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Show HN: I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn

sellff.com

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Re: Show HN: I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn

#111

Post by macspoofing »

varispeed wrote: post #103

I wish there was a service I could simply pay for using, enough so that the operator wouldn't have to use invasive advertising where I could connect with other people who would want my services or vice-versa. Why such a simple thing seems to be not possible? Everyone looks to be only motivated by $$$ and turning potential customers into product. I also don't understand why should I value a network where the main sell…

>I wish there was a service I could simply pay for using, enough so that the operator wouldn't have to use invasive advertising where I could connect with other people who would want my services or vice-versa.

There are a lot of services that you can pay to use. The problem with social networks (which this is) is that though you are willing to pay, others are not, and social networks are worthless without the 'network' part.

Re: Show HN: I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn

#112

Post by macspoofing »

FlorinSays wrote: post #90

I believe you're on the right path. Exploring and displaying trust between people is one of the big missing pieces on the web. People are currently replacing the harder questions like "can I trust this person to do what he says he can" with simple or shallow ones based on status and image. Good luck with this!

>I believe you're on the right path.

I'm not sure about that. I think any system that potentially brings value will be gamed quickly.

Re: Show HN: I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn

#113

Post by INTPenis »

4sellff wrote: post #88
INTPenis wrote: post #85

A Linkedin alternative is really something that should be self hosted and federated.

Agree and we are looking at options on doing just that. Do you think any existing platforms could work, or does something need to be purpose built? How would you architect a self-hosted, federated solution? I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how that can be accomplished.

I can't help you on a low level. I just think that on a high level something like professional profiles, networking and assessments from colleagues should definitely be federated. And I'm also a strong believer in this whole federation wave that is sweeping over us.

It doesn't work for all things but this is a perfect use case, in spirit of course. You always have to expect there to be two demographics, big tech and small tech.

Federated linkedin would allow for Mastodon-like instances for people who don't want to host their own, and selfhosted instances for more technical people. While also allowing for Linkedin-style endorsements (not sure what they're called in English) over federation.

So user@instance endorses user2@instance2 in skill:python for example. My hope would be to use ActivityPub to do that part.

AP federation already works really well for social media imo. Linkedin is essentially social media with skill endorsements.

Re: Show HN: I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn

#115

Post by 4sellff »

varispeed wrote: post #103

I wish there was a service I could simply pay for using, enough so that the operator wouldn't have to use invasive advertising where I could connect with other people who would want my services or vice-versa. Why such a simple thing seems to be not possible? Everyone looks to be only motivated by $$$ and turning potential customers into product. I also don't understand why should I value a network where the main sell…

Agree, that the messaging can be improved. However, for now it's easier to state "zero cost" than to use "revenue sharing."

Also, at this time, the service is zero cost. We are launching so that people might interact with the service and provide the type of feedback you are giving us. Any startup is, in many ways, a giant experiment.

We are looking at many different revenue models. However, we will not go with the traditional model we see today, where "we" are the product. We feel just as strongly about that as you do.

We are confident that better revenue models exist, that can support our service, without spying on our members, selling out their personal information or placing arbitrary monthly fees that are inconsistent with the value provided.

Not to "hate" on LinkedIn, but we are interested to explore other ways to build a marketplace that makes it easy for buyers and sellers to interact.

Re: Show HN: I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn

#116

Post by nickthemagicman »

Grustaf wrote: post #89

Free and ad-free sounds great, but will it be free of cheesy inspirational humble bragging? Then I'm in.

I was raised by dwarves in a mountain and overcame the rare sverfneblin disease to go to Harvard and the make a million dollars from my app. Buy my newsletter.

Re: Show HN: I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn

#117

Post by nickthemagicman »

4sellff wrote: post #9
fundamental wrote: post #5

Turning personal trust in others into what looks like a stock market game strikes me as quite odd. I wouldn't find people trading internet points back and forth to determine my 'value' on a platform as something I would like. I like the trading of points even less considering the target of the website about people representing themselves in the scope of their professions.

Valid point. Yet millions of people each day make buying decisions based on a simple 5-star rating. Trading shares is a very pure way to represent market value, whether that is company stock or cryptocurrency. We see an opportunity to apply the concept to a professional digital reputation? Where the TRU Score can be used as a form of currency. Separate from the TRU Score, the platform provides the ability to connect…

I dont know a single 5 star rating system on the internet that I trust.

Re: Show HN: I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn

#119

Post by 4sellff »

macspoofing wrote: post #109

>I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn Zero-cost and ad-free FOR NOW you mean. At some point you're going to have make money and the only viable options are 1) charity/donations 2) subscription 3) ads and data selling. #2 means you're not 'zero-cost' and #3 means you're not 'ad-free'. So you're going to rely on donations?

With all due respect, there are additional options to choose from. We are still very early in this, but I will "take the bait" since monetization seems to be an issue that people care about.

A percentage of revenue is I think a fair option. I am not referring to the previous comment about 30% [or even 10%]. I hate fees as much as the next person and taking a giant cut of your customers income is not the way to grow a business.

Also, as it relates to zero-cost, using your Visa card is free to you, but not the merchant. However, those fees are being included in the price you pay for the products/services.

A question for you: If you are making $100 per month from a service, what is a "fair" price for you to pay to continue having usage of that service? - Are you OK to look at ads, so long as your cost is zero? - Are you OK to pay $5.00 per month, so you do not have to look at ads? - Or, do you prefer to have no ads and pay a % of your monthly income that you generate from using the service?

Re: Show HN: I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn

#120

Post by arnaudsm »

macspoofing wrote: post #109

>I built a zero-cost, ad-free alternative to LinkedIn Zero-cost and ad-free FOR NOW you mean. At some point you're going to have make money and the only viable options are 1) charity/donations 2) subscription 3) ads and data selling. #2 means you're not 'zero-cost' and #3 means you're not 'ad-free'. So you're going to rely on donations?

Imagine if LinkedIn was administered like Wikipedia : non-profit, and ultra-optimized to cost $0.007/active_monthly_user (vs ~1$ for FB)

It's hard for successful founders to turn down a multi-million acquisition offer, but they should never forget the cost for society.

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