Muezbiz.com

The long-tail approach advanced the Muezbiz position. Searching New York music bulletin boards ... Muezbiz is now on page two. Remains on the first page in San Francisco, Dallas, and Santa Fe.

Now I know what to focus messaging on, and I believe because I can effectively distinguish Muezbiz's long-tail on searches, I will be better positioned when approaching future potential investors.

Listening to music? ... Stream it. Want to find out everything musical in your hometown and beyond? ... Think Muezbiz.com.

What if you could fly from Memphis to Chicago and all those great blues events would change accordingly?

Search Google “San Francisco music bulletin boards” Muezbiz is the first listing on the first page. Search Nashville or Dallas, Muezbiz lands up on page two. Search New York, the result appears on page six.

In Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos, all land up on page one.

The marketing challenge becomes clearer. How do I sell the long tail product?

When success stricks, it takes me three days to come down. Then I realize, I have more work to do.

I continue the experiment.

YC’s contribution into understanding web product development is a priceless experience.

Connect to YC:

Twitter @startupschool and on Facebook @YCStartupSchool.

I am located in New Mexico, one of the poorest states in the U.S. Tech knowledge is pretty limited here. Our state is trying to grow, and is certainly a wonderful place to establish. Recently, a lot of tech has begun to move forward in Albuquerque, mostly evolving around film, and data centers.

Schools have been teaching, while graduates leave for jobs, or work for out of state firms. A chicken and egg problem.

Muezbiz is a social site mashed up with e-commerce, filtered by region and interest. Truly a Silicon Valley idea trying to build in a state surrounded by traditional values. Capital is very limited.

When I read on YC's site, “If you have an idea larger then Google, we want to hear it.” I was convinced I had come to the right place.

In New Mexico, Muezbiz simply doesn't register as authentic. Sadly so. The fact. Muezbiz.com is real and functioning, and could use more qualified coders to hop on board. Funding co-founders is very difficult for a pre-equity start up.

YC has taught me the beginnings of how furthering the Muezbiz idea can be possible in a way web tech business talks.

Thank you to everyone at YC.

SIncerely,

John Cole, founder and primary developer of Muezbiz.com

... and beyond.

Where fans can make money supporting their favorite musicians on regional bulletin boards.

Believe it or not ... fairly complicated message. Out of the box. Away from the usual, “I sell. You buy.” Actually, transactions occur on Muezbiz for potentially millions of people selling and buying.

Similar to eBay. Different. eBay sets up an online barter system between user and seller. Muezbiz sets a stage where sellers can offer a globe of representatives of musical stuff on regional bulletins. Where anyone can freely set up a store and represent their favorite content to their local market.

Simple. Difficult to convey.

Then add the competition where our musical world has raced toward the streaming models. Talking about people actually buying music seems pretty ridiculous nowadays.

How to differentiate? The key becomes a means to publicize anything local. The competition turns to local media.

I will need to differentiate further exaggerating advantages of what Muezbiz has over local media:

1. A means for users to discover local events all over the country.
2. Performers can manage their own publicity, and upload roadshows.
3. Fans can easily find regional events easily then the myriad of calendars common today.

Recognition of unique value can rise above the crowded field.

Sincerely,

John Cole, founder Muezbiz.com

At this early stage, messaging is a constant tweak, or as YC likes to say, “Iterate.”

One of our requirements for YC’s online sessions is to attend meetings every Thursday with other founders and co-founders. Each meeting starts with an investor pitch. I'm finding a lot of founders don’t have a handle on this yet. Mostly because they are involved with product market fit. Eventually, if they hang in, they will take to language development.

These meetings have proven to be excellent for AB testing messaging. One week I get, “What”? The following week I receive wonderful comments, “It's such a cool project, although it aims to get money for musicians, still feels local, friendly and casual”!

Like Muezbiz.com ’s landing page, messaging continues to develop for both customers (musicians and fans), and potential investors.

Thanks to YC, my landing page is starting to convert, aligning with messaging.

Once I can clarify with users in a non-threatening manner, not a hard sell, I believe more will join.

Also this past week, I have been able to start positively messaging why users consider using Muezbiz versus the streaming models.

“Listen to music ... stream it. Want do discover everything musical in your hometown and beyond ... think MUezbiz.com.”

“Pin anything musical onto your hometown bulletin boards.”

I am finding the differentiation helpful, I am talking to people, not just musicians, or fans.

Every encounter seems to demand a certain amount of improve. Allowing for more freedom of expression excepts the fact that every situation is unique. Pitches that are more fluid, allow more spontaneity, and thereby more interplay between person pitching and listening. One of the easiest ways to penetrate is to actively listen.

I continue to explore pitches. Probably will be until the day I check out.

At Muezbiz’s root sits a simple truth: Working together can change the world.

It has taken me a while to accept this reality. At first I was focused on the e-commerce functionality merged with the social, filtered by interest and region. Therefor, convincing myself I was sure to find investors interested in e-commerce. What little I knew.

All along I have recognized how messaging is key, and I have made more then my fair share of mistakes trying to break through very large customer perceptions.

Presently the site has 118 members. For this idea to work, there needs to be a lot more ... 10,000. Particularly for retention. Seems to me that between Santa Fe, Taos, and Albuquerque NM, should be possible?

As an entrepreneur, one can’t help ask? Is this the right product market fit?

Presently, I am involved with Y Combinator’s online startup school. One video featured the question, “When should you hang up your idea”? Well? I am certainly not ready to give up on an idea requiring so many users. The questions is how to gain those users?

My first answer is, define my own market. Don’t follow. Make clear what makes Muezbiz.com different from all the others without mentioning their name.

Because I have more time then resources, I depend on volunteerism.

Social consciousness, is my focus now. After all, I am an older hippy who still believes in social movements.

I need team members who truly understand the nature of internet business and value the arts. A difficult task to find qualified individuals in New Mexico, USA. I haven’t given up yet.