[Ask IH]: First time Indie, looking for feedback
Hello fellow hackers! Looking for some initial reactions on this one:
So it's basically an anonymous gifting application/ secret santa/ birthday wishlist that comes true. Was just reading about the joy of giving and though it might sound crazy, here it is!
User signs up - posts his/her wishlist (just Amazon to start with).
Whenever you feel generous, log on to the app - it shows you birthdays on the current day and items! Based on your budget or the item you selected, it gets sent to the recipient! All Anonymous. Revenue through affiliate marketing.
Just ideating so feel free to call it out, I'm open to critical feedback :)
*Currently looking to build it with the Amazon developer APIs available for log in, marketplace (delivery) and wishlist
*When the user wishes to gift, he/she will be shown two options - One is your network, other in Gift Anon. If he/she selects Option 1, they will be shown upcoming occasions within their network
Option 2, will lead to a page where you can set your budget/items(so brands can come in here) and send it out!
Thanks in advance!
Initial reaction:
2 sided marketplace (generous people and people who just want to get stuff?) are hard
why would I log onto something / even register?
What do I get as the one giving away or buying a gift? I dont even get to see the reaction? Do they do an unboxing video?
Why an app?
Think about each party? What do they get from it? Why should they use it? Is it like a lottery? Is it like a crowd-funding for gifts?
Affiliate Revenue conversion is best if the user is already coming to you with a purchasing-intention...
Just from the top of my mind. No 2nd thought ;-)
Firstly thanks a ton for responding! I agree with most of what you've said.
Definitely hard to sell.
Intention is to sell it on two fronts:
Do you struggle choosing what to get your friends on their birthdays, etc? Why not get them something they want/need/like?
Who doesn't like anonymous presents? Doesn't excite everyone but doesn't make anyone unhappy for sure.
Reaction/unboxing is a real sweet deal. Will have to keep that as an add-on. Very difficult to do with current model.
App/Web anything will do. I just meant a platform, apologies.
-Two parties primarily:
Just log in with your Amazon account, update your birthday and wishlist.
Feeling generous? Log in: Select between Gift within your circle/Gift Anon. Enter budget/Select your product. Amazon does the delivery.
Definitely needs more thought, I agree.
Thanks once again :)
Amazon lets you create and share wishlists, so (unless there is a specific difference other than anonymous giving) I'm not sure why people would want to go through multiple extra steps.
Maybe you could adjust it to be used primarily by influencers and their fans? I'm pretty sure I have seen influencers link to Amazon wishlists so an official platform for sending gifts/surprises might get these kinds of users. The biggest problem is that fans typically send gifts because they want attention, so I don't see anonymous giving having much of an appeal.
Absolutely and that's the hard part. However, on Amazon you really can't search for your friend's wishlist.
Second, it is the concept of anonymous gifting that I was targeting. Just felt really good when I got a present, so just testing the market.
Third is the influencer market. As you pointed out, both options have to be given to the user - Anonymous as well as where their details aren't hidden.
Brands can directly send products to those who have wishlisted and get video reactions at an extra cost which works best because you're sending it to the people who already like your product thus increasing the reach because there is greater affinity
All said, it is using the Amazon base and like @patrics pointed out earlier, difficult to build a 2 sided marketplace!
Might be a hard sell but it would be an interesting application.
I wonder if you could hook up with local charities who often know of people who are having a hard time.
When I used to work in CorporateLand, every year a local charity would set up a Christmas tree in our foyer. It was decorated with gift enevelopes which, when opened, had the name, sex and age of a child. We would take as many of these as we wanted and buy presents according to the profiles in the envelopes.
The presents were then distributed by the charity to local children who were living in poverty, temporary accommodation or otherwise not in a good place.
I could see something like this as being a virtual equivalent so long as you had location data of the site visitors and local charity sign-up. That way, if people are feeling generous, they could choose from a variety of good causes. There must be so many people in local communities for whom an unexpected present would mean so much.
No idea whether you were thinking along these lines but it was the first thing that occurred to me as I read your post.
This is exactly how it originated! Can I please get in touch with you to understand how it was done offline? Thanks much :)