New idea, pin your offers, events, content on a streetmap

[Al@PinSwarm]

Hey guys, I'm looking for idea validation, ideas for copy, offers of content creation for landing pages and any other ideas to launch my new startup. I aim to give 75% of future profits to charity - which could be considerable if I can get it to take off

I'm a massive UKBF fan - been here since launch. Here is Ozzy advising me in 2005!

Here is my second account - and with a lot of your help I built http://www.textlocal.com from a bedroom startup on my 2nd hand laptop to £25m+ turnover, worked 20h/day for 9 years to 8 figure exit in 2014 - then 3 year earnout, then stopped for 3 years to catch my breath. Then Covid hit and I was at home on my Playstation for another 2 years - pretty bored and understimulated, I need a project!!

In 2018 I had a lightbulb moment, tried to action there and then, but the time wasn't right for me and I canned it. It's been nagging at me since that I have to make it real!

Constantly disappointed by the local event websites while looking for things to do with my family (Facebook not widely used - not comprehensive, very hard to search - Eventbrite is for businesses - Google Events hard to filter, not always local...) I wished there was a site that simply showed me everything happening soon around me.. on a map. Like Tripadvisor does for hotels and activities, Google Maps does for static businesses and reviews, Rightmove does for houses, Flightradar does for aircraft.... why not one for events... and offers... and local themed content?

Over the next 2 months (while trying to entertain 5 kids over the holidays!) I built https://www.PinSwarm.com and put it live this week after a month of beta testing.

It's a local map where you pin free links for 24 hours - for everyone nearby to see - then they vanish. Extend the pin for 10p/day (early bird rate) - £3 per month (75% of profit to charity). Edit or Delete any time.

Visitors find a location and browse pins. They can also drop a pin, tagging it either:

OFFER - link to any current offers & deals on your website and social media, or just attach an image.
EVENT - link to your upcoming event info on Facebook, Google, Eventbrite, Ticketmaster or on any site.
CONTENT- embed a Youtube of a hike on the hills, the morning delivery at the veg shop, footage from the local charity half marathon, a TikTok dance in the park, footage from the skate park…
CLUB - link to details about regular local community groups & sports clubs on your website or social media.

Please share pins to make them buzz for everyone ?

Looking for any feedback (I took some on board in the "Site feedback" zone a few weeks ago, thanks for that...) and now I've launched I'm looking for ideas how to get traction - need to overcome "chicken - humanity" and "egg - the people placing pins" and bring them together in unison!

Had some amazing clients already.. for example:

Halloween at a castle
A Charity Ball
A Spa
Violin Tutor

Thanks for your time - any ideas or partnerships or support appreciated

Alastair https://www.linkedin.com/in/alshortland/

 

[MOIC]

Nice idea.

I hope it’s a success!

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

Ive been moved to here.. but I was looking for general startup advice, ideas for landing pages, am more looking for copywriting support,

Nice idea.

I hope it’s a success!

Thanks, that’s much appreciated wishing you all the best in your projects too! Al

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Great idea...

1. We have over a thousand subscribers, about 95% UK coverage, that put on sports events and your pinswarm may help to attract footfall from outside of the usual spectator profile?

2. However, as part of our free service we already have location services within our club finder software that works with Google Maps and encourages new membership enquiries. It's late and I need to scratch my head a bit in the morning to see if point 1 conflicts with point 2?

Have you thought of further separation, i.e., producing specific maps solely for eg., the live music scene?

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

Great idea...

1. We have over a thousand subscribers, about 95% UK coverage, that put on sports events and your pinswarm may help to attract footfall from outside of the usual spectator profile?

2. However, as part of our free service we already have location services within our club finder software that works with Google Maps and encourages new membership enquiries. It's late and I need to scratch my head a bit in the morning to see if point 1 conflicts with point 2?

Have you thought of further separation, i.e., producing specific maps solely for eg., the live music scene?

 

[fisicx]

As was said in the other thread your biggest issue is going to be getting people to add events. And even then, Google already has a ‘what’s on near me’ feature.

