I am developing a social website and I need everyone's input on it. The website is selfie based. Users can login, upload selfies and share them with their friends. It is not an app but it will be mobile based. Meaning it will work on smartphones and tablets. It's similar to instagram but it's selfies only, not an app and no filters. Now to make it more interesting, I would like to know the type of functions and features would you be interested in seeing on the website? What would motivate you to go on the website and start using it?
Hmmm just being a devil's advocate here... Why would people move away from Instagram for your app? Most people will want their photos to be stored in a central location/gallery.
As if there aren't enough selfies nowadays.... Buddy, by the time you are finished with the website, the #selfie fad will be long gone (hopefully) just like it was with duck faces and the same 5 filters people used on a daily basis.
How are you going to ensure that the site is selfies only? Users aren't going to want to feel restricted and if the site has more than selfies -- its just Instagram by another name.
How long do you think the "selfie" fad will last? Are you looking for niche popularity, or are you looking to go straight for the cash? I think you should rethink this business plan/direction, and go into a simpler niche... or easier way to make money online.
Actually I already have the first version live. www.selfphi.com You can check it out and tell me what you think. I know I can improve on that so that is why I am developing a second version.
With all respect I am not sure here would be the best place for you to ask this question unless we are your target audience. I would strongly recommend finding your target audience and asking for their time to answer a bunch of questions. This is crucial to the development of any website. You need to know what the end user wants. So in your case the end users will likely be users of similar sites such as instagram or social sites like twitter. You could hire a marketing company or similar kind of company that has/can gain access to your targeted user base and give them surveys. Another problem as others have said the site will have major constraints. Server space being one - that will cost money and a lot if the site is popular, secondly the competition - why your site? what is different?, thirdly its not really an evergreen subject what happens when the fad goes, fourthly you will need to have expensive image recognition software to detect whether or not it is actually a selfie being posted fifth private data and security. Just adding my input but I wish you the best with your project.
yeah, I think it will be difficult to advertise this kind of social website, considering it's just "Instagram for selfies". When the selfies trend will be old, your site will be old as well even after few months of publishing and you'll be obliged to change it and upgrade it someway. Time to re-think now all your project. Just my two cents.
I think this is the wrong forum to ask your question. I mean yeah, most here are marketers but almost none to few with experience in running a social website that you're planning on running. So at best, you would get educated guesses and not real answers. So to better answer your concern, ask your target audience. They know what they like and want. Take all their feedback and run away with it. But honestly, I think your problem is not about what they want but on what you can offer. From what I've read, you still don't have your USP. Probably that's where you have to concentrate on. Until you have that, it would be a waste of time marketing. Imagine this...If someone did use your site and they refer you to their friends, their friends will then ask, "why should I be using that instead of..." That's the question that needs to be answered.
This site looks like its more about memes than selfies. I'd rebrand and get rid of the reference to 'selfies' entirely.
I agree with @Ethan Alvin on this "Why would people move away from Instagram for your app? Most people will want their photos to be stored in a central location/gallery" What I want to say is you're doing something new, but not Unique. So focus on making something Different.
I think your site will be better off if those pictures will be in a secured location or people can edit/add filter/add effects on your site. That way they will not be editing it on their mobile phone. The selfie addiction will be long gone even before you completed the site. It is also too hard to maintain it and make sure that the users only upload selfie photos which in today's case, selfie still involves 2 or 3 people taking a photo.
A really clear point is made here. Why waste time in doing something when there is a better version already existng. Moreover how will this site be secure. Anybody can upload anything, how can it be restricted to avoid any vulgarity?
Glad I asked before I started developing a new version. You guys have all made some great points. It's time to rethink the vision and have USP as was mentioned. I do like the fact that this can be rebranded and turned into a memes social network.
If you choose to go the "meme" route you are practically facing the very same problems - what will make your site different, what will make it stand out and be preferred instead of websites like 9gag, MemeBase, KnowYourMeme, MemeGenerator etc. Come to think of it your competition is even bigger - there are really a lot of already established and greatly ranked websites with that style and idea. Ranking among/above them would be a veeeeeery long and costly process
I agree, and yet memes appear to be closer to your original idea (and maybe your natural instincts). Who knows, give it a shot and see if you have a knack for memes.
Sure, its all about the execution, if OP has a great new way to present the idea and engage his visitors, why not go for it
I actually have another idea I would like to run by you guys. The concept is simple. It's a website where users can post "I WANT" or "I OFFER". A user can post anything they want(in regards to site rules). For eg. I WANT 1960s red vintage shoes. I OFFER a free SEO course to the first 50 people that register. Other members can can share that post via other social networks. They can leave a comment, like/dislike, contact the author..etc. What you think?
This seems like a good concept! But will you provide both "I want" and "I offer". Will it be like creating a profile for each user and anybody can view the posts made by that user. Or the user should add friends and only then will the friends be able to view their posts?
Other things to consider - would you offer some kind of mediation in case disputes occur? As a website supporting both ends of the deals you would have to have at least a basic set of procedures to settle trading arguments. The idea itself is not so bad (again, considering you can reach a larger target audience and market it properly), but I believe you would have a lot of managerial decisions to make and the clear policies is a must. You might want to speak with a friend with some legal background to help you cover as many scenarios as possible.