New Idea: E-mail support Service Need Opinions?

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S

scriblesvurt

  • #1
    Hello,

    I have an Idea of Providing an E-mail based Support / PA / Research / PenPal service.

    I have put together a website www.YummyLifestyle.com

    The cost would be around £25 - £50 a month by subscription. However it starts with a weeks free trial.

    Please let me know your thoughts as to this idea?

    (Yes I know the Site has Typos! :))
     
    S

    Spire

    Free Member
    May 31, 2005
    170
    0
  • #2
    Hi

    Site looks impresive but I am afraid to say I would not have seen it if I were surfing the web in my normal manner, as I don't wait for flash intros to download I just move on, and if by some miricale I did wait for the flash to come down I would have left immediatly as I hate music or sound on by default,

    But then thats mabye just me ?
     
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    C

    c2webdesign

  • #4
    I have been through the pages and can't really understand the benefits - or what you 'really' do.

    I know you are there to 'answer my emails' and be excited when I am, help when I need it etc.... but (and maybe this is where your website lets the service down) I just see this as a service for someone without any friends???

    Also you seem to have a lot of buinsess people on the flash intro but is the business market your intended market - I didn't get that impression.

    Also the question of qualifications came to mind. Part of your FAQ mentions you can help suggest holiday destinations - is this be previous experience and knowledge - or do you chanel in to travel agents etc....?

    In terms of the site I think you need to immediately bring to the attention what you do, why it is a benefit and why people should choose you before visitors have to start searching through the pages. I needed to go to the FAQ section to find out.

    The Flash concept certainly won't help with SEO (if people are looking for your services via search engines) but in terms of visual aspect it is a good design.

    Hope this helps,
    Dean
    C2 Web Design
    http://www.c2webdesign.co.uk

    Web Design | Online Marketing | Search Engine Optimisation
     
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    S

    scriblesvurt

  • #5
    Well it is sort of aimed at people with no friends! :)

    it’s aimed at people who would like someone to talk to and moan to... lots of people like a gripe and one of the biggest problems I hear in relationship problems is that the partner never listens or they have no one to talk to. Their are already lots of E-mail counselling services and these already work well and charge in excess of $50 per e-mail. Yummylifestyle isn't supposed to be like that, as it wont have qualified councillors, and disclaimers will be sent out. It's just there for people who want someone. and there are lots of people out there from what I have discovered who would pay for that service. Almost like Sex Lines but without the Sex.

    I appreciate the SEO point about the flash, and as I said am developing a non flash version to optimize.

    Thanks for the feedback.
     
    Upvote 0
    clairemackaness

    clairemackaness

    Free Member
    Oct 7, 2005
    2,060
    1
    Brentwood, Essex
  • #6
    I like the concept, but think your marketing it wrong. You need to be a virtual personal assistant/friend. Market it as an organiser, letter writer, diary planner, adn lastly friend to have a good moan at.

    I wouldn't utilise you as I have my own real friends, but might use the PA/secretary service, you should have a sliding scale of rates to incorporate this an make your service more bespoke and client orientated.

    I hope you understand this.

    I too, dont look at flash sites and must say that when your site loads it is still not obvious what you do. I took a guess and clicked company, but you could mistake this link as a service. Your home page should instantly tell the client what you do.

    By the way, I'm assuming the testimonials are made up, if it's just an idea?
     
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    webit

    webit

    Free Member
    Jul 13, 2005
    1,124
    7
    Brighton, UK
  • #7
    Flash bad - wouldn't normaly bother

    GET RID OF THE MUSIC!!!!
    =================

    error on the submit page:
    Not Found
    The requested URL /contact. was not found on this server.

    Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.

    1 week would prob. not be long enough - make it a month.

    Nice site but the ideas not for me (but I think it is a strong concept has has a good PR slant)
     
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    S

    scriblesvurt

  • #8
    Thanks for all the Reply's.

    As I say, the site will have a non flash version soon. I will take into account the fact that the site doesn’t say what we do straight away. I like the Idea of the sliding scale for services. Thanks folks.

