Reply to: Plan B is go, go, go!

[dack]

The key will be how do you get found on Google, then you can compete with the others on price, functions, service etc.

Have you thought about this.

This is what Internet business is all about.

It's 90% marketing and 10% good website...business model.

Good points. I've knocked up several sites over the years and only dabbled with SEO and Adwords. This is an area I really need to get myself clued up on (bin the .NET books for SEO!). I totally agree, it's the marketing that dictates the success of any site.

[dack]

Nice idea! Just checked your site and it was slow though. Checked the files and the total download size for the home page is almost 9MB! You seriously need to optimise or reduce the content of:

Camera.swf - 3MB
Expect.swf - 3MB
Home.swf - 2.8MB

Having a fast loading home page is of vital importance to holding visitors.

Cheers, Yes, the flash content is a problem and I'm looking to optimise and split the content over separate pages.

Thanks for the feedback.

[dack]

<Serious Mode>
Strip out any/everything about "Your Life" and concentrate exclusively on "Wedding stuff" (OK Possibly mention you can do Christenings and engagements as well).

Then Double or even Treble your prices.......... Weddings are a real rip off and you can overcharge almost without restriction.... people will pay hundreds of pounds for a specialist "Wedding Service" when they won't tuppence for the same thing if "real life"....

ie £14-99 or whatever for a DVD..... lots of people won't go for it.....
Couple of Hundred for "Special Wedding Package"..... loads will.....

and for your efforts get a couple of dozen Weddings at a few hundred quid.... vs 100s of family snapshots.....

Its all in the target audience....

If you don't believe me go and look in a Florest..... ask the cost for a few roses - midweek "for a mate"....
go back with a girl and ask about Bridal Bouquets and Bridemaids posies.......

</SM>

I have been knocking up a page depicting weddings as one of the ideas for a DVD slideshow and I like your points. Maybe specialisation is the way to go ....

Cheers.

[BlasterBates]

The key will be how do you get found on Google, then you can compete with the others on price, functions, service etc.

Have you thought about this.

This is what Internet business is all about.

It's 90% marketing and 10% good website...business model.

[SueEllen]

<Serious Mode>
Strip out any/everything about "Your Life" and concentrate exclusively on "Wedding stuff" (OK Possibly mention you can do Christenings and engagements as well).

Then Double or even Treble your prices.......... Weddings are a real rip off and you can overcharge almost without restriction.... people will pay hundreds of pounds for a specialist "Wedding Service" when they won't tuppence for the same thing if "real life"....

ie £14-99 or whatever for a DVD..... lots of people won't go for it.....
Couple of Hundred for "Special Wedding Package"..... loads will.....

This is completely true.

There are lots of women who would happily sit their friends in front of a computer/TV to look at the photos.

Luckily I've only been subjected to one lot (and that was a married in relation).

[administrator]

Nice idea! Just checked your site and it was slow though. Checked the files and the total download size for the home page is almost 9MB! You seriously need to optimise or reduce the content of:

Camera.swf - 3MB
Expect.swf - 3MB
Home.swf - 2.8MB

Having a fast loading home page is of vital importance to holding visitors.

[Drewster]

<Serious Mode>
Strip out any/everything about "Your Life" and concentrate exclusively on "Wedding stuff" (OK Possibly mention you can do Christenings and engagements as well).

Then Double or even Treble your prices.......... Weddings are a real rip off and you can overcharge almost without restriction.... people will pay hundreds of pounds for a specialist "Wedding Service" when they won't tuppence for the same thing if "real life"....

ie £14-99 or whatever for a DVD..... lots of people won't go for it.....
Couple of Hundred for "Special Wedding Package"..... loads will.....

and for your efforts get a couple of dozen Weddings at a few hundred quid.... vs 100s of family snapshots.....

Its all in the target audience....

If you don't believe me go and look in a Florest..... ask the cost for a few roses - midweek "for a mate"....
go back with a girl and ask about Bridal Bouquets and Bridemaids posies.......

</SM>

[dack]

Isnt another forum member doing something very similar? Still competition is good, eh?

Besides, I think your website looks far better than the other which looked very bland in comparison. Didnt have issues with loading speed of the site.

Cheers for compliment, appreciated.

[dack]

They are putting 1,200 on a DVD with background music so it should cost more than £14.99. Though I personally wouldn't pay £85 for it, it is definitely worth more than £14.99 as you have to remember the reason people aren't doing it themselves is the time involved.

I based my pricing mainly on competitors prices (see Prices | Make Me a Movie, Photos to DVD, Photos to CD, Slides to CD, Photo DVD) but yes I agree, they do need revising.

[SueEllen]

Unless you do any sort of post processing is £85 for a DVD not a little steep? I assume that the process is automated. I'd say £14.99 regardless of the photos would be about right.

They are putting 1,200 on a DVD with background music so it should cost more than £14.99. Though I personally wouldn't pay £85 for it, it is definitely worth more than £14.99 as you have to remember the reason people aren't doing it themselves is the time involved.

[Sockpuppet]

Unless you do any sort of post processing is £85 for a DVD not a little steep? I assume that the process is automated. I'd say £14.99 regardless of the photos would be about right.

[d000hg]

Isnt another forum member doing something very similar? Still competition is good, eh?

Besides, I think your website looks far better than the other which looked very bland in comparison. Didnt have issues with loading speed of the site.

Is the one you're thinking of the scanning of physical media - slides, film, etc?

[BolshieBastard]

Never one for giving up, I've just launched my latest Plan B website, http://mypicturelife.co.uk.

I'd very much appreciate feedback from you lovely people, all constructive criticism graciously received.

I am expecting a kicking but please be gentle.

Isnt another forum member doing something very similar? Still competition is good, eh?

Besides, I think your website looks far better than the other which looked very bland in comparison. Didnt have issues with loading speed of the site.

[Not So Wise]

Yes gingerjedi, that's the next thing on my list of things to do.

Cheers for the feedback.

Something you might want to consider from a marketing point of view, digital picture frames. Many people get this for pressies and have no idea idea how to load pics into them, many use memory card/sd cards so might want to think of offering that service as well as dvd (especially as think not that many people would actually want to watch pic's on TV)

*this is of course after you offer an upload facility, something you should have offered from get go

[dack]

You want people to copy photos to CD and put them in the post.

It's not a massive leap to save a slideshow in DVD format, you need an upload facility.

Yes gingerjedi, that's the next thing on my list of things to do.

Cheers for the feedback.