littlened started this topic @ 13:37 on 22/02/2006
I have an idea for a website, that's going to take me a long time to develop. I'm affraid that the time I spend putting the site together might be wasted.
Has anyone else been in the same situation?
How do I research whether my idea is a good one without telling everyone what the idea is?
My idea targets small businesses in a particular sector, so I know that my idea has to be affordable to them. The product I'm thinking of is already available as a standalone package, but a bit on the expensive side, especially for the smaller businesses in the sector. My idea basically puts the product on a single website, which can be easily setup for many businesses to use. The businesses would only pay for any business that my idea had generated for them.
The good thing about my idea is that it can be altered to suite businesses in another sector who require a similar product, which as techonology becomes more and more normal, I think more businesses will want this. That's only my opinion though.
RE: A website idea, but is it worth the time?
littlened | 22/02/2006 04:18 PM
ok, heres my idea.
I want to build a website that will or could be a portal for people interested in hair and beauty. The website would have an online booking facility which salons could sign up to and pay a setup fee, and then a small fee per booking made online. Each salon would be able to use the booking system in-salon instead of a hand written diary. The setup of the system for each salon would involve inputing into the database different services the salon offers and roughly how long this service might take to complete. So if a visitor to the site wants to book an appointment with a particular salon, they select the date and time they'd like the appointment, then select the service they would like (cut and blow dry), the system would automatically calculate when the service should be finished and a notice sent to the salon to confirm that the booking is suitable. Appointment reminders would be sent via SMS where a mobile telephone number had been supplied.
Because the website would be used by both clients and salon owners, the site could host paid advertising for products or services, and it could also provide technology consulting to salons, such as information on leasing computers or buying them, information on websites, and how much they may be willing to pay, who's the best broadband provider for use in salon, how to buy domain names etc. That sort of thing.
I've chosen this sector because my partner owns a hair salon, so she would be able to help me determine what a salon would require from the internet and an online booking system.
This product could be extended and be used for other lines of business, such at vets.
Another variation of this product could be to create an online take-away food booking system, so people could track their food order and see when it's been sent out for delivery. The only problem being is I'm not sure that takeaways are likely to already have computers, where as other businesses, such as salons and vets are gettings computers all the time to help with the day to day running of their business. I know lots of salons now that are turning to computers to look after their bookings.
The site could offer web design specifically to salons, with integrated online shop and payment systems.
RE: A website idea, but is it worth the time?
buyingfirsttime.co.uk | 22/02/2006 04:27 PM
Its an interesting idea, and i can appreciate the amount of work that would have to go into setting up a site like that.
Although having little knowledge of that industry i could see this service being used, particulary by business women in the city etc.
Have you considered your advertising budget once the site is setup? Its one thing approaching the salons but another to get the customers browsing and booking.
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RE: RE: A website idea, but is it worth the time?
littlened | 22/02/2006 04:38 PM
That's a good point you've raised. So far I've not done any planning, I've just been running things through my head and while I'm at work I'm trying out a few things website wise to figure out how I would create the booking system.
The good thing is, if I built the site, and the boss I'm working for now saw potential in it, he would invest in it, he's that type of person.
RE: RE: A website idea, but is it worth the time?
littlened | 23/02/2006 07:13 AM
I've checked out the site and it seems good, the only problem I can see is that he's tried to go too big without really thinking about how he's going to get takeaways on there.
In the area I live in, we have about 25 takeaways in a small area, we get a new menu through the day weekly.
Last night I was thinking about takeaway menus, and I'm going to put together a simple site for mt area, list menus on there for free, get notices put up in the takeaways advertising the site. Once theres visitors going to the site, then local businesses can advertise there services or products, and if it becomes fairly popular I could replace the takeaways telephone number with an 0871 number that redirects to the takeaway to generate a little extra cash (and call it a service fee).
If it worked locally, then I could try expanding, or setting up a similar site for a larger town up the road.
RE: RE: A website idea, but is it worth the time?
littlened | 23/02/2006 10:04 AM
A good point which I've already thought about. If say for example I created the website under the website address www.menus.com, then for each takeaway I would create a sub domain which would directly show only their menu, and adverts for other local businesses that are not in the same line of work. For example, plumbers, electricians and local shops. but not takeaways. So the website address the takeaway would be advertising is http://takeawayname.menus.com. However if someone was to visit just www.takeaways.com, then they would be given a choice of different types of takeaways, i.e. pizza, chinese, and when one is clicked, it would show everyone in the area that does that sort of food, you would then click a company and view their menu.
This idea might flop, or it might work, but the website itself would be fairly simple to make, even with a database back end holding the menus, company details and adverts etc. If it fails, I won't feel so down about it as it would only be a small time risk.
The advantage of this sort of website could be that it should get local traffic, which would be ideal for someone like myself looking to build websites for small local businesses, with the added advantage of being able to claim part of the cost of any website built by me back from the business link as I'm registered with the business link as a registered service provider in the area I live.
RE: RE: A website idea, but is it worth the time?
carmitage | 28/02/2006 10:23 AM
I think I could make it worth your time.
I run a small team of programmers and could program this solution for you within 20 days for around £200. Thats only £10 per day (You'll not get professional programmers cheaper)
I am offering you my services for such a low price as we are very interested in starting up relations with new businesses.
Please feel free to check out our site http://www.ideas-factory.co.uk
Or email me direct at: admin@ideas-factory.co.uk
Thanks
RE: RE: A website idea, but is it worth the time?
littlened | 28/02/2006 04:51 PM
Thanks for the offer, but £200 would come in very handy towards something else. Theres no point paying someone else to do something I can do myself.
RE: RE: A website idea, but is it worth the time?
littlened | 28/02/2006 06:20 PM
thanks, I've took a look at the website, but the problem is he's started off too big. The website covers only a small number of areas.
Would have been best if he'd started in one area, say, the north east, and expanded from there.
My website is going to allow visitor to place comments and rate certain aspects of each takeaway, with the comments being checked before they are published to the website.
RE: A website idea, but is it worth the time?
matthulme | 28/02/2006 10:35 PM