What do you all think of this idea?

by wayfarer

Posted: 14 years ago 21 replies

PROGRAMMING

I'm posting this in the programming section, because that's what I am. I built this tiny micro link sharing site this weekend, just for fun. It makes minified URLs just like bit.ly, etc, but that's not what it's for.

You share a link, then you receive someone else's link in return. You're supposed to visit it, then you vote if you like it or not. If you really like it, you can share it on Twitter, too.

If a link gets a bad enough score, it will be removed.

What do you all think I could do to improve it, programming and feature wise? It's no more than at the toy stage at this point, but maybe it could go somewhere.

Here's the site: b-s.me ~ Random Link Sharing

When I made it, I promised myself that the entire site was going to fit onto one page. I'm going to stick to this for now.

#idea

m4rx 14 years ago

Very very interesting concept.

I have one question though, why would this be shared on Twitter, as the url it gives you is to a different site.

Not that this is a bad idea, I just don't see it as profitable, and I don't see your goal if any.

Nice Idea though, :]

--m4rx
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- wayfarer 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by m4rx
  
  Very very interesting concept.
  
  I have one question though, why would this be shared on Twitter, as the url it gives you is to a different site.
  
  The idea is indirect promotion of the site. When you click "share on twitter", if you are logged in, it will fill in the textarea with a message looking something like this:
  
  Micro random link-sharing from #b-s.me: http://b-s.me/n
  
  Then, if the hashtag is left intact, all of the tweets will be networked together.
  
  As far as profitability, there are plenty of things that could be done with it. For example, I could build a user backend with a different level of service, that does something like the "sponsored tweets" idea that has become profitable lately. You could pay people to retweet your links, with the advantage of the system having its own "tiny url" built into it, so I don't need to use someone else's API.
  
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dilqncho 14 years ago

And I have the same opinion a very good idea, but if you fix the design will be less perfect

P.S. I just don't see it as profitable, and I don't see your goal if any.
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- wayfarer 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by dilqncho
  
  P.S. I just don't see it as profitable, and I don't see your goal if any.
  
  I might add that I really don't have a goal for it, for now. It only took me about 6-8 hours to build, and I did so just for fun. It does keep pretty good statistics already though, so it could be used for something.
  
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jessiej 14 years ago

this is a very interesting idea keep it up!it will be useful in the future
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dilqncho 14 years ago

Well it is beginning to enjoy what you did, but then there may be a good income
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mla16 14 years ago

isnt that how the best ideas start though..... from a small seed which grows into a larger beast??? I am pretty sure the creator of twitter didnt think that world domination would follow, just a little idea that grew and grew..... stick at it mate and see where it takes you
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TrafficMystic 14 years ago

Is this not similar to what stumbleupon do? you add sites you get random sites in return and you vote on it?
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Clyde Dennis 14 years ago

Nice, I played around with it a bit. Good for a short diversion.
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wayfarer 14 years ago

What would you think if I added a 'just get a link' option? This way you're not required to submit a link and could just vote.

Also, I thought maybe I would return the tiny link for the URL submitted, so people could use it like bit.ly etc. if they want to.
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m4rx 14 years ago

Very interesting. I didn't really see much of it actually being profitable, but nice.

If you ever need any help in the future im here ;]

I would love to know how you have this all setup on the back end though. Im curious.

--m4rx
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johnny.litson 14 years ago

Certainly very interesting concept... But, I could not find the shortened URL of my link...??!!
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- wayfarer 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by johnny.litson
  
  Certainly very interesting concept... But, I could not find the shortened URL of my link...??!!
  
  Yes, that is by design. However, I'm thinking I will change that since it's nice to have a shortcut to links you want also.
  
  Thanks
  
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  johnny.litson 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by wayfarer
  
  Yes, that is by design. However, I'm thinking I will change that since it's nice to have a shortcut to links you want also.
  
  That would be awesome, as it would serve both the purposes (shortening the URL and rating other's URL)...
  
  Keep up the good work...
  
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AndyBlackSEO

14 years ago

Nice little app. Would be good to be able to see 'top rated sites'... 'most recent urls' etc.

I think this could be popular with IM's maybe. A way to get their links out there.... it's just a case of getting people to use it properly and not game the system. Just added two urls anyway :-)

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wayfarer

14 years ago

Originally Posted by AndyBlackSEO

Nice little app. Would be good to be able to see 'top rated sites'... 'most recent urls' etc.

Yeah, I've thought of that also, but there needs to be more ratings before that is realistic. Most recent urls could be done now, but that can wait also.

Originally Posted by AndyBlackSEO

I think this could be popular with IM's maybe. A way to get their links out there.... it's just a case of getting people to use it properly and not game the system. Just added two urls anyway :-)

I've put some safeguards in there, but more will come. Duplicate URLs can't be submitted. It will find that it has already been submitted and return the same tiny url.

One thing that is not easily possible is automated submission. I've put some invisible human verification safeguards that should stop most trickery.

Submissions are already being tracked by IP, so it wouldn't be too hard to start policing the system if I had to.

Thanks

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Fraserb 14 years ago

Like the idea of rating links and have added my own just to see where it goes.

Thanks,

Fraser
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rfsbo 14 years ago

Neat Idea. I'm not sure how you monetize it though. Much like stumbleupon.
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Geekybizness 14 years ago

Wayfarer, great work my friend. Its awesome, I loved every bit of it. U know what, u dont have to think about how to monetize it. If people like it and there's traction, things will start rolling out. So dont think about getting any money from it now. Just try to be creative to play around with it for some more time, maybe u could find ways to do more things better or add stuff to it. I am impressed by your work. I would like to talk to you, follow me on twitter keerthibiz...I would love to talk about more ideas with you.
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AndyBlackSEO

14 years ago

Would it be possible to have the members short url point to browser window that has the members page / site in a frame and then a ratings panel etc in a seperate frame so members can give out that shortl url and people will have the panel near by which my lead to votes / feedback?

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wayfarer

14 years ago

Originally Posted by AndyBlackSEO

Yes, that is definitely possible, but I wonder if it is too awkward... It's an interesting idea though, I may try a beta test of it in a separate location.

Thanks

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What do you all think of this idea?

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