obue
03-23-2009, 09:22 AM
Ok I'm new here, love the book. Just tried to type a very very long post but the internet somehow managed to eat it up by requiring me to enter my password to this website again.
So I'll do the short version. My first idea was to make websites for local businesses who don't have one (or have an old, out dated one), but I've done that in the past and it's too much work. So my new idea is to automate it all and yet make even more money.
Here's the whole concept:
1. I'll build a super simple content management system, fit to maintain a simple web site for a small business. Simplicity is the key here, since it means shorter time developing and less intimidating for the end user. The most important feature is that it's easy to theme the whole thing. The back end editor has to brandable too. I figure this could be done in about three or four weeks.
2. Sell the system not to end customers, but to would-like-to-be web designers who don't really have a clue about how to do it. I think a lot of young people "want to be a web designer" but don't really have any tech knowledge, they would be perfect targets for this. Doing web design might be a small dream they have and I promise to make it real. I'll also provide a book/ebook that explains everything they need to use the system, find customers etc. Haven't really put that much thought into the pricing here yet, but I figure about $500 isn't unreasonable (though it won't actually be dollars since I'm not in the U.S.). This is my first stream of income.
3. These wannabe web designers do all the hard work. They contact local businesses, do the designs (simple to do with my templates) and set it all up. They will also provide support if the end customer needs it.
4. And here's the deal. Since I control the system the designers use, I can also require that domain names and server space is bought from me. Which I of course only resell, meaning I don't really need to do anything. This is my second stream of income. [EDIT: Forgot: This might seem like a big no-no for the web designer as well as the end user (depending on my prices of course), but I figure the at least to the web designer I'll put it as "this is the complicated tech part, so I'll deal with that for you".]
What do you think of this? I'm not sure how profitable it all would be but it's very little work anyway, and I also provide very real value for everyone involved, so it's no funky business really. I also figure the whole concept would be very easy to translate into another language to find new markets.
Any ideas/reactions would be welcome. Cheers!
So I'll do the short version. My first idea was to make websites for local businesses who don't have one (or have an old, out dated one), but I've done that in the past and it's too much work. So my new idea is to automate it all and yet make even more money.
Here's the whole concept:
1. I'll build a super simple content management system, fit to maintain a simple web site for a small business. Simplicity is the key here, since it means shorter time developing and less intimidating for the end user. The most important feature is that it's easy to theme the whole thing. The back end editor has to brandable too. I figure this could be done in about three or four weeks.
2. Sell the system not to end customers, but to would-like-to-be web designers who don't really have a clue about how to do it. I think a lot of young people "want to be a web designer" but don't really have any tech knowledge, they would be perfect targets for this. Doing web design might be a small dream they have and I promise to make it real. I'll also provide a book/ebook that explains everything they need to use the system, find customers etc. Haven't really put that much thought into the pricing here yet, but I figure about $500 isn't unreasonable (though it won't actually be dollars since I'm not in the U.S.). This is my first stream of income.
3. These wannabe web designers do all the hard work. They contact local businesses, do the designs (simple to do with my templates) and set it all up. They will also provide support if the end customer needs it.
4. And here's the deal. Since I control the system the designers use, I can also require that domain names and server space is bought from me. Which I of course only resell, meaning I don't really need to do anything. This is my second stream of income. [EDIT: Forgot: This might seem like a big no-no for the web designer as well as the end user (depending on my prices of course), but I figure the at least to the web designer I'll put it as "this is the complicated tech part, so I'll deal with that for you".]
What do you think of this? I'm not sure how profitable it all would be but it's very little work anyway, and I also provide very real value for everyone involved, so it's no funky business really. I also figure the whole concept would be very easy to translate into another language to find new markets.
Any ideas/reactions would be welcome. Cheers!