche, one single type of product but organized by category, sub cat and sub-sub cat. It would be both browsable and searchable. Under each cat/sub cat/sub sub cat, there might be up to 150 items, and the user would have the opportunity to drill down or search and enter an opinion (both with data fields and free form input) on that item.
So, someone would come to it both having an opinion and wanting an opinion on other items. To incentivize opinion writing, I'd want them to get something in return on a sliding scale - ie, write 10+ opinions, get 10% discount on the membership fee going forward, write 20+ opinions, get access for 20% discount, etc. That's just one idea - this isn't a concrete business model yet.
The "value" of the db would be the opinions, ratings and reviews - access to which I'd want to sell via a membership system. The items in this case are things that are usually purchased sight unseen and I've been randomly asking people all summer if they'd pay (or consider paying) for reviews in advance of purchase, with VERY affirmative responses (interest in the data, of course they want it free but if its there and NOT free, they said they'd pay. Figures! :p )
So I'd need membership management and online payment processing. I'd want members to be able to create profiles and and view/edit past opinions, and rate items they are familar with, with a star system as well. The ratings would cumulate in an average for that item.
Anyway - I think you get the idea. Am I correct that a beast like this would be a custom job? Or are there components in existence that could be used? If its custom, are we talking a $10k job, a $50k job, or a $100k job - or more?
I'm still thinking, pondering, wishing I had database skills so I could build the blasted thing myself - but its risky, when you only have verbal confirmation from target audience that "oh, yeah, I'd use that!" and nothing in the bank to drop on an idea. I've been working on a business plan in my spare time - having been self employed in marketing and small biz for 10 years, I have a lot of experience to throw at something like this but first I need to see 1) is it feasible and 2) would it ever become profitable or would i be paying off a bank loan for 5 years :)
Thoughts and input would certainly be helpful. Bear in mind, I had to put a moratorium on myself starting any new businesses until the four I have are all in full bloom but I just can't hep myself asking... ;)
Basically, without giving away the idea, I want to do something similar in nature to epinions.com but on a MUCH smaller scale. One niche, one single type of product but organized by category, sub cat and sub-sub cat. It would be both browsable and searchable. Under each cat/sub cat/sub sub cat, there might be up to 150 items, and the user would have the opportunity to drill down or search and enter an opinion (both with data fields and free form input) on that item.
So, someone would come to it both having an opinion and wanting an opinion on other items. To incentivize opinion writing, I'd want them to get something in return on a sliding scale - ie, write 10+ opinions, get 10% discount on the membership fee going forward, write 20+ opinions, get access for 20% discount, etc. That's just one idea - this isn't a concrete business model yet.
The "value" of the db would be the opinions, ratings and reviews - access to which I'd want to sell via a membership system. The items in this case are things that are usually purchased sight unseen and I've been randomly asking people all summer if they'd pay (or consider paying) for reviews in advance of purchase, with VERY affirmative responses (interest in the data, of course they want it free but if its there and NOT free, they said they'd pay. Figures! :p )
So I'd need membership management and online payment processing. I'd want members to be able to create profiles and and view/edit past opinions, and rate items they are familar with, with a star system as well. The ratings would cumulate in an average for that item.
Anyway - I think you get the idea. Am I correct that a beast like this would be a custom job? Or are there components in existence that could be used? If its custom, are we talking a $10k job, a $50k job, or a $100k job - or more?
I'm still thinking, pondering, wishing I had database skills so I could build the blasted thing myself - but its risky, when you only have verbal confirmation from target audience that "oh, yeah, I'd use that!" and nothing in the bank to drop on an idea. I've been working on a business plan in my spare time - having been self employed in marketing and small biz for 10 years, I have a lot of experience to throw at something like this but first I need to see 1) is it feasible and 2) would it ever become profitable or would i be paying off a bank loan for 5 years :)
Thoughts and input would certainly be helpful. Bear in mind, I had to put a moratorium on myself starting any new businesses until the four I have are all in full bloom but I just can't hep myself asking... ;)