11–20 of 43 posts
Here's one idea: Give it away but include coupons for each stop on the itinerary. It's Groupon for travelers. Consider offering an app so people can easily carry it with them and it will always be up-to-date with the latest destinations and deals.
I think your business model might be wrong. As Iaks points out below, the $5 price point is not far from that of a used travel book. Perhaps offer the content free, then work with top restaurants and retailers on the 'tours' you recommend and get them to offer coupons / deals or advertising, of which you can get a cut. People touring a city will get hungry, and if you can point them to a great place, they'll thank yo…
My concern with partnering with restaurants and retailers is that I feel like it's a slippery slope to disingenuous recommendations. Plus, why would a restaurant offer a coupon to a traveler (at least a coupon of value)? There's no chance of repeat business. Just some thoughts, would love to get more feedback, if you have any.
I think your business model might be wrong. As Iaks points out below, the $5 price point is not far from that of a used travel book. Perhaps offer the content free, then work with top restaurants and retailers on the 'tours' you recommend and get them to offer coupons / deals or advertising, of which you can get a cut. People touring a city will get hungry, and if you can point them to a great place, they'll thank yo…
I don't think this product entirely competes with travel books. I think the value is that it makes the decisions for you. You already have your itinerary set in logical/geographic order. If I'm running through a city for 2 days, I know I can't squeeze in everything. I can either waste time deciding what to do or I can buy this and see something I know will be awesome. Not to say that there isn't room for other revenu…
Maybe you're using the wrong channels. How about reaching out to biz devs at all the various Expedia-type sites to see if they are interested in doing a little up-selling during check out as an affiliate or something? This would give you targeted users who already have their wallets opened which is perfect for an impulse purchase. I think partnerships will go along way if executed properly.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't think this product entirely competes with travel books. I think the value is that it makes the decisions for you. You already have your itinerary set in logical/geographic order. If I'm running through a city for 2 days, I know I can't squeeze in everything. I can either waste time deciding what to do or I can buy this and see something I know will be awesome. Not to say that there isn't room for other revenu…
Yes...you absolutely nailed the value we believe we're providing. Thanks :-). In fact, we've thought about re-marketing ourselves as "last minute travel guides" or something to that affect.
You can offer a few different levels of service too: default is web/you print at home. You can offer a full color printed version with the order if you want as well. logistically this is harder but it seems like more of a deal.
There is also the fandango way of doing it too. offer the ability to prepay for the tickets and take a small commission off the top for that. that's tougher to sell to the consumer because you don't have the trust relationship and might leave them stranded at the venue with no valid tickets. It would be slick to have this so that they didn't have to wait in line at all. make it opt in though and let them select what they want to actually go to see/do.
An iPhone app that has everything integrated would be great but it could also be as easy as just an interface for the pdf. If you got it into the appstore you would increase your visibility a bit especially if you target the "what should I do in x" queries with adwords that linked to a specific version of your app. you could also have inapp purchases that would download a new guide. cross selling in your apps is a good thing in this case.
pretty interesting idea. I'd probably buy the sf one if I go there ever but you have to reach me at the right time....
Everyone could say that the features in your product are amazing. But if you're in a market where customers don't pay, or if you're unable to reach them with the right marketing, then a perfect product is useless.
You have to determine the most profitable segment of your market. And find the cheapest way to market to them. What's the expected lifetime value of a user? Is it less than the cost to acquire that user through Adwords/Facebook? Then run through some ads. And invest some time in learning to optmize the ads.
What are some keywords that people are searching for that would lead users to your product? Are there many people competing for those terms? It might be worthwhile to invest time/money doing SEO. It seems you have a lot of content that might be worthwhile.
You've solved the hard part of having a good product. Now you have to figure out how to market it well.
Maybe you're using the wrong channels. How about reaching out to biz devs at all the various Expedia-type sites to see if they are interested in doing a little up-selling during check out as an affiliate or something? This would give you targeted users who already have their wallets opened which is perfect for an impulse purchase. I think partnerships will go along way if executed properly.
I completely agree and we would love to partner with someone like this. Talking with others who have tried going down this road, I've heard it's difficult to impossible to land a partnership like that, so we've been hesitant to put a lot of effort into trying. Perhaps it's time to give partnerships a shot.
Because you haven't achieved product/market fit.
For example, you're trying to charge individuals who are traveling - have you explored charging travel-related companies? I could see your app being very compelling for travel agencies, travel book publishers, neighborhood merchant associations, Chambers of Commerce, and businesses that want to advertise to travelers.