Adding events to your site isn’t easy. It not a simple process when compared to things like Facebook shares.

The homepage is very busy. It’s not a clean interface. It also shows me the ‘add a pin’ thing when I just want to see what’s on. It’s not possible to get rid of it.

The search function just shows me locations. Most of which are outside the UK. I wanted to find all local boot sales but couldn’t.

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

Thank you so much. That's the hope.. that everyone locally will check in every day to see the new pins - and yes, every pin attracts a local audience of residents and tourists. A no brainer?

2 - yes, they possibly do conflict in a competative sense. However, I'm actively not competing with anyone. This isn't a business [edit: to make profits for shareholders]. It is an attempt to be a global platform like Twitter - free for everyone, and if you do choose to promote in the results (gold box, seen first when users land locally) then that money will accumulate and then I'll donate 75% of profit to chartity (currently a pledge.. its here forever to see..).

I don't want to replace or compete with existing proeucts. Its a lot of higher level than that.. just pins, on a map, linking to content... if they link to a club event, thats awesome. There's room for everyone.

Facebook Events, Google Events, Skiddle, Eventrite, Ticketmaster.. I want to be the local signpost to them via a croudsourced map... for the good of everyone worldwide, while hopefully generating for good causes too.. initally BBC Children In Need 2022.... and a local charity to me (Worcester) TBC.

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

As was said in the other thread your biggest issue is going to be getting people to add events. And even then, Google already has a ‘what’s on near me’ feature.

Adding events to your site isn’t easy. It not a simple process when compared to things like Facebook shares.

The homepage is very busy. It’s not a clean interface. It also shows me the ‘add a pin’ thing when I just want to see what’s on. It’s not possible to get rid of it.

The search function just shows me locations. Most of which are outside the UK. I wanted to find all local boot sales but couldn’t.

Dude, it's 4 days old, I haven't managed to convince all the car boot sale organisers yet. Please give me time ;-) I'm still trying to work out how to explain it clearly.

I have spoken to a lot of people who certainly aren't aware of Google "whats near me", but it isn't supposed to be competing with Google Events.. it's compliments it and links to it - and everything else - and Youtube, and displays any local special offer, or info about local community groups, and fun TikToks with a local theme. I offer it as a simple signpostto whatever you like - with 2 minutes effort. For free. Take it or leave it

Joining and adding is very easy about to get easier when I merge all these into 1 click... 1) click on the map 2) signup eith email/pass 3) choose category from dropdown, give a title, cut& paste a message into the box, add your link (if youtube or tiktok it is embedded into the pin!) 5) done. its on the map for 24 hours.

2 minutes. Free. Easy. How could it be more easy than that... and its free.

Ive only to find 1000 people in the world to place a pin for 10 days. Every day. And thats £2250 per month to a local cause, so it worth pursuing for that reason alone?

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

The homepage is very busy. It’s not a clean interface. It also shows me the ‘add a pin’ thing when I just want to see what’s on. It’s not possible to get rid of it.

There is no home page, the whole site is just a map - with 5 images at the bottom. Please can you share what you are seeing so I can check there isn't an issue?

If you mean that there are just random pins with labels dotted about... ? Yes.. that looks crap.. but it won't when there are 5000 pins and you are zooming in to a 1 mile radius for an instant view of what is happening around you - with category filters.

(many thanks BTW, you are really helping me fill the gaps in my explaination of the service to the world!)

Thanks
Al

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

Have you thought of further separation, i.e., producing specific maps solely for eg., the live music scene?

Sorry, messed up the reply above... and replied in separate message. Such a noob - I havn't been doing any "work" for 5 years and it's taking a little time to rewire all the connections.

Absolutely, there are plans for all sorts of categorisation and filtering underneath the 4 core headings.. but I also want to keep everything super super simple - pure KISS... and freeflowing. It should be fun to browse and search if there are 1m pins worldwide?

