You can give user an option to opt into (by default selected) SMS advertizing with local offers.
Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
11–20 of 24 posts
Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
#12banner ads to sell new phones
banner ads for services that restore contacts
Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
#13This is a very niche application. You have to have lost your phone, no one else with their phone is around and you have a computer around. If you are outside, you probably will have an easier time borrowing someone's phone than their computer. Of course, you can visit this website with their phone instead of calling your phone. :)
So the possible situation where this can be useful is when they misplace it in their house as you suggested. Skype, Google Voice (free), etc. will call the phone while providing other services.
I can only imagine ad based revenue working for this, which will be miniscule even if a large customer base develops as the time spent on the site will be less than 10sec.
Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
#14Putting humor before fear of getting downvoted, I'm surprised no one suggested "Sell the phone numbers to telemarketers".
Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
#15Um, a reward? Isn't that the first thing you offer when you lose something? Monetize by taking a cut of offered rewards.
I'm pretty sure that the service is designed to call the phone so that it rings, and you will be able to find it. Like if can't remember where in your house you put down the phone. Not that the service actually finds a phone you left in a public area.
Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
#16Some people may still have their landline only to call their cellphone when they misplace it. Encourage these people to cancel their landline and donate a portion of the savings to you, so your service will always be available.
Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
#17Sponsorship. Localized. You know the person's area code. Make the assumption that they live somewhere near there and sell local ads. I wouldn't put the advertising in the voice message itself. Most users are just as likely to ignore the call once they get the phone. After the number has been submitted though, the ad can display on the website's thank you page. "Now that we've helped you, return a kind act and conside…
everybody is going go close out the site ASAP after the phone rings, so any ads you post will be very ineffective.
Since you know they'll be calling their cell phone, consider sending them a text message after they make the call: "Now that you have found your phone, consider ABC company in your city for xyz."
Add this to terms of use.
Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
#18Upon the user entering his number immediately redirect him to a sponsor's webpage. You don't care if the user stays on your site, and if you deliver him to an advertiser instantly everyone wins.
Combined with the area code you can localize the redirection.
Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
#19Haven't tried the service.
Does it ring the phone until someone actually answers instead of letting VoiceMail answer? It needs to do this especially if the phone is really lost.
Sell it to AT&T & Verizon as a customer service tool. They would buy it for a 100 grand if you can sell it.
Re: Ask HN: How would you monetize icantfindmyphone.com?
#20Um, a reward? Isn't that the first thing you offer when you lose something? Monetize by taking a cut of offered rewards.
I'm pretty sure that the service is designed to call the phone so that it rings, and you will be able to find it. Like if can't remember where in your house you put down the phone. Not that the service actually finds a phone you left in a public area.
I think the latter is a much more valuable service than the former.
The effort involved in finding a computer to dial my phone is more than the effort in just looking for it.