Need help and opinions on this idea

rugman · 7th Feb 2012, 04:13 PM

I came up with an idea for a national mobile directory - without giving up the niche (yet) here is my plan (or plans):
This is a certain type of eatery that people look for when they travel - basically the seek them out (I know because I do when I travel). I want to make a simple mobile site that will give names, addresses and links to their site so when someone comes into an area they are easy to find. Here are my ideas:
Plan A. Load up a few of these places onto the site so others can get a feel for what it is all about and see that it is already populated. Then approach others around the country to get listed for a small fee - maybe $19.95 per month (that way it is really cheap for them). I can upsell mobile sites on the backend since I will be linking to their site that will look like crap on a smartphone. I was thinking of running a promotion using an email video - "send me a tee shirt (or something else) from your place - 1st 6 get a free listing for a year - 2nd 6 get 6 months - all the rest get 3" - just to get them involved.
Plan B. Offer them all a free listing - maybe sell some banner space - and hope to get lots of upsells.
I like plan A - at least I can get some residual $ while trying to sell mobile sites and maybe SMS. There are lots of these in almost every state.
The mobile site will have a state drop down list to click on the see what is available in a particular state. The main site (WP probably will have the same). I really want this to be pushed for mobile. I have a few friends that own these types of places and will go to them soon but wanted a little input here - any ideas or suggestions? Lets brainstorm as we all could use info like this - at least I think we could.
This is one of those ideas that has been bouncing around in my head for a while and won't go away so it is time to take action.

johninmn · 7th Feb 2012, 10:04 PM

Good idea! This is something you might want to also make into an app. People won't often download an app for just one place of business but if it is a directory of businesses they frequent it could have some appeal.

leemax · 8th Feb 2012, 10:52 AM

These types of establishments, are the several different kinds or is it a franchise or some sort of chain? That makes a big difference on how to set it up I would think. If it's a chain or franchise you could do a membership site maybe and turn it into an App for the smart phones so they could have special member deals when they are in town. Just an idea.

If they are all different names of businesses it would be a little harder to do. Without knowing what your after or who is involved it's a little tough to get to specific.It sounds like a good plan though. Good luck with it!

rugman · 8th Feb 2012, 03:56 PM

Mostly independent - 3 categories in the niche. some are corporate owned but as far as I know they make their own decisions onsite for the most part. Some are small "mom and pop" types - some are more corporate and everything in between!

7th Feb 2012, 04:13 PM	#1
rugman HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2007 Location: Warwick ,NY .USA Posts: 403 Thanks: 105 Thanked 100 Times in 76 Posts	Need help and opinions on this idea Share on: I came up with an idea for a national mobile directory - without giving up the niche (yet) here is my plan (or plans): This is a certain type of eatery that people look for when they travel - basically the seek them out (I know because I do when I travel). I want to make a simple mobile site that will give names, addresses and links to their site so when someone comes into an area they are easy to find. Here are my ideas: Plan A. Load up a few of these places onto the site so others can get a feel for what it is all about and see that it is already populated. Then approach others around the country to get listed for a small fee - maybe $19.95 per month (that way it is really cheap for them). I can upsell mobile sites on the backend since I will be linking to their site that will look like crap on a smartphone. I was thinking of running a promotion using an email video - "send me a tee shirt (or something else) from your place - 1st 6 get a free listing for a year - 2nd 6 get 6 months - all the rest get 3" - just to get them involved. Plan B. Offer them all a free listing - maybe sell some banner space - and hope to get lots of upsells. I like plan A - at least I can get some residual $ while trying to sell mobile sites and maybe SMS. There are lots of these in almost every state. The mobile site will have a state drop down list to click on the see what is available in a particular state. The main site (WP probably will have the same). I really want this to be pushed for mobile. I have a few friends that own these types of places and will go to them soon but wanted a little input here - any ideas or suggestions? Lets brainstorm as we all could use info like this - at least I think we could. This is one of those ideas that has been bouncing around in my head for a while and won't go away so it is time to take action.
	Growing older but not up!

7th Feb 2012, 10:04 PM	#2
johninmn HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2010 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 149 Thanks: 39 Thanked 18 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Need help and opinions on this idea Share on: Good idea! This is something you might want to also make into an app. People won't often download an app for just one place of business but if it is a directory of businesses they frequent it could have some appeal.
	mobile mobile mobile mobile etc....

8th Feb 2012, 10:52 AM	#3
leemax Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 20 Thanks: 21 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Need help and opinions on this idea Share on: These types of establishments, are the several different kinds or is it a franchise or some sort of chain? That makes a big difference on how to set it up I would think. If it's a chain or franchise you could do a membership site maybe and turn it into an App for the smart phones so they could have special member deals when they are in town. Just an idea. If they are all different names of businesses it would be a little harder to do. Without knowing what your after or who is involved it's a little tough to get to specific.It sounds like a good plan though. Good luck with it!
	John Beery The Leemax Group Marketing and Sales Consulting for Small Business

8th Feb 2012, 03:56 PM	#4
rugman HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2007 Location: Warwick ,NY .USA Posts: 403 Thanks: 105 Thanked 100 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Need help and opinions on this idea Share on: Mostly independent - 3 categories in the niche. some are corporate owned but as far as I know they make their own decisions onsite for the most part. Some are small "mom and pop" types - some are more corporate and everything in between!
	Growing older but not up!