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Blank slate service- LivingStory.com- Do I walk away?

by bergmd
7 replies
Hello Warriors,
I recently got fired from my job and now sitting high and dry(with 2 kids). A few years back I built a service called LivingStory.com. It provides permanent digital storage for content. It stores photos in high resolution, shares them between personal connections, via email, etc..you get the point.

I spent a lot of money building the site and didn't save any for marketing it. Now, after losing my job, I'm considering trying to focus on it again. Here are a couple options I'm considering:

1. Pivot the service toward Hospice Patients, Increase the price, and sell door to door.

2. Try to find an expert marketer who will work on commission or dictate the product.

3. Attempt PPC advertising on my own with very small budget.

4. Walk away and never look back.

Thank you all in advance for your suggestions. Times are tough right now.
Troy
#blank #livingstorycom #photo #service #slate #video
  • Profile picture of the author Online Traffic Victory
    Considering you lost your job and money at the moment isn't coming in then I wouldn't use ppc and I would look for free ways to promote the business then later on when getting regular money into your bank then I would look at ppc advertising.

    The problem I have however is the business itself looks very similar to the icloud business so you may need to look at how you can make the business different from icloud.

    I would try using article marketing, video marketing, social networking methods in order to market the business as finding an expert marketer who will work on commission and use offline marketing strategies such as going to hospice patients is a good idea but I wouldn't put the price up in order to do this.
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    • Profile picture of the author bergmd
      What makes LivingStory unique is that the cost is not a monthly payment or subscription. What happens to your icloud service when your CC expires?

      With that said, nobody look for such a service. Google permanent digital storage and I will likely come up(or at least I used to).

      My thought with Hospic patients was more of a full service scanning, shipping, one on one type service. I could not do it for the current $250 deposit.
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      • Profile picture of the author KirkMcD
        Originally Posted by bergmd View Post

        What makes LivingStory unique is that the cost is not a monthly payment or subscription. What happens to your icloud service when your CC expires?
        Nothing happens, because most places give the space away for free. Amazon gives 5 GB. Microsoft and Google gives 15GB. Flickr gives 1TB.

        My thought with Hospic patients was more of a full service scanning, shipping, one on one type service..
        This is what you should focus on. Digitizing their past.
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        • Profile picture of the author bergmd
          Thanks Kirk for the feedback. Have any recommendations how to get leads?

          I will setup some calls with Hospice providers, to get their feedback, and see how I might be able to get lists.
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          • Profile picture of the author Michael Shook
            The rule of thumb with hospice patients is 3 days after they have been assigned to hospice. Many times, just the idea that nothing else can be done makes the end come quicker.

            I think the idea has merit, but its not like you are going to have a lengthy time to sell your service, and the person may or may not have any desire to spend their last couple of days in digitizing their lives.
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        • Profile picture of the author QueenMelanie
          Originally Posted by KirkMcD View Post

          Nothing happens, because most places give the space away for free. Amazon gives 5 GB. Microsoft and Google gives 15GB. Flickr gives 1TB.



          This is what you should focus on. Digitizing their past.
          Flickr gives 1TB ? wow,

          And there is a method to get 15gb free on dropbox, just refer a few friends, or refer yourself on diff emails
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          • Profile picture of the author bergmd
            Okay
            I'm not defending the idea but I will add this... plenty of "free storage spaces" exists. ALL OF THEM remove inactive accounts or they advertise. This is the simple fact.

            Thanks Michael for the Hospice advice. That probably isn't the direction to go with it then.

            My point is that LivingStory is a blank product ready to be pivoted. It just requires someone that is an expert ONLINE MARKETER to find the right niche. It could store documents for attorneys, host videos, be a photo sharing site, anything..
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