Comments on: Friday Free Business Idea: 1-800-Iam-Lost http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/ A blog about marketing, online communities and other business musings. Come join the fun! Wed, 09 Nov 2011 02:14:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chris Dude http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-503494 Chris Dude Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:59:05 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-503494 I was actually thinking about doing this. To be sure nobody had done it I googled the phone number I would have used (1-800-I-AM-LOST). It's pretty brilliant I was actually thinking about doing this. To be sure nobody had done it I googled the phone number I would have used (1-800-I-AM-LOST). It’s pretty brilliant

]]> By: Alberen http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-5634 Alberen Thu, 20 Jul 2006 06:08:15 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-5634 OK, since we are talking about business ideas I need some help... I have two or three good ideas for online businesses.... ....now see, since I can't program a single line of code that puts me at a small disadvantage. ...two- programmers have got to be tired of people like me dreaming for them but not following through after they spend hours coding. .... three-- the best programmers can be found online... but how would I keep from getting cut out of my idea once I shared it? I know how to do that if the programmer is local but like I said, I want a talented programmer! OK, since we are talking about business ideas I need some help… I have two or three good ideas for online businesses….

….now see, since I can’t program a single line of code that puts me at a small disadvantage.

…two- programmers have got to be tired of people like me dreaming for them but not following through after they spend hours coding.

…. three– the best programmers can be found online… but how would I keep from getting cut out of my idea once I shared it? I know how to do that if the programmer is local but like I said, I want a talented programmer!

]]> By: James Gross http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-5576 James Gross Mon, 17 Jul 2006 15:34:46 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-5576 submit this to Cambrian House http://www.cambrianhouse.com/ submit this to Cambrian House http://www.cambrianhouse.com/

]]> By: Frank http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-5566 Frank Mon, 17 Jul 2006 05:09:29 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-5566 hahah.. my friends and i actually talked about that before. of course like all business ideas, there are the nay-sayers with their "this wont work because..." and the previous people have a point. however, there are also reasons people would use this despite those obstacles. i dunno if enuf ppl to make it profitable, but some ppl would use it. so yeah, basically.. is it worth it? consider: 1.) marketing. spreading the word or getting the ball rolling is prolly one of the hardest things. 2.) people would pretty much dial only if they're guaranteed ACCURATE, reliable, easy-to-understand directions. you wouldnt bother dialing if ur not sure if anyones gonna pick up. does that mean the line's gotta be manned 24/7? if multiple ppl call simultaneously, will they be put on hold? accurate... reading off google maps doesnt mean its accurate. you're also more likely to call a friend who's familiar with the area and can tell you landmarks and things people notice who've driven thru the area and not just reading directions for somewhere they've never been. i think if ppl generally know about it and can rely on it, then it has a chance of getting off the ground. and only then, just a chance. :oP the concept is good and simple but i think the logistics would really suck if u really get into it. but maybe that's true for all business plans. i cant say because i've never tried my own business so my opinion doesnt hold much weight here heheh... anyway.. interesting. hahah.. my friends and i actually talked about that before. of course like all business ideas, there are the nay-sayers with their “this wont work because…” and the previous people have a point. however, there are also reasons people would use this despite those obstacles. i dunno if enuf ppl to make it profitable, but some ppl would use it. so yeah, basically.. is it worth it? consider:

1.) marketing. spreading the word or getting the ball rolling is prolly one of the hardest things.
2.) people would pretty much dial only if they’re guaranteed ACCURATE, reliable, easy-to-understand directions. you wouldnt bother dialing if ur not sure if anyones gonna pick up. does that mean the line’s gotta be manned 24/7? if multiple ppl call simultaneously, will they be put on hold? accurate… reading off google maps doesnt mean its accurate. you’re also more likely to call a friend who’s familiar with the area and can tell you landmarks and things people notice who’ve driven thru the area and not just reading directions for somewhere they’ve never been.

i think if ppl generally know about it and can rely on it, then it has a chance of getting off the ground. and only then, just a chance. :o P the concept is good and simple but i think the logistics would really suck if u really get into it. but maybe that’s true for all business plans. i cant say because i’ve never tried my own business so my opinion doesnt hold much weight here heheh…

anyway.. interesting.

]]> By: Alberen http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-5560 Alberen Sun, 16 Jul 2006 06:41:37 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-5560 Actually there WAS a company a few years back that did something like this. They had an extensive TV campaign (which probably is what put them under!) I've had this idea going back six or seven years but the idea really combines all of them ones above. It was more like 1-800-GET ANY INFORMATION YOU NEED RIGHT NOW. I was going to look up numbers and restaurants and etc..... get people unlost... whatever one would need. Really ONSTAR has this going on. PUSH THE BLUE BUTTON. Anyway, Kyle Treece Jul 14th, 2006 at 12:46 pm This would be a great idea if I could only get the word around for people to call it! THAT RIGHT THERE is the problem.... good iproducts and services are one thing but their is a wide chasm between having a good product and having enough of a market to make it work. Actually there WAS a company a few years back that did something like this. They had an extensive TV campaign (which probably is what put them under!)

I’ve had this idea going back six or seven years but the idea really combines all of them ones above.

It was more like 1-800-GET ANY INFORMATION YOU NEED RIGHT NOW.

I was going to look up numbers and restaurants and etc….. get people unlost… whatever one would need.

Really ONSTAR has this going on. PUSH THE BLUE BUTTON.

