jaypreneur

It seems like this is also overlapping with Craigslist then?

If you want to advertise anything based on location, Craiglist is free and widely used.

If you can really provide something uniquely useful to bring members then people will come. I just don't know how much local neighborhoods care. You could target neighborhood watchs, get-togethers, clubs, and, as you said, advertising.

The thing is... all of those things are available in different forms (meetup.com, craigslist, etc.).

I suppose bringing them together isn't a bad idea though. Surely if meetup, craigslist, and other location-based services work, then there is a market for this.

My question to is... how will this be monetized?

You aren't creating any content here (at least in the way you have positioned it). So, you'll be making a very small slice per sale you provide via your website. But what is to stop people from simply going to your website, seeing the order in which you've outlined the books and then not going through your site to buy (or clicking through links to buy, however you approach it)?

I don't think the problem you are trying to solve is bad. However, I'm not sure if what you have posed is the best solution.

Thanks for suggestion!

Hey from NY! I'm also in NYC (well just outside)

I have no experience on the technical side of things (aside from basic HTML and CSS and using CMS like Drupal), but have other things to bring to the table. Let me know if you (or anyone else) want to get in touch. My email is in my profile (jfortes16 at gmail).

It doesn't matter when you get there (well, unless you're so late that the market is flooded and it's impossible to get your name out there). If you were to be first to launch, they'd come after you with overlapping features. Then what? And what about another company that comes to try to take advantage of the same space? And another after that...

If it truly is a good market, it will be crowded soon. As long as you aren't entering a crowded market (and one competitor is not crowded) than I'd go for it. This assumes you can do a better job than the competitor and have something to differentiate yourself with. If you are truly overlapping than pivot. Hell, even a change in your marketing strategy alone could be tremendous. Just differentiate through the way you position and brand your product.

You do have only a months work into this, so feel free to abandon it. However, if you get into the habit of abandoning anything where you're not first to the market... I can only assume you'll never go towards anything because, let's face it, what are the odds you'll ever be first in something entirely new? Very slim.

I personally read it as tubular. So no confusions for me, just to throw that out there. I like the name.

Freaking awesome.

Same question...

And are you willing to work remotely or do you want to work with someone in the same location?

Nope. Fortunately, no explosion. :) I actually just had a late day at work so haven't gotten a chance to come back to this.

But in regards to your reply. It really sums everything perfectly and I can't thank you enough for your help. It has given me a lot to think about and figure out... and ultimately start accomplishing. I think the route of hiring someone to freelance and not just have it outsourced and part ways is a far better strategy. If they can guide me through what they are doing, why they are doing it, and even be there after completion as well... it'd be 100 times better than being left with a cheaper site but being a bit more blind to what's going on and when going forward.

Again, I can't thank you enough for your help.

I appreciate the link. It's good to hear someone say that design is important. I've read similar sentiments here and there, but it's often touted that the code is far more important (especially here, understandably so). I think there definitely must be a balance and hopefully that means my talents are valuable.

Anyway, I appreciate the advice about hiring someone. I will have to consider a way to go about doing that, it's tough though... being that I cannot hire/pay someone for too much of an extended period of time. I just don't have that money.

However, it is definitely a better route than outsourcing for the reasons you mentioned. I guess I'll just have to see if I can find a way to make it happen, the intern example is a possibility.

I'll try not to waste too much time on the details and trying to be 100% correct (lol, you've got me with that one). I'll be making the leap, soon.

I have added my email to my "about me" so feel free to shoot me an email and give me a hard time if I'm not getting going!

Anyway, thanks again. I truly appreciate the feedback.

Thanks Fate. Good luck to your fiancee, I know it's tough. If she needs any advice on the exams, let me know.

You are right. I will just have to get it done. At this point, I'll go with outsourcing, which doesn't necessarily mean offshore, but it could. I want quality work. I will have to do my research about it but will look into sites like rent-a-coder, odesk, elance, etc. I'll approach it as you said, I appreciate the help.

