I have a small but growing daily stock-related newsletter (3500 subscribers in 45 days). So far, I really have no methods of monetizing it and the monthly sendgrid bill doesn't pay itself. If that service existed, I'd give it a try.
Ask HN: Please destroy my startup idea so I don't waste time on it
31–38 of 38 posts
Re: Ask HN: Please destroy my startup idea so I don't waste time on it
#32(disclosure: I founded BuySellAds.com) I think it's a great idea, actually. At BSA we've been talking about newsletter ads for a while, but haven't been able to commit to executing on it properly. We went as far as acquiring the NewsletterAds.com domain, but have since stopped there. One of the biggest hurdles with selling ads in newsletters is getting enough valuable inventory. Even with our existing publishers (and…
I'm in an office adjacent to you - nice job on BSA. ;)
Re: Ask HN: Please destroy my startup idea so I don't waste time on it
#33who the hell signs up for newsletters? interesting how your other business was created because newsletters are lame. these problems don't seem like ones normal people deal with. they're just problems for people trying to add something to their domain squatting businesses. spam my inbox with lame content, and then spam the newsletter with ads? ugh. how about, people want really good content through email (huge assumpt…
Many people sign up for email newsletters -- in fact lots of people spend their whole day in Outlook or on their Blackberry, so it's far more convenient than configuring an RSS reader. More people send/receive email in a given day than run a Google search or check Facebook. Ads in an email newsletter that you intentionally signed up for is no more "spam" than ads on a website you routinely visit is "spam."
sending email in a day isn't the same thing as reading newsletters. and ads on websites are spam. they usually don't engage, add value, or do anything worthwhile.
Re: Ask HN: Please destroy my startup idea so I don't waste time on it
#34Pivot to "appsumo + groupon for email newsletters" :)
Re: Ask HN: Please destroy my startup idea so I don't waste time on it
#35(disclosure: I founded BuySellAds.com) I think it's a great idea, actually. At BSA we've been talking about newsletter ads for a while, but haven't been able to commit to executing on it properly. We went as far as acquiring the NewsletterAds.com domain, but have since stopped there. One of the biggest hurdles with selling ads in newsletters is getting enough valuable inventory. Even with our existing publishers (and…
I'm in an office adjacent to you - nice job on BSA. ;)
nice! let's grab a coffee or beer or something one day, I'd love to hear more about what you are doing with http://datatrailer.com/. shoot me an email (todd@buysellads.com) or just swing by and knock on the BSA door.
Re: Ask HN: Please destroy my startup idea so I don't waste time on it
#36It'd be interesting to add an A/B testing twist to this--provide value-add to advertisers and newsletter operators by providing them visibility into click-throughs, and then spiffs to the newsletters for going with the better path. But you'd need volume to do this.
Re: Ask HN: Please destroy my startup idea so I don't waste time on it
#37who the hell signs up for newsletters? interesting how your other business was created because newsletters are lame. these problems don't seem like ones normal people deal with. they're just problems for people trying to add something to their domain squatting businesses. spam my inbox with lame content, and then spam the newsletter with ads? ugh. how about, people want really good content through email (huge assumpt…
Debunking the 'who signs up for newsletters':
- woot.com members (I would HATE to miss a Woot Off)
- Groupon.com members
- Calacanis' newsletter subscribers
- Dan Lewis' "Now I Know" newsletter (best ever)
Eh, there are many others, but those were the top 4 in my gmail (minus Woot, which I just thought of first).
Re: Ask HN: Please destroy my startup idea so I don't waste time on it
#38I don't read newsletters.
While some do, their use is dying and being replaced with new forms of social media. Even if your business becomes huge, it's going to be facing a market that's declining. That doesn't seem like fun.