Start Up funding

[Net Zoo]

Hi All,

As a new company the budget isn't big so I am always looking for innovative ways of marketing the website for everyday users and also marketing to companies with regards to advertising.

I recently lost my job so i am putting all my efforts in to making Net Zoo a success. There does not seem to be any funding / grants available to 44 year old unemployed people. Any help, advice, comments, feedback, etc, would be gratefully appreciated

I look forward to your replies.

Ritchie
Net Zoo
netzoo.co.uk
Twitter : netzoo1

[MASSEY]

You want my free advice?

Dump this idea...... It's not going to work the way you want it to...

You have any other skills?

[JamesCartwright]

It might not be exactly what you're looking for - but hopefully this article on funding for entrepreneurs (http://www.wisteriaformations.co.uk/articles/index.php/start-up-funding-for-entrepreneurs/)may help stimulate some ideas!

Best of luck!

[Net Zoo]

Thanks for that James, some interesting reading and links for me to follow up. Your reply was more proactive and helpful than MASSEY's reply.

Did you have a look at Net Zoo, I would appreciate your opinion, maybe you will think the same as MASSEY, I suppose its all about opinions and constructive crititism.

Ritchie
Net Zoo
netzoo.co.uk
Twitter : netzoo1

[JamesCartwright]

Had a brief look - is the idea behind it a homepage with links to everything you use most?

If that's the case - I do like the idea. You're competing with the ideas of Chrome, Firefox etc I suppose in terms of favourite tabs - but I'm not 100% sure I've got your idea right. It is a neat idea in my opinion though, perhaps if you can explain it a little more I might understand it better! :)

[MarkN]

I'm not really sure what service your website is promoting?
Also it's really slow.

However I wish you well with your project.:)

[Net Zoo]

Hi James,

yeh, you have got the jist pretty much, the website was designed to use as a homepage, a fresh colourful alternative to google or facebook. I am a teacher by trade so researched 100's of students what they use as a homepage and what they would like to have one click away.

I do a lot of online shopping, my favourite shops are in my favourite list so i thought of having a seperate page for each industry i use most, then i researched each industry and listed popular shops, whilst i was developing the website i joined the affiliate schemes of the companies shown, now the website is finished I need to boost the traffic so i can sell the spaces on each page as advertising slots.

[MASSEY]

You'll never get enough people using it as a homepage to make anyone want to advertise on the site. How will people find out about it if you don't have cash to promote it?

Why is your site better than yahoo homepage?

If you're looking to make a living online you would be better doing stuff like affiliate marketing on set topics.

[JamesCartwright]

Hi James,

yeh, you have got the jist pretty much, the website was designed to use as a homepage, a fresh colourful alternative to google or facebook. I am a teacher by trade so researched 100's of students what they use as a homepage and what they would like to have one click away.

I do a lot of online shopping, my favourite shops are in my favourite list so i thought of having a seperate page for each industry i use most, then i researched each industry and listed popular shops, whilst i was developing the website i joined the affiliate schemes of the companies shown, now the website is finished I need to boost the traffic so i can sell the spaces on each page as advertising slots.

Well it seems like you've done a lot of research, and as I say I do like the idea. I think the others do make good points though - whether you'll generate enough users to attract advertising. Even if you do, you might need to be cautious - excessive advertising may turn people off using it as their homepage is what I'm trying to get at here...

Best of luck!

[Net Zoo]

The advertising is not on the homepage, I will from time to time change the colour schemes, industry buttons and maybe the search engines.

As you like the website please feel free to spread the word around your friends and family, cheap shot but worth the ask :)

[fundingportal]

Even in the days of banking hedonism it wasn't terrible easy to get funding for this type of business.

The first question must be what do you have to offer in the way of collateral and what are you putting in yourself?

Also you need to consider how much you need and what it will be used for.

If you are determined to make this run, I would go as far as possible with your own resources (ie get it to the stage of generating income, if not a profit) and look for angel or venture capital.

[Net Zoo]

most of the links on the website are part of affiliate schemes whilst the development took place, any income goes towards generating traffic, if the website starts getting massive hits then i will try and sell 12 advertising slots on each page.

I do not need massive funding/grants.