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Show HN: Codala, a social network built on scanning barcodes

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Re: Show HN: Codala, a social network built on scanning barcodes

#11

Post by harlanji »

Daviey wrote: post #2

Slashdot/Reddit/Facebook etc all build communities, when they get too large they splinter until they become increasingly specific. You've done the opposite. I think you are going to need to group common products, then gradually break it out. ie, food -> deserts -> cakes -> chocolate cake -> chocolate cake from etc

That's how I pictured it, users scan all the bar codes they have access to and it builds similarity profiles.

I pictured scanning all my CS books for example, and I'd probably end up in a group with everyone from my class at school who did the same, for example.

Re: Show HN: Codala, a social network built on scanning barcodes

#18

Post by LinkSpree »

A popular way of gaining some traction in the SaaS world is to own a high intent keyword and then spreading from there. Social Networks must work similarly with owning one specific audience. Think super niche, like a kitchen appliance review community or something like that. If you can own a community you can own another. Marketing is basically like shouting into the void because new users will feel compelled by existing users but if there are none, the value prop of the app is weaker.

Re: Show HN: Codala, a social network built on scanning barcodes

#19

Post by noduerme »

LinkSpree wrote: post #18

A popular way of gaining some traction in the SaaS world is to own a high intent keyword and then spreading from there. Social Networks must work similarly with owning one specific audience. Think super niche, like a kitchen appliance review community or something like that. If you can own a community you can own another. Marketing is basically like shouting into the void because new users will feel compelled by exis…

This, but I'd go even further. Wny not test run it by developing a hyper-local market first? You could make QR codes for neighborhoods and paste them up on telephone poles. Have a photo element to encourage people to post pictures of themselves there, or something they're seeing. Encourage people to make their own QR codes as well. Userland QR codes for local bands and pubs, etc. Not just products. Once the ball gets rolling in one town, who knows?
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