Anyway, Kyle Treece Jul 14th, 2006 at 12:46 pm

This would be a great idea if I could only get the word around for people to call it!

THAT RIGHT THERE is the problem…. good iproducts and services are one thing but their is a wide chasm between having a good product and having enough of a market to make it work.

]]> By: Paul McEnany http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-5554 Paul McEnany Sat, 15 Jul 2006 00:27:01 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-5554 Or you could add some sort of traffic aspect to it. So if you're draining your life away in traffic, you call 1-800-GETME-THEFUCK-OUTA-THIS-FUCKING-TRAFFIC.com.org.net, and they'll give you a quicker route home. Now, I just need some seed money. Who has a couple million? Or you could add some sort of traffic aspect to it. So if you’re draining your life away in traffic, you call 1-800-GETME-THEFUCK-OUTA-THIS-FUCKING-TRAFFIC.com.org.net, and they’ll give you a quicker route home.

Now, I just need some seed money. Who has a couple million?

]]> By: Sri http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-5552 Sri Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:09:04 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-5552 This Esther thing has really got me thinking. Thanks for the info about Esther. Ideas: 1) 1-800-Programming/Computer-Help 2) 1-800-Live-Stock-Quote 3) 1-800-Beat-My-Current-Airfare-Quote 4) 1-800-Need-a-friend-to-chat 5) 1-800-I am buying something, can you find an online coupon for it 6) 1-800-How to get a toll free number 7) 1-800-check-the-web-for something for me This Esther thing has really got me thinking. Thanks for the info about Esther.

Ideas:

1) 1-800-Programming/Computer-Help

2) 1-800-Live-Stock-Quote

3) 1-800-Beat-My-Current-Airfare-Quote

4) 1-800-Need-a-friend-to-chat

5) 1-800-I am buying something, can you find an online coupon for it

6) 1-800-How to get a toll free number

7) 1-800-check-the-web-for something for me

]]> By: Noah Kagan http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-5551 Noah Kagan Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:04:09 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-5551 Sri, Wonderful commentary and I love people who disagree so always try to. I definitely agree this is not the next Google and the price would have to be right for this to succeed long term. Some alternatives to my idea are: 1- Make more friends 2- Buy maps or better yet get them for free with a AAA membership. 3- Print out your city maps from Google or Yahoo 4- My brother bought the pda and added the GPS thing which he loves 5- Don't drive I am out to tutoring. Sri,

Wonderful commentary and I love people who disagree so always try to. I definitely agree this is not the next Google and the price would have to be right for this to succeed long term. Some alternatives to my idea are:

1- Make more friends

2- Buy maps or better yet get them for free with a AAA membership.

3- Print out your city maps from Google or Yahoo

4- My brother bought the pda and added the GPS thing which he loves

5- Don’t drive

I am out to tutoring.

]]> By: Sri http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-5550 Sri Fri, 14 Jul 2006 21:47:26 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-5550 This is a wonderful idea but I hate to shoot it down (think of it as a discussion). An idea like this 'may' be hot for the first year...but it will tend to fizzle down. Ask yourself first.....Are you willing to use it? Are you willing to pay to get directions? As a male or female, if you get lost, are you willing to really pay $5? (for example) to get you to the right road? I know my wife would NEVER pay. If you are lost, you need to stop and get the address of where u are....and when u stop, you will tend to ASK for directions as opposed to calling the paid service. GPS systems are becoming so popular and the prices are coming down. As frugal as I am, I am thinking of getting one. I am thinking of ways to get a frugal gps system without having to spend $400. Noah, any ideas? Here are some of my frugal GPS ideas. 1) Buy a GPA capable cellphone from ebay without the phone service and use just the GPS (havent looked into it so much yet whether this is possible) 2) Use the PDA option ( i hear its not the greatest) 3) Try to use a Jornada and save all the maps in it (bigger screen) This is a wonderful idea but I hate to shoot it down (think of it as a discussion). An idea like this ‘may’ be hot for the first year…but it will tend to fizzle down.

Ask yourself first…..Are you willing to use it? Are you willing to pay to get directions?
As a male or female, if you get lost, are you willing to really pay $5? (for example) to get you to the right road? I know my wife would NEVER pay.

If you are lost, you need to stop and get the address of where u are….and when u stop, you will tend to ASK for directions as opposed to calling the paid service.

GPS systems are becoming so popular and the prices are coming down. As frugal as I am, I am thinking of getting one. I am thinking of ways to get a frugal gps system without having to spend $400.

Noah, any ideas?

Here are some of my frugal GPS ideas.

1) Buy a GPA capable cellphone from ebay without the phone service and use just the GPS (havent looked into it so much yet whether this is possible)

2) Use the PDA option ( i hear its not the greatest)

3) Try to use a Jornada and save all the maps in it (bigger screen)

]]> By: Noah Kagan http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/comment-page-1/#comment-5549 Noah Kagan Fri, 14 Jul 2006 21:13:50 +0000 http://okdork.com/2006/07/14/friday-free-business-idea-1-800-iam-lost/#comment-5549 Erick, I partially agree with you. I think the main thing to notice is not everyone reads blog, not everyone has GPS and most people are middle America. Being able to call a simple # and get a service that works is what most Americans want. Remember if you do it I want a Carne Asada burrito=) Erick,

I partially agree with you. I think the main thing to notice is not everyone reads blog, not everyone has GPS and most people are middle America. Being able to call a simple # and get a service that works is what most Americans want.

Remember if you do it I want a Carne Asada burrito=)

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