You can search for anything like "music" or "band" in the box (maybe I'll use hashtags for trends etc) and find everything around you. There isn't anything yet... if you zoom out now you'll get the idea - you can search for anything and anystreet/town from the same box.

 

[HFE Signs]

I love the concept, something I would use (I have 3 kids to entertain) we're always looking for local days out.

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

I love the concept, something I would use (I have 3 kids to entertain) we're always looking for local days out.

Oh thank you so much, that means a lot... yeah absolutely. Just want to be able to pick an area and see whats happening over next few days, any cool YouTubes showing the museums, links to ticket booking sites, links to booking forms. I appreciate that users must be careful to verify authenticity of the links themselves and use their own judgement.. one of the reasons I chose to can the project in 2018! There are "report" buttons on every pin, and most of the overhead in the business could be support that.. we shall see.

I dont even want people's data - have no interest in it except for email to keep in touch and login. All I ask is email/pass (encrypted of course) and the few bits of public info on the pin (title, message, link, expiry). Don't want or need any more than that - needs to be so simple for everyone on the planet to use (and easily translated..).

 

[stokes89]

Brilliant idea. Maybe contact some village halls especially the ones who run mother & toddler groups, my wife was always looking for new ones with her friends. I could see them using this. Plus they always have a fete going or an art club for the children etc.

A lot of afterschool clubs are run by an outside organisation usually sports clubs. They normally do events in towns every few months for the family.

 

[HFE Signs]

It might be worth linking up with these guys https://www.eventservicesdirectory.co.uk/

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

It might be worth linking up with these guys https://www.eventservicesdirectory.co.uk/

Cool, I'll connect - they only have a handul of https://www.eventservicesdirectory.co.uk/events/ events though they've been going 17 years? ? - and it proves the point, there is no way at all to search by location.

 

[fisicx]

Can’t attach images but…

I see a search box, buttons for types of event, icons on the right, a load of random pins, images below the map or the touch thing.

Then to add a pin I need to register. It’s just all too fiddly on a phone -which is what most people will be using.

 

[HFE Signs]

Cool, I'll connect - they only have a handul of https://www.eventservicesdirectory.co.uk/events/ events though they've been going 17 years? ? - and it proves the point, there is no way at all to search by location.

oh, ok, sorry I didn't check that - I remembered them from years ago when I had a Donut trailer! There was also on called The Showmans Guide - this was back in the day when we had little books!

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

Thanks for the feedback. Any ideas how to make it less fiddly? You just need to "tap the map", signup with email/pass, fill in 5 items on a form, press save.

Show me any website that is less fiddly to join (excluding oAuth signin with FB/Twitter - which is coming when I get a moment) and add content, and I'll send you £5 Amazon voucher

You mention on your design expert page (https://aerin.co.uk/ - love the layout and clean lines) "treat users like idiots". I must try harder - which I came here looking for help with landing pages and content in the "Startup" forum (see my opening paragraph) - but the mods moved me here for a site review, which I don't require..... which is frutrating

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Sorry, messed up the reply above... and replied in separate message. Such a noob - I havn't been doing any "work" for 5 years and it's taking a little time to rewire all the connections.

Absolutely, there are plans for all sorts of categorisation and filtering underneath the 4 core headings.. but I also want to keep everything super super simple - pure KISS... and freeflowing. It should be fun to browse and search if there are 1m pins worldwide?

You can search for anything like "music" or "band" in the box (maybe I'll use hashtags for trends etc) and find everything around you. There isn't anything yet... if you zoom out now you'll get the idea - you can search for anything and anystreet/town from the same box.

There's a company out there that linked up with town councils to produce a website featuring local businesses called 'Click It Local', they folded and are attempting to re-brand.
Local actually included businesses on the edge of an area that wanted to capture some of the town centre activity. Garden centres, were more promising candidates to buy an entry, thus diluting the opportunities for eg., the giftware shop in town, and home based businesses were able to compete with bricks and mortar shops. To succeed it needed to capture every business in town, to become the Yellow Pages of the area, to grow fast. By trying to be all things to all men (and women) it never could.

