I’m thinking of starting some kind of website around

[Junis]

Hi,

I’m thinking of starting some kind of website around new startups sending a screenshot of their site's homepage for evaluation by other people. The idea is for people to determine whether a new business is going to be a success or not by simply reading their homepage's content. With online businesses conversion from visitor to user is most important. I thought about a website that can offer this service where members can offer their feedback about each other's homepage screenshots. What’s the biggest problem around this idea?

Kind regards,

Yunis

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

Are the members going to be joining in the hope that they would get business off the clients they review (i.e. for re-doing their website) ?

 

[Junis]

Are the members going to be joining in the hope that they would get business off the clients they review (i.e. for re-doing their website) ?

The members could be registered users who want the opinion from others about their homepage design/content/offer and who also give it for others.

 

[Paul Norman]

Like all new businesses, I would encourage you to sit down, with an experienced business person, and work out exactly how this business will play out.

Where will it generate cash for you, and what will be the value for the customers? I get opinions from others on my website frequently already.

 

[APW]

The problem is traffic and content - without content why should traffic come to your website and without traffic why would I put my details on to your site?

You are going to need a huge marketing budget to get your brand out there so how will you recover your costs and make a profit?

 

[Junis]

The problem is traffic and content - without content why should traffic come to your website and without traffic why would I put my details on to your site?

You are going to need a huge marketing budget to get your brand out there so how will you recover your costs and make a profit?

I thought user generated content by those who are seeking an opinion about their startup homepage would take care of content for my website. Am I mssing something?

 

[APW]

I thought user generated content by those who are seeking an opinion about their startup homepage would take care of content for my website. Am I mssing something?

Why would I do that if there is no one going to see it? and how much would it cost for no one to see it?

 

[Junis]

People will see if my website if it is solving a problem for aspiring entrepreneurs. Just like with this website, our posts are contributing towards the feedback to other users without 'ukbusinessforums' doing anything at all. We are the product and the consumers.. The homepage is the most important page of a website and I thought it would be nice to provide a place to exchange opinions.

 

[APW]

But your missing the point, this website already has traffic and probably took years to grow but how will people find your website? How will you grow the website? what will it cost you market and how will you get that money back?

As an example there is a new business directory website for my town. I only know about this as they plastered stickers with the website all over the town that is their only form of marketing.

I checked and they have 3 followers on twitter and 4 likes on facebook with next to no activity, there website has 2 paid business ads costing £110+VAT a year thats it. As a business why would I spend £110 to advertise on a website that has no substance and little traffic?

I stayed for a few minutes and left knowing I will never check it again because there is no reason for me to.

So based on that you will need new and fresh content daily to keep people visiting your website, the question is as a business why would I put my details on your site in the hope that people may see it, when I can go to other sites such as here or facebook and ask for a review?

 

[APW]

People will see if my website if it is solving a problem for aspiring entrepreneurs.

How will they?

Just like with this website, our posts are contributing towards the feedback to other users without 'ukbusinessforums' doing anything at all.

How do you know the staff who run this site are not doing anything? Just because you can see it doesn't mean its not happening. My guess is the people who run this site work a lot harder than you think.

The homepage is the most important page of a website.

For some business that might be true, for other websites the most important bit might be the content. look at this sites homepage, is it important?

Many businesses including my own it has no bearing at all most of my customers either email/text me, contact me via social media or just go to my website and look for the big BOOK NOW button thats all that matters.

 

[Mr D]

People will see if my website if it is solving a problem for aspiring entrepreneurs. Just like with this website, our posts are contributing towards the feedback to other users without 'ukbusinessforums' doing anything at all. We are the product and the consumers.. The homepage is the most important page of a website and I thought it would be nice to provide a place to exchange opinions.

What problem are you solving?

Or is it an issue of having a solution, now you want to find the problems that it impacts?

 

[Paul Murray]

The idea is for people to determine whether a new business is going to be a success or not by simply reading their homepage's content

Who are these people? What are their credentials? Why are they well-placed to suggest whether or not a business with work based solely on a website's content? Are they judging the website or the start-up idea?

If it's the former, I think opening up a design to a crowd for opinion is tricky, especially if they don't understand the business, it's market and good user experience. It's why so many websites copy trends that others are doing despite them being bad design (*cough* hero sliders *cough*). They base their opinions on what they see others doing, not what's tested and proven to work.

 

[APW]

It's why so many websites copy trends that others are doing despite them being bad design (*cough* hero sliders *cough*).

My hero is lingscars.com guaranteed to give you a headache after 5 minutes.

 

[Paul Murray]

My hero is lingscars.com guaranteed to give you a headache after 5 minutes.

Good old lingscars.com.