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I'm a pregnant hacker. Please review my side project.

babyli.st

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Re: I'm a pregnant hacker. Please review my side project.

#61

Post by bdclimber14 »

nocman wrote: post #47
natgordon wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hear you. I think the one thing that makes this different is that I'm not going after the universal wishlist market, just the baby registry market. When you go to create a baby registry you're not like "oh, i need a wishlist of items for the baby". I'm just starting to market this with people in the pregnancy/baby space, and so far they seem to think this is a totally original idea made just for them.

I agree with at least one thing bdclimber14 seems to be implying. babyli.st is a 'cute' domain name, but I think it is an extremely poor choice for domain names you want people to remember. How are you supposed to pronounce that to someone? Baby - lee - dot - ess - tee ? (I know, that's terrible -- I can't come up with something better). I still think it is true, for better or for worse, that for businesses the best…

Ironically, I'm writing a blog now about how to pick a good domain.

I disagree about .net domains, especially for a market of mothers; traditionally, they aren't hackers like the creator here :)

It's not even the domain name quality that I'm questioning-it's the convenience of stopping by a brick & mortar store with an exact item to pick up. I know you're thinking "the internet much more convenient, but not if its a process you're not used to.

It's the same root cause as to why people send files back and forth via email - it's so engrained in people, that its the status quo.

So the real challenge here I think is breaking that social norm that retail giants have cemented in us.

Re: I'm a pregnant hacker. Please review my side project.

#64

Post by bdclimber14 »

Question (and I apologize if I missed it): How do you track purchases across multiple stores to show registrant purchasers' purchases? (say that 3x fast).

I can see how it would be done with exact matches, but a lot of stores don't carry the exact same items, in order to remove price competition. The items may look and function the same, and be under the same brand, but they will be distinct models.

If I list a 4 slot, extra-wide, chrome toaster on a registry under one model number from Target, how could I know if I should buy a toaster matching that description at WalMart without scanning the list of purchased items? The model of one store offers the convenience of being absolutely sure there aren't any duplicate purchases since once an item is purchase, it is removed.

I just realized a toaster is a bad example for a baby registry, but you get my point.

Re: I'm a pregnant hacker. Please review my side project.

#65

Post by shortlived »

natgordon wrote: post #28
shortlived wrote: post #24

As everyone else has said, it's a really nice looking site and a great idea. How stable are the product links you use? Do you do any type of periodic validation? If I click on a link to view a product, it might be nice to open that window inside a frame (or modern equivalent) with a babyli.st "reserve" button at the top.

>> How stable are the product links you use? Do you do any type of periodic validation? Right now no. >> If I click on a link to view a product, it might be nice to open that window inside a frame (or modern equivalent) with a babyli.st "reserve" button at the top. Great idea!

A useful feature might be to clean well known site URLs (like amazon/dp/). I'm paranoid about sites leaking information.

Re: I'm a pregnant hacker. Please review my side project.

#66

Post by subpixel »

natgordon wrote: post #2

I'm 8-months pregnant. When I went to create a baby registry I was pretty disappointed with what was out there (I ended up using Amazon Universal Wishlist). I found myself with some time on my hands waiting for baby, and decided that I'd build a better baby registry. I partnered with a great designer I met on forrst.com, and this is the result. I'd love any feedback, suggestions etc.

This is great, and it's awesome that you guys are back in the game after going through a big 'dip': http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1325785

Kudos!

Re: I'm a pregnant hacker. Please review my side project.

#68

Post by jan_g »

natgordon wrote: post #2

I'm 8-months pregnant. When I went to create a baby registry I was pretty disappointed with what was out there (I ended up using Amazon Universal Wishlist). I found myself with some time on my hands waiting for baby, and decided that I'd build a better baby registry. I partnered with a great designer I met on forrst.com, and this is the result. I'd love any feedback, suggestions etc.

Interesting website, very well designed.

I was baffled at first, because I didn't understand what a 'baby registry' is (despite the fact that I have two kids). Had to google it :) and now I understand. We have similar tradition for weddings, but not for babies. I wish you all the best.

Re: I'm a pregnant hacker. Please review my side project.

#69

Post by natgordon »

bdclimber14 wrote: post #64

Question (and I apologize if I missed it): How do you track purchases across multiple stores to show registrant purchasers' purchases? (say that 3x fast). I can see how it would be done with exact matches, but a lot of stores don't carry the exact same items, in order to remove price competition. The items may look and function the same, and be under the same brand, but they will be distinct models. If I list a 4 slo…

Yeah, it doesn't support that.

I think the next step would be that when you add a product to the registry there's a checkbox like "let people buy this from other stores" which is default checked on amazon/babys-r-us and default unchecked on etsy.com. Then in the registry display you would see multiple offers for one product. Then there would still be the challenge you describe but it wouldn't be a UI problem, it would be a data challenge.

Re: I'm a pregnant hacker. Please review my side project.

#70

Post by bdclimber14 »

natgordon wrote: post #59
nocman wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with at least one thing bdclimber14 seems to be implying. babyli.st is a 'cute' domain name, but I think it is an extremely poor choice for domain names you want people to remember. How are you supposed to pronounce that to someone? Baby - lee - dot - ess - tee ? (I know, that's terrible -- I can't come up with something better). I still think it is true, for better or for worse, that for businesses the best…

I just tried to buy babylist.net and it's taken :) So there are 2 groups of people. 1. registrants (people having babies) - branding here is important and the name could bite me. Let me know if you have any suggestions for other names. 2. people buying the registrant gifts - BabyList doesn't even have search which is a default wishlist/registry feature. I think giving someone a pretty url slug and letting them email…

Try thinking of a baby shower concept/activity that participants have an emotional connection to. Usually the concept is a slightly slang term meaning there's a higher chance of the domain being available.

If it were a wedding registry, I would suggest maybe HitchedList? It would be better than WeddingList since it's less general. Obviously this doesn't help directly, but maybe will inspire some ideas!

I think the best startup names are those that relate to a market's pathos.

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