Our website software succeeds and has fought off others with greater financial welly because we have the market, just as our village magazine dominates because it includes most of the tradesmen seeking local enquiries. My suggestion to focus on certain activities such as Live Gigs would give you a much greater chance of getting there quicker. Any charitable donations (for that genre) to go direct to music related causes, Youth Orchestras etc., directly linking the two.

 

[fisicx]

Suppose I’ve got 20 events to promote (my stall at a bunch of farmers markets) all happening over the next 6 months.

You tell me my listing will only be live for 24 hours. That’s of no use at all. Nor is it any use to someone searching for things to do next month.

And I’ve got to add each event manually. Might only be 5 fields but wouldn’t it be simpler to just let me add a url. You can extract the title, location and image with a simple parsing script. Simpler for everyone.

And how about letting anyone post an event but require membership to get anything other than the free listing.

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

My suggestion to focus on certain activities such as Live Gigs would give you a much greater chance of getting there quicker. Any charitable donations (for that genre) to go direct to music related causes, Youth Orchestras etc., directly linking the two.

Great ideas thanks, all noted I really see "events" as 3rd priority - behind all the special offers and links to local content (video) put out by SMEs each day (fun, educational, local themed.... from hairdressers to chip shops to churches). Also, live streams on TikTok, from local shops.. linked from the pin

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

And how about letting anyone post an event but require membership to get anything other than the free listing.

Because at scale, when I have 10k pins an hour being dropped - it will be absolutely spammed without a login, and then some payment layer to provide at least a little validation. This is NOT a "let's get 100 events a day" kinda thing.... think Twitter volume levels of pins worldwide...

You are right.. adding 20 pins might be a pain (most people don't have 20 events in short succession you know?)... but hey, if 1000s of new potential customers/followers see them that otherwise wouldn't, isn't it worth 30 mins graft copy and pasting? (we'll build something to upload from Excel sometime to make it easier for you... would you be a beta tester please if/when I do?).

Thanks, Alastair.

 

[fisicx]

Ah, then I’ve totally misunderstood the whole point of the website. I thought this was all about promoting events.

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

Ah, then I’ve totally misunderstood the whole point of the website. I thought this was all about promoting events.

Yep.. it is along wth everything else that could be happening locally... like 2-for1 sale at pizza shop, local themed content from "influencers" and local businesses, details about the Watercolour Landscape class that still has the last 5 places to fill before next week...

 

[fisicx]

Hmmm. Why would I ever want to see a TikTok from a local influencer? As a crusty I want to see what’s on this weekend. Doesn’t appear to be a filter for that.

I totally get what you are trying to do, I just think there are too many barriers to success. The main one being there are no pins. Which means potential users are going to visit once, see an empty map and never return.

What you need to do is fill the database with things. You can scrape all sorts of things (or get someone to scrape for you). This means you will have something to show potential users.

I’ve looked at a couple of pins and was a bit confused. Someone posted a video of them walking up a hill. Why do I need to know this?

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

Hmmm. Why would I ever want to see a TikTok from a local influencer? As a crusty I want to see what’s on this weekend. Doesn’t appear to be a filter for that.

I totally get what you are trying to do, I just think there are too many barriers to success. The main one being there are no pins. Which means potential users are going to visit once, see an empty map and never return.

What you need to do is fill the database with things. You can scrape all sorts of things (or get someone to scrape for you). This means you will have something to show potential users.

I’ve looked at a couple of pins and was a bit confused. Someone posted a video of them walking up a hill. Why do I need to know this?

There are filters at the top, press “events” to see events - again it’s day 4, they will be fleshed out more into subcategories when there is traction.

Yes - one reason I’m posting is look for legitimate sources of data, but I’m not scraping - I want everything ethical and totally above board and transparent. Even planning on publishing the accounts.