    Webit, can you add more to why you think the concept has a good PR slant?

    Thanks to all.

    S
     
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    U

    Urban Space

  • #9
    From a younger perspective, this thing doesn't really appeal to me! People can't really be that anti-social or weird to have no friends at all! I don't know if your aiming at the younger aged market, but at 25 quid a month...

    How large is your organisation? Surely that's far too much to be asking someone to pay! And what of your qualifications? The reason people pay 50 quid an email to professionals is because they're professionals - with professional qualifications! People could email me for free!!

    Moreover, I can't be the only person in the world stuck on a dial-up connection? The flash took far too long to load, perhaps through fault of my slow connection, and even then the website didn't really go into much detail! I mean FAQ's only get you so far!

    I hope I've not been too critical!

    Thanks

    Liam
     
    Upvote 0
    F

    fastfences

  • #10
    Hi there.
    I also echo comments about loading time, but acknowledge you're onto it!

    Yummylifestyle? Are you sure? Surely there are some more 'professional' sounding domains available. It conjours up visions of those MLM companys like 'wealth4u' and 'richerlifestyle.com.' etc.

    Do you think that someone seeking solace from the depression of being married to someone like me would feel 'at home' talking to someone from 'yummylifestyle?'

    Take a poll on it. Maybe I'm just out of line, but that's my thoughts. :wink:

    cheers, Nigel
     
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    A

    Amber

  • #11
    This is a fascinating idea, and if there's demand for it then I think you have a great basis for for media coverage. My main question, though would be whether someone would pay for this kind of service. At the moment, people who don't have friends are able to use forums (not this one, I hasten to add ;) ), chatrooms etc to connect with people, and they can do that for free. Have you had any sign-ups?

    Also, picking up on Claire's question about testimonials, I'm assuming that these are made up: they use the same kind of creative spelling and grammar as the rest of the site (you already know you need to work on that, so I will say no more :) ), which makes them seem fake, even if they're not. This could be disastrous for your credibility, so I think you need to do some work here, too.

    I hope this doesn't sound too critical. On the positive side, the site looks great, and once you have it available in html, with the option to turn off the sound, it'll be even better. I hope you'll let us know how you get on with it: I do think it's an interesting idea.
     
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    webit

    webit

    Free Member
    Jul 13, 2005
    1,124
    7
    Brighton, UK
  • #12
    scriblesvurt said:
    Webit, can you add more to why you think the concept has a good PR slant?
    Click to expand...

    I just can see an article in print pushing points the key features, it seems like the type of thing you'd see a PR write up in a glossy.

    Local press always a good one 'local boy/gal made good etc' would like the 'out of the box' thinking.

    It's a slick site. Whilst not for me it has a nice feel. I think you'll find it hard to get any paying customers in sufficient numbers to pay back though. (in the States maybe with the payback in advertising but the UK's a very different market).
     
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    S

    scriblesvurt

  • #13
    Thanks for all the feedback folks. This is really great. I will make changes and keep the forum up to date with developments / take up.

    I have had a few ideas that I start to look into, and then don't really do the right work. My other example is:

    www.MobilePhoneVirus.com

    I think it has great potential but I have just been playing around with it for a long time.

    I really appreciate the feedback on here. Perhaps I will get something going strong eventually!

    Thanks,

    S
    :D
     
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    M

    MarkPearson

  • #14
    Hi there.

    Just a quick not on your site (im no expert)

    but when I opened your site with a small browser, I would not find your links which are at the bottom!

    I would move them and put them above your flash images of people.

    If I had this problem, how many others also have the same pronlem.
     
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    C

    creospace

  • #15
    Anyone who thinks it wont work are can't see the point doesn't truly understand the current cultural/social paradigm that we are entering.

    Whilst it saddens me that there is a need for this service I know it will work.

    Consumerism = individualism = loneliness = consumerism = indiv . . . and so on.

    I've sent you a pm i'd like to talk to you off list about your project/business as I find it interesting and it will form a small part of my research project next year on formation of community.

    Gary
     
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