I'm working on a website where entrepreneurs can come to ask questions about their specific problems and where only PHDs and PHD students can answer those questions. I know they can already go on Quora or on StackExchange, but these websites tend to discard questions that are too specific to a person's own peculiar situation. Therefore, I see my website more as a Problem/Solution website than a Question/Answer website. Furthermore, entrepreneurs will be able to ask questions for free, but also, to add a reward for the best answers, like on 99logos. What do you think about this idea? Would you use it? If so, what kind of question would you ask there?
Hello, I will provide you feedback but know that is generally frowned upon to use this platform where people come with real frustrations and hurdles and use it for advertisement.
You website has a lot of flaw, granted is a landing page, and it could be greatly improved. Quora is great not only because they have the work to gather the community of experts and non experts on an open platform where questions, surveys,etc can be shared by individuals and companies alike. They provide their features for free and requires no log in to view what is going on. Yours seems to a landing asking for contact information but you failed to provide examples or video or anything that explains easily in 1-3 seconds what it is that you are and why you want my email and how would I benefit from giving it to you.
With that said, the idea of providing a niche for PHD students is cool and I can see that needed, as we go through higher education our tutoring resources become less and less available. I would however try to be everything to everyone - focus on one core value to one core group of people - reason: You don't have the time and money to expose and cater to everyone.
Consider doing research in other websites with similar services like chegg.com
Also, there is a class I took through onemnth here http://mbsy.co/onemonth/18573440 - it shows you how to build landing pages more effectively.
best of luck :)
Humberto Valle
Why only entrepreneurs? Why not let all professionals seek help in return to paid advise? Same is the case with PHDs. Why not go after all those who have an expertise in something? That brings me to the question, how are you going to be too different from Clarity itself? Do you have money to back you up?
I'm sorry to sound so critical but do think hard about what value you are genuinely offering before getting too firm with your idea. Nothing wrong in throwing open a website to test out your idea, but let it do just that - test your idea, nothing more.
Think about adding an academic angle to the whole thing by letting experts offer answers to burning questions out there and throw open these stock answers in the form of videos. Stringed together answers on a subject, and let people pay for something that is specific after they have liked the stock answer.
Don't wait. Go for it. The worst that can happen is that you fall short of your goal while learning a lot.
I am not trying to sell you on calling me. Really, I am pretty busy with my businesses and consulting. However, I need more info before I could have a greater impact in helping you.
Ask, Ask, Ask, then Ask again.
Bonus:
Here is $10,000 worth of information for free and in a nutshell.
Concentrate on the 3 M's. There are actually 7, but 3 will do for now. These are Market, Message, and Media. They come in that order.
Who is your target market (customer, clients, buyers, users, etc.)?
Tailor your laser focused message for this target market.
What is the best media mix to get your message to that market?
Here's what you do...first, make it an offer that is so incredible that they cannot resist. Secondly, do all the work for them. Make it so easy to make the purchase now that they can do it virtually without effort. Thirdly, give them an incentive to act right now. Fourthly, offer an almost unbelievable guarantee. Fifth, offer a bonus for acting now. There are many other incredible steps, but these steps should help the novice to the professional sell anything.
Whether you are selling B2B or B2C, you have to focus on selling to only one person. You can actually sell to one person at a time while selling to millions at a time. They are one and the same. Don't get off track, what we call digital marketing selling is just selling in print. And that has not changed since Cluade Hopkins wrote "Scientific Advertising." Really long before he wrote the book.
The secret to success: I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with some of the biggest names in business, celebrities, actors, entrepreneurs, business people, and companies from startup to billion dollar operations. The number one reason for their success is doing what they know and love while doing it in new, creative, and innovative ways.
Ask, Ask, Ask. Have thick skin and learn from each "mistake." In a short while, the market will tell you what you need to do and who and what you need to ask. But get started now even if that just means asking a contact on LinkedIn.
While you are thinking, think big and think of something at least 1% better, newer, or different. And being cheaper is not a winning strategy.
Make decisions quickly and change decisions slowly..unless you are actually going off a cliff.
Remember these two 11 letter words...persistence and consistency. They are two of the most important tools ever invented.
Treat everybody you talk to and everybody you meet (including yourself) like each is your number one million dollar customer.
Bootstrap when possible and reasonable. Read "How To Get Rich" by Felix Dennis. Or better yet just remember the camel's nose in the tent story.
However, sometimes you just need to make a deal.
Listen, in any business you have to take some chances and some risks. Make sure you don't need a license and go for it. Remember, timid business people have skinny kids. Paraphrased from Zig Ziglar.
Best of luck,
Take massive action and never give up.
Michael
Michael Irvin, MBA, RN