I still will try to learn to code on a basic level to converse and not be entirely blind to what's going on, but I'm not sure if it's a good choice to try and program when it would take a significant time commitment. I'm not against a time commitment, but by saving that time, it frees me to focus on other areas of the business.

ANYWAY! I will stop with the typing.

It seems my choice is to stay with my job (although I might leave to find one that is less all-consuming of my time) and outsource the initial development. Obviously it would have been ideal if I already knew how to code or had a good friend who could code and wanted to join me. Unfortunately, neither is the case... and I'm not sure creating the MVP myself is the best proposition.

If someone thinks otherwise, let me know though. Perhaps I'm missing something here.

Lastly, any advice on outsourcing development would be appreciated. Thanks.

I appreciate the reply. Feel free to be blunt. I never claimed to be an expert. However, I don't think I'm nearly as naive as any craigslist poster you suggest. But feel free to laugh at me if you'd like.

However, I am not kidding myself. I understand implementation is important. Perhaps I shouldn't have thrown out random numbers like that, but if you could give me some more reasonable estimates? Although I know you don't know what I am trying to create so it'd be difficult for you to give me an accurate estimate I suppose...

Thanks for the reply! (as well as your other one, which I've responded to in the wrong order, ha)

I think my other reply regarding outsourcing vs doing it myself frames what you have said here perfectly.

Ultimately, I do not at all think I can learn to code in a few months or a year or even 2 (well, be as proficient as I want to be and should be anyway). I know for that a fact, just based upon myself researching and learning about all the different languages, frameworks, terminology, and so on. Even that tiny amount shows the immensity of what there is out there. To be proficient, it takes YEARS. I don't underestimate it all.

As a result, I do ultimately believe I have 2 choices: outsource or do it myself. I'm honestly leaning towards outsourcing at this point since if I need a technology guy regardless than why not get an MVP put together sooner (and better) by outsourcing?

I guess it plays off what you've quoted: "invest in what you know" and I don't know coding, so perhaps I should hire what I can afford and ultimately look for someone to join forces with myself once I've created an MVP and traction and have something to really show for myself.

I might not have the technical know-how to bring to the table, but I believe I have other valuable qualities and a great idea and vision.

Thanks for wishing me luck and I appreciate the advice.

Thank you for all the posts from everyone thus far! I really needed to have the conversation, get opinions, etc. It is so helpful.

I'm 24.

In regards to "where" for outsourcing. That is something I have not looked into in detail, but potentially anywhere as long I received quality code.

But anyway, to your other question directed at me (and no need to think your trying to smackdown because I agree entirely with your sentiment), what do you offer...

The things I offer:

1. Vision - I know, to some this (like an idea) means very little

2. Design - I am competent with UI/UX, as well as designing using photoshop and illustrator.

3. Sales/Marketing - I can sell. I'm a good orator and I'm passionate and persuasive (or so I've been told and experienced). In regards to marketing, I've read and learned plenty about it and am always learning more, although I won't claim to be an expert.

4. Accounting/Business - I'm an accountant (well, auditor with CPA) so I do bring that to the table as well. Ultimately, along with accounting, I have a good deal of knowledge on finance and general business issues as well.

Now, perhaps I'm naive to think the above is enough to offer a potential future tech co-founder. However, it's what I've got and, above all, I am incredibly passionate and hardworking. I know that would matter a lot to me in choosing someone to work with (perhaps more so than raw talent/skills), so I can only hope the same can be said the other way around.

Anyway, you also bring up a good point about the problem about the "tech co-founder" in that they have far more opportunity (a good one anyway) than I might offer, so why me? It's the reason I have made this post and offer up the decision to code things myself or outsource. I know where I have a weakness, even if I learn to code, I still won't be as proficient as I need to be. So, I will need someone.

I guess my hope is that by actually creating something and having customers, that traction (along with the list of things I believe I have to offer) will entice a "tech co-founder" to come join up with me.