AirB&B had same chicken and egg issue. I’m lucky in that I am retired at 40 so have all my day to spend working out a solution when walking my dogs and swimming

 

[UKSBD]

I think it would be far better if areas had unique URL's so you could just link straight to an area of the map rather than a full map then have to go to the area.

ie if I want to provide someone with a link to a specific area rather than the generic map, I can

You could then have ambassadors for areas who actively promote and add events to their area

Can you have 2 separate systems - one with the tap the map feature to add things and the other with the things on, at the moment I keep tapping and getting the add an event box when I think I am tapping to see an event.

One thing I will say you can't be risk averse doing something like this, someone posts something bad on facebook, google and the likes and they have lawyers that make the problems go away, what happens if you get sued for displaying other peoples content?

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

I think it would be far better if areas had unique URL's so you could just link straight to an area of the map rather than a full map then have to go to the area.

ie if I want to provide someone with a link to a specific area rather than the generic map, I can

You could then have ambassadors for areas who actively promote and add events to their area

Can you have 2 separate systems - one with the tap the map feature to add things and the other with the things on, at the moment I keep tapping and getting the add an event box when I think I am tapping to see an event.

One thing I will say you can't be risk averse doing something like this, someone posts something bad on facebook, google and the likes and they have lawyers that make the problems go away, what happens if you get sued for displaying other peoples content?

Thanks for the feedback. You can search for any street in the world and all the pin content - all in the same box. You are then taken to the local area automatically. Is that working for you? Type "worcester" or "malvern" and you will see a handful of pins.

Great idea for the link, I've added to the roadmap. Will build a link that encodes the lat/log and when the user hits the map they are linked to 1 mile above.

You can hit a report button and remove content instantly. Besides, why would someone steal someone elses content to promote their own local business - isn't that counterproductive for their own reputation?

 

[antropy]

I built http://www.textlocal.com from a bedroom startup on my 2nd hand laptop to £25m+ turnover, worked 20h/day for 9 years to 8 figure exit in 2014

Why aren't you on a beach in the Caribbean?! ?

Paul.

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

Why aren't you on a beach in the Caribbean?! ?

Paul.

One day, have 5 kids to get to 18 first.. and then yes, that would be lovely.

Would rather be dancing to trance in a club, or in an art gallery, or musical show or a metal concert than a beach, and I can do all that in the UK and be home in time for breakfast and the school runs and sports matches!

 

[UKSBD]

Thanks for the feedback. You can search for any street in the world and all the pin content - all in the same box. You are then taken to the local area automatically. Is that working for you?

I can do that yes, but to get more interaction it would be nice if others could link direct to the place they want too

For instance - If i go to the homepage, search for CV36 it takes me to a map there.
I now want a link to send that map to someone else.

You can hit a report button and remove content instantly. Besides, why would someone steal someone elses content to promote their own local business - isn't that counterproductive for their own reputation?

People still just use images they get of Google for their own websites, it's even worse if they want an image to go with an ad on someone elses site.

I had to stop allowing people to add photos to listings on my site very early on as it was obvious they were just using images from anywhere.

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

I had to stop allowing people to add photos to listings on my site very early on as it was obvious they were just using images from anywhere.

Perhaps yes. Hopefully if I can generate £ms for charity then people may be more forgiving - and I have the link to their (whatever) so it is easy to know who they are and send the solicitors their way....

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Great ideas thanks, all noted I really see "events" as 3rd priority - behind all the special offers and links to local content (video) put out by SMEs each day (fun, educational, local themed.... from hairdressers to chip shops to churches). Also, live streams on TikTok, from local shops.. linked from the pin

I'm confused. Your opening post is all about events?

It sounds like your banking on people wanting to view local content videos when they are posted? I can go on YouTube, Facebook etc., and see videos now that will still be there in the future. Yours will have disappeared?

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

I'm confused. Your opening post is all about events?

It sounds like your banking on people wanting to view local content videos when they are posted? I can go on YouTube, Facebook etc., and see videos now that will still be there in the future. Yours will have disappeared?

No.. the pins on PinSwarm link to the content - I don’t store it! They are just signposts (local bookmarks..?… still getting the words right in my head…), pushing a hyperlocal audience towards the content.

