Lessons Learned From Shoemoney’s Failures
Shoemoney recently posted a list of failures. First, I admire the transparency. Second, beginners can learn from this list.
Below is the list of his failures by title (see the original post for his explanation of each project). Below each is my opinion on possible lessons learned. I have also listed an idea or two for turning around the idea.
- FireFox Forum
- Lesson Learned: Not all inside (or inside) info is worth the toilet paper it is written on.
- Turnaround: Turn the site into an educational one. I am surprised the number of hits I get for my firefox posts. People want to know more about it and how to get the best use out of it, especially outside of the web developer community.
- BabyCalc.com
- Lesson Learned: There is a downside to everything. Babycalc would still be an excellent idea. Dont give up.
- Turn around: miscarriage forum. Most people dont understand miscarriages, especially all its various forms. People dont understand the anquish some parents feel. A forum like this would be a great way to connect those grieving with the tons of resources available of people willing to help.
- Pimp My Blog
- Lesson Learned: stick with it. Get around to it!
- Turn Around: like Chris at Performancing just posted: just do it.
- Omaha-Used-Cars.com
- Lesson Learned: know the market.
- Turn around: There probably is a market out there, except people already use established sites. A used car mash up with car listings from autotrader, ebay, others that is focused on omaha.
- SMS Text Dating textdating.com/texting.com
- Lesson Learned: know the market and the need.
- Turn Around: sell the site to another well established dating site.
- St. Mary’s Bar & Grill
- Lesson Learned: dont drink and think of money making ideas.
- Turn Around: I’m not sure there is one. However, one could instead help the diocese with fundraising efforts through the web. Part of the proceeds go to the diocese and part to yourself for running the site. The possibilities are there.
- 2 Topless Chix In A Ferrari Cross Country
- Lesson Learned: initial idea may not be so good, but modified maybe it would work.
- Turn Around: Instead of topless, try bikinis (less hassles with the law that way). Plus, there is much to be said for the almost but not yet. Brand the car with the Shoemoney brand. The Shoemoney Girls. Drive the car around to web conferences and the like (no sense in driving it around people who havent a clue about web design, seo, shoemoney, etc.). Then offer advertising on the car. Have great sponsored give aways. etc. etc.
- Ads Or Not
- Lesson Learned: I think good advertisers truly want people interested in their ads for the products sake not for the gimmick. I say this forgetting about the project above.
- Turn Around: Adsense. Just kidding. Sorta.
- ShoeMoney SEO Contest
- Lesson Learned: humility
- Turn Around: have a contest to rank for some useless word. Wait…wait…nevermind. However, ranking for a real word with real competition would make for a better contest.
- ShoeMoney Petroleum Company
- Lesson Learned: in some things it is wise to stop when your’re ahead. The idea would get old quickly.
- Turn Around: Car Wash with the Shoemoney Girls.
It is terribly easy to sit on the sidelines (or in this case, from the bleachers) and post something like this. My above thoughts are in no way meant to critique (Shoemoney is indeed a very successful blog). It was more a mental lesson for myself.
[tags]shoemoney, lessons, failures[/tags]
Posted by Paul Flyer on Tuesday, September 5th, 2006 in Internet Marketing, Web Development
