Hi all, I am the founder of a new startup (ChilledLime.com). It is in the private alpha stage, which means it is locked for everyone (except me). So to cover the development secrets until the site is ready, I set up a simple landing page... People can signup for an exclusive beta invite (so they will be the first ones to use the service). When they signup they see this text: (They also see some FB and TW etc. share buttons) So this way I encourage them to share the page with their friends, to get even earlier access. I think this tactic - which has already got some startups thousands of users- is a good way to make the whole project go viral... So basically to get many people to talk about the site. Do you think so? Do you think if I go viral I will succeed? Or is this even a good way to go viral? (success in case of startup = getting thousands of visitors -> getting funding -> getting acquired) Also, can you please give some tips to get even more signups? Thanks in advance Regards, Akos
Social Bookmark it then! I'm sure when you put it on sites like Digg/Reddit/etc. it has a possibility to go viral. I can help you out on Social Bookmarks but the only way for it to go viral is for it to be interesting!
I'm not sure on this to be fair. It's not something that I would be part of, I don't mean to bash your idea. All people know is it's going to be a place for having fun debates, but apart from that, nothing else is known as to what it's going to look like when live. I guess it's just the whole launch thing I'm not so sure about.. my advice would be to simply launch the site and then create a buzz around FB, Twitter, G+ and try and make it go viral. Good luck with the project and I hope it turns out like you plan.
Well, if it is just that - a place for people to debate and argue then market it as that. Create or write controversial articles and social bookmark them. Do the Appsumo and get FB ads saying things like "Did Obama do anything he said he would? Voice your opinion" Appsumo didn't launch the biz until a they had enough interest... I honestly think that you have a decent idea... but without testing it doesn't mean much. Social bookmark, and write... On Tim Ferris' blog, you can check out a post about the AppSumo peoples and how they make things work. Take Care D
Not a bad idea at all! I assume you will make the page a bit more appealing to the eye in the future though? I believe your average user today has a pretty good taste (we are all spoiled by the refined designs of FB and TW). You will have to appeal to the younger people in my opinion. I am a guy in my forties and for me to try to invite 3 more people to something like that will be an inconvenience, but for teens and young adults it's not an issue, since they are doing stuff like that anyway. And I also think you have to make it Smartphone friendly as this is where a bunch of the posts/signups will probably come from. Try to promote it on craigslist and backpage in the community sections and again on craigslist in the R&R section if you have time. Maybe some will jump on the idea since a lot of the people there enjoy hanging out on the web (and fight with others).
Thanks for your feedback & advice! I will try to make it phone friendly and I will try to promote it through Craigslist and other classified sites.
The idea about making it phone friendly will definitely get you more subscribers, as many people nowadays forgo the normal web mostly and use there phones or pads due to convenience. You might also try creating an app for the Iphone or Android for example and advertise that. Make it free, and it will surely help your site go viral. As far as your plan of offering earlier access to people who contribute to the viral spreading of it, I LOVE that idea. No better way to get your site noticed than to let it spread like a "virus." Pun DEFINITELY intended.
Thanks Making a smartphone app is a cool idea, but I have to learn loads of things to achieve it... but thanks... good one
Absolutely. But if you look around, you might be able to find a good coder or someone to do it. Heck. Give someone a good enough deal on the site and they may help you make a complete app or at least give you what you need to get started. Of course, it all depends on what you think is worth going for. Maybe costly to get the app made at first, but more traffic and more moolah. To each his own. Or you could just go online and try to learn how to code an app manually. Might take longer, but at least it'd be free to you and you would have complete control.
Hi Akos, First of all congratulations for starting the Alpha stage in your new start up! We are also in the midst of a new “startup†(Adsgadget) Beta ourselves, so we can really identify with the excitement you are probably experiencing. “Going viral†is something you hear a lot nowadays, it’s a term often used to describe a situation in which content is “spreading itself†through “unconventional†ways. The reason we feel the need to point this definition out is that the term “viral†is also commonly misused. Asking your users to share the content with 3 friends before actually giving them something might make the people whom actually took the time and registered to your BETA version to feel worthless; you can, however, let them know that the sooner you get a lot of registrations – the faster you will start your BETA (you can also put a little “countdown†clock); this will help your users feel closer to you and feel as if they can actually “be a part†of the process, which might be very cool for them. You should look at “VIRAL†as a tool, not as your target. As you mention: this is not the first time a startup company is suggesting “exclusive†access to the BETA stage and keeps a low and quiet profile until the official “doors openingâ€. What you should see is how many RELEVENT users you will have registering for your beta stage. The best way we actually saw for getting more registrations for the BETA of any startup is actually sharing the content of the project with your target audience. Keeping everything as a surprise might sound cool in theory- but in reality you should consider the fact that you will have more chances of people liking what you have to offer if they really have a chance to know what you are offering. This will also give you a better chance for feedback. Another good way is to offer a free using period in the final versions to the users that will participate in the Beta version. Good luck!