| Jul. 03 2008 at 4:02 PM |
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Hi - I started Girlfriendology - an online community for women based on inspiration, appreciation and celebration of female friendship. I do semi-weekly podcasts with inspiring, amazing women (sorry guys!) as well as videos, contests, shopping, reviews and blogs.
I'd love your thoughts/ideas on:
* People don't usually know they're in need of an inspiration site. How can I help women find me? (Yes, some guys stop by but usually leave when it's not a dating site but I'd had some who wanted to understand their partner's friendships and the importance of that)
* I need inspiring women to interview on the podcast. It takes about 30 minutes and they'll be featured on my site, newsletter, iTunes, etc. I don't mind promoting your business - as long as there is a girlfriend angle (which sometimes can just be learning from each other)
* I need new products to review and products to give as prizes.
And, my fellow entrepreneurs, I excitedly welcome your ideas. To make money at this, I have to increase traffic and generate review (ads to come, affiliate programs and looking for corporate sponsor(s)). IDEAS?!
Thanks for your time and consideration. Best of success to you! Debba www.girlfriendology.com
p.s. Current sites are moving to one Wordpress site in July so that will hopefully increase traffic.
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| Jul. 03 2008 at 7:42 PM |
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Debba,
You have a wonderful website (I'm trying to figure out how I've missed seeing it before now.) Great concept - and the graphics are fun and inviting.
I would love for you to check out my product - Recipe Nest® - a totally new concept in recipe storage that holds all those recipes you've stuffed into drawers, cookbooks, binders or boxes - plus, you won't want to hide it when guests come over! I debuted Recipe Nest® at the World Trade Center in Dallas this past January and I've had a very enthusiastic response.
Facing the struggles of building a new business has really shown me the strength of my girlfriends. Their support and enthusiasm has been unwavering. They are my source of inspiration when I run out of steam.
I'll gladly spread the word about your website and podcasts.
Happy 4th! Joan Chamberlain
www.reciperelish.com
celebrating good tastes!
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| Jul. 04 2008 at 1:15 AM |
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Hi there, welcome to Startup Nation (SuN) ;-)
I took a look at your site, and my thinking is that you've sort of
fallen into a trap that I myself hadn't really understood until joining
this community. It's that you're focusing almost completely on what you
"do" not on what you "offer."
A quick way to figure this out is to ask yourself two questions:
- "To what purpose?" -- I'm reading this site....why? What's the purpose of this place?
- "This will show me a new way to...." what?
At a 4-second glance at your site, the only thing that answers either
of the above is that your site is a new way for me to sign up my
girlfriend for something. What? I dunno...something. :-) See?
Reading a bit more content, only because this is a site critique, the
only information I see on the landing page is that the site is about
those women who make life better.
That's great, but here's an interesting quote from Ayn Rand: "The word 'somehow' always means 'someone.'"
When you're dealing with "someone" else, then they're out there, doing
things, making things happen, being inspirational, and generally
running the world. Okay, fine, but how come they're shouldering the
burden of all this? Why aren't the visitors doing something? What? I
dunno.... :-)
If this site is about those "other" women, then it apparently has
nothing to do with me...the visitor. That's not good. You want the
content and organization of the site to include two things (also
learned here on SuN):
- The customer journey -- Where does your visitor start, and what's the path you want them to travel throughout your overall site.
- The call to action -- As they travel through your site, where are the stopping points where you ask them to "do" something?
Once again, all I see is that I can sign up my girlfriend. Why? I dunno.
All in all, the concept is a good one. The problem is that it isn't
well stated. In other words, you need a strong mission statement, not
only for yourself, but to act as a "lightning rod" for your visitors.
Remember, you have about 4 seconds to get someone excited about your
site, after they've clicked your link.
In that 4 seconds, you need to instantly explain why you're in
existence, what you would like from your visitor, and how they should
proceed. Make sense? :-)
Edited by: CraigL - Jul. 04 2008 at 1:17 AMCraig Landes
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Defining the undefinable. "There are 10 kinds of people in the world---those who understand binary numbers and those who don't." - Unknown
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Success = Passion, Patience, Persistence!
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| Jul. 04 2008 at 1:35 AM |
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Hi!
I will forward your site on, to my Daughter. I think many females, will understand what your site is about, they will just have to find it, which does take time .
I wish you great success!
Janie
Beef Jerky,
Buffalo Jerky |
Venison Jerky |
Turkey Jerky
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| Jul. 04 2008 at 7:27 AM |
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Joan - I love your site and Recipe Relish. I'd love to feature you on my site as a review and/or give-away - interested?
Great idea and beautiful site. I'd be thrilled to promote you on Girlfriendology! Thanks, Debba
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