8/6/15 - I don't know what I'm doing wrong, or I'm really blind to the signals. I'm going to put myself to shame on this post because I feel the need to make it real and to get real feedback I need to come clean.
I have an audience/niche. More specifically, exchange students. I have been at it (on and off) since 2012, when I originally launched the website. Since then I have made $0. YES, ZERO.
The original main website/idea consists of a free marketplace to buy/sell things one can't take home. It was supposed to be a help to the community. My first version of it was build on wordpress, coded by me, and modified plug-ins which I modified by experimenting to meet my needs. Goal was doing that along with a blog > bring traffic > do AdWords > ??? > profit.
The website worked for a while (I even received thank you emails saying how useful it was) and people were uploading some things but as soon as WP started updating, the code started to break and I had to re-build. The project took the back-burner as I was in the middle of moving countries and.. <more excuses></more excuses>
The funny thing is that last year I got to 500 followers on the facebook page by doing nothing. So I kept (and keep) telling myself, "How is it possible that you haven't been able to pull a penny out of this yet?"
So I went back at it this year.
Used some savings and bought a WP marketplace template where people can login with their Facebook (or make an account) and launched it. Right now it's just rotting there. I told myself (many times) I needed to create content (question: do I really?) which I have struggled with ever since the beginning.
I created a newsletter, and even made a giveaway to get followers. I got 4 (but I got like 50 FB followers). Never followed through with the newsletter. Shame on me for that and not being able to create good content.
My thought process about the needs that need to be filled were/are as follows: Their "what do I do in this host-family situation" have been taken care of by the many FB groups existing for discussion. They are very active and even I contribute to them.
The untapped need in this niche seems to be the social one: They need experiences while they are abroad.
So I got together with one of my former employers (restaurant) and organized an event. They would charge me $25 per person, I would charge $35 for the ticket. They would meet more students, socialize and make friends. If I could keep doing it and coming up with exciting events, I would help them make the best of their abroad experience AND make money.
I got a ton of RSVP's on facebook but no one actually got the ticket. I had to cancel because I was supposed to pay the restaurant in advance and I could not take the risk of putting my own money down (actually, I didn't have any at all, it wasn't just fear). To this date I can't tell why it failed. They have stipends and don't have to worry about room and board. They DO spend their money on experiences (read: partying and going out). They were super excited about it on Facebook, made buzz about it even. So why nobody bought the ticket? Were they looking for the bigger, better deal at the last minute? These are young adults 18-26 btw. So I could see that happening.
Next idea (paralyzed, haven't tried it): Make it more like a Groupon thing, where I just contact vendors, get a code to give them and then get a commission when (and if) they go to them. Is that possible? I don't know where to start to make that happen. That would be temporary though, as I would be a slave of the affiliate system, but it's better than nothing at all.
Next idea (just thought of it): Try to import,sell the things they might miss from home, or things they might need during their year.
Next idea Also in some polls I ran they answered they wanted resources on meeting their student requirement (they need to take a few classes during their year). Maybe doing like a directory of schools/courses for each state and update it every year?
I apologize this was so long, and without spoon-feeding me I'm hoping you can point to something that I have missed. I see there are needs, I don't know why I can't come up with something good they will pay for,and I'm still stuck with a hobby rather than a business ):
*ding* *ding*
I have an audience/niche. More specifically, exchange students. I have been at it (on and off) since 2012, when I originally launched the website. Since then I have made $0. YES, ZERO.
The original main website/idea consists of a free marketplace to buy/sell things one can't take home. It was supposed to be a help to the community. My first version of it was build on wordpress, coded by me, and modified plug-ins which I modified by experimenting to meet my needs. Goal was doing that along with a blog > bring traffic > do AdWords > ??? > profit.
The website worked for a while (I even received thank you emails saying how useful it was) and people were uploading some things but as soon as WP started updating, the code started to break and I had to re-build. The project took the back-burner as I was in the middle of moving countries and.. <more excuses></more excuses>
The funny thing is that last year I got to 500 followers on the facebook page by doing nothing. So I kept (and keep) telling myself, "How is it possible that you haven't been able to pull a penny out of this yet?"
So I went back at it this year.
Used some savings and bought a WP marketplace template where people can login with their Facebook (or make an account) and launched it. Right now it's just rotting there. I told myself (many times) I needed to create content (question: do I really?) which I have struggled with ever since the beginning.
I created a newsletter, and even made a giveaway to get followers. I got 4 (but I got like 50 FB followers). Never followed through with the newsletter. Shame on me for that and not being able to create good content.
My thought process about the needs that need to be filled were/are as follows: Their "what do I do in this host-family situation" have been taken care of by the many FB groups existing for discussion. They are very active and even I contribute to them.
The untapped need in this niche seems to be the social one: They need experiences while they are abroad.
So I got together with one of my former employers (restaurant) and organized an event. They would charge me $25 per person, I would charge $35 for the ticket. They would meet more students, socialize and make friends. If I could keep doing it and coming up with exciting events, I would help them make the best of their abroad experience AND make money.
I got a ton of RSVP's on facebook but no one actually got the ticket. I had to cancel because I was supposed to pay the restaurant in advance and I could not take the risk of putting my own money down (actually, I didn't have any at all, it wasn't just fear). To this date I can't tell why it failed. They have stipends and don't have to worry about room and board. They DO spend their money on experiences (read: partying and going out). They were super excited about it on Facebook, made buzz about it even. So why nobody bought the ticket? Were they looking for the bigger, better deal at the last minute? These are young adults 18-26 btw. So I could see that happening.
Next idea (paralyzed, haven't tried it): Make it more like a Groupon thing, where I just contact vendors, get a code to give them and then get a commission when (and if) they go to them. Is that possible? I don't know where to start to make that happen. That would be temporary though, as I would be a slave of the affiliate system, but it's better than nothing at all.
Next idea (just thought of it): Try to import,sell the things they might miss from home, or things they might need during their year.
Next idea Also in some polls I ran they answered they wanted resources on meeting their student requirement (they need to take a few classes during their year). Maybe doing like a directory of schools/courses for each state and update it every year?
I apologize this was so long, and without spoon-feeding me I'm hoping you can point to something that I have missed. I see there are needs, I don't know why I can't come up with something good they will pay for,and I'm still stuck with a hobby rather than a business ):
*ding* *ding*
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