Please see the time of this post… it says “offers, events, content onto a streetmap”. Events was just the trigger for the idea, and soon realised that it’s just a small part of it - offers and content are bigger. Clubs/groups info too, but likely 4th place in volume - bit equally important

OFFER - link to any current offers & deals on your website and social media, or just attach an image.
EVENT - link to your upcoming event info on Facebook, Google, Eventbrite, Ticketmaster or on any site.
CONTENT- embed a Youtube of a hike on the hills, the morning delivery at the veg shop, footage from the local charity half marathon, a TikTok dance in the park, footage from the skate park…
CLUB - link to details about regular local community groups & sports clubs on your website or social media

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Just a thought, how do you aim to deal with made up and mischievous spoof events. What if an event is cancelled, an offer withdrawn, the pinner doesn't update and an irate 'customer' who's travelled 20 miles isn't informed?

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Clubs/groups info too, but likely 4th place in volume - bit equally important

But only appearing for 24 hours unless they pay?

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

Just a thought, how do you aim to deal with made up and mischievous spoof events. What if an event is cancelled, an offer withdrawn, the pinner doesn't update and an irate 'customer' who's travelled 20 miles isn't informed?

The pins are signposts to the event content hosted on your website / Eventbrite whatever.

You can make same argument as a out of date link from Twitter or Facebook Events….? What’s the difference?

If people landing on the pin see it is spoof or dodgy, they report it, it’s instantly hidden and it goes into an audit queue.

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

But only appearing for 24 hours unless they pay?

Yeah… £3 per month, where in time they will hopefully be exposed to the whole local community… and 75% goes to charity.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Yeah… £3 per month, where in time they will hopefully be exposed to the whole local community… and 75% goes to charity.

It sounds like your relying on them to see the value of appearing on the site? Can you do that within your £3 take? I say that as my customers wouldn't respond to an offer of a free £10 note without being phoned! ?

 

[Al@PinSwarm]

It sounds like your relying on them to see the value of appearing on the site? Can you do that within your £3 take? I say that as my customers wouldn't respond to an offer of a free £10 note without being phoned! ?

Oh I know.. a lot of hope, good PR, a strong and clear message (why I'm here today - still working on that..) and sharing of the pins on social media channels, and a massive PPC campaign are for starters. Forming relationships with a highly respected local charity to work in partnership will also help.

I need 3 killer sentences to sum it all up, create some excitement, let people have a play, drop a pin and see what happens. It only takes 2 minutes, and its free - and could generate 1000s of clicks to your content from local viewers looking for a) stuff to do b) the latest pizza deals 3) what to do on a tuesday afternoon 4) what cool videos about local businesses and tourism have been posted recently.... i can go on allllll day.... but how to sum it up!!!?? My best effort today is this, can anyone do better??

Imagine your own 100% free Bat-Signal! Available any tme to shine over a location, signposting everyone nearby to your latest offers, upcoming events, local community group info and local social media content? What would you tell people?

You‘re reading a signal right now, pinned over our office in Great Malvern in Worcestershire!

Get yours in 2 minutes:

1) Signup free
2) Add a free pin to our map and choose when activate your signal
3) Locals & tourists see your signal and follow your link

Your signal shines for a day, then runs out of battery and needs to be recharged, you can have more free whenever you like.

You‘re reading a signpost right now, pinned over our office in Great Malvern in Worcestershire!

It's so easy. Find a location by searching in the box & drop your pin, tagging it either:

1. OFFER - link to any current offers & deals on your website and social media, or just attach an image.
2. EVENT - link to your upcoming event info on Facebook, Google, Eventbrite, Ticketmaster…
3. CONTENT- link to a Youtube of a hike on the hills, the morning delivery at the veg shop, footage from the local charity half marathon, a TikTok dance in the park, footage from the skate park…
4. CLUB - link to details about regular local community groups & sports clubs on your website or social media.

Add your pin in 2 minutes, simply click X to close this pin, find a location and add your own.

Please share pins (this one too please!) to make them buzz for everyone ?