Do you like my business idea... or am I a nutcase?

[atew]

Hi folks!

I've come up with a little business/marketing idea to help pay for my forthcoming university studies (I'll be reading Business Management). Let me know what you think of it!

The link is:

www.milliondollarhomepage.com



PS. Sorry if this post is not acceptable, but I'm hoping it's relevant. I've been lurking here on these forums for ages but havn't posted, so can I please 'newbie ignorance' if this is not allowed?!

[gwhaskew]

i thought there was something wrong with your front page till i got it.

erm, well i havent seen this before. i dont think this will be big but you could sell quite a lot of squares. and it could be quite fun.

why is it in dollars anyway?

i think it would be better if the squares were just a little bit better.

lastly i think you could use this concept for charity fundraising.

also i think you should bring your minimum purchase down to at least 25.

[Martin]

Do I think your are a nutcase? .... Yep but I like it lol...

Originally posted by gwhaskew

why is it in dollars anyway?

Taken from Website FAQ
7. If you're from the UK, why are you selling the pixels in dollars?

I think US dollars are the closest thing we have to a universal currency on the internet, so it made more sense to do it in dollars. 'The Million Pound Homepage' just doesn't have the same ring to it!

Also, given that the US has the largest online population in the world, more people will be able to relate to the concept than had I done it in British pounds. Plus, £1 GBP per pixel would probably be too expensive (would equate to around $1.80 US per pixel).

[Play!!]

A dollar a pixel is a bit harsh. If I understand this right there are 100 pixels in each square. So one square would cost $100. Like the concept though

[atew]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

If I did it less than a dollar a pixel, it would lose the whole 'million dollar' factor which I think is important in grabbing people's attention, don't you think?

[Incepto]

Quite cool :-) Not sure if you'll manage to fill the whole page though lol, I would definately bring the price down to say...20c per pixel, then you will probably sell a lot more....or even $1 per square, making you $10,000, or $5 per square, making you $50,000, easily making you enough money for uni!

[jonno]

haha nice idea

how many have you sold so far?

[atew]

Sold 1,100 so far ($1,100) which I'm very happy about even if I sell no more (half my tuition fee for a year!).

So I think that shows people are willing to pay $1 per pixel, because as the story gets around the pixels become more valuable.

I think doing them for less than a dollar would defy the 'million dollar' idea though. Aim high I reckon!!

[amz]

Keep at it, I think you have a cracking idea. In all honestly $1 is not much at all (whats a can of 'soda' and a bag of 'chips' cost?) which is why this will work.

Best of Luck

[Amsey]

I love ideas that are slightly off the wall!!

[atew]

Many thanks for the encouragement folks. I sent out a press release earlier today which will hopefully create some media interest in the coming week. Keep an eye out

[Encantador]

How long has it taken so far and how have you reached 1,100?

I like the idea but you have to keep the momentum up, if people think that after you have reached a reasonable target and perhaps things slow right down, you might just walk away with their money, the advertising would then become worthless.

You would generate a lot more interest if you offered a prize after a certain target, that way it might be of interest to the general public, not just bueiness.

There might be some legal reasons why this was not possible though.

Good luck.

[atew]

1200 now

The site's been online for 11 days including today. My first promotion was simply to friends and family, to get initial feedback, and then the word spread as people seemed to like the idea.

I don't think people will stop buying pixels when they think I've earnt enough cash - I'm expecting demand for pixels to go up as the word spreads even further, especially if I can get some good press coverage. Fingers crossed!!

[openmind]

Sum up in three words or less?

"Absolutely bloody brilliant!"

To the point where I actually hate you for not thinking of it first!!

[Baz Hillen]

Hi

I think your idea is very good. At first glance it appears to be original too.

Few ideas for gaining publicity ;

Contact local press in your area, approach them about your idea but mainly about the reasons behind why u r doing ( uni money ) this should give them a few angles of approach in terms of an article. Also coverage in local press can occasionally make waves in national rags newsrooms, your story could be noticed locally and then 'snowballed' into the national arena.

You say your going to study Business at uni.... it could be worthwhile contacting your head of department/tutor about your plight. He may have contacts of his own to give you and at very worse should have some advice.

Contact the student paper at your Uni, i'm sure they would be very interested to see the lengths that a student would go to avoid student loans not to mention the original idea/vechile for your plight.

Best of luck

Baz