Comments on: Collecting Pennies http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/ A conversation about Chicago web 2.0 start-ups Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:40:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Anand Chhatpar http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-635 Anand Chhatpar Mon, 05 Nov 2007 17:46:26 +0000 http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-635 In checking out the new Google Open Social, the thing that felt horribly wrong about it was that you have to copy/paste a URL or code into some kind of gadget box to install an application ( according to http://opensocial.ning.com/ ) That is definitely not going to help make things viral. I cannot imagine 60% of my friends even knowing how to copy/paste, and even if they know how to copy/paste, it is too much work! I'm going to wait another couple months until Open Social matures and in the meanwhile, keep focusing on Facebook apps. In checking out the new Google Open Social, the thing that felt horribly wrong about it was that you have to copy/paste a URL or code into some kind of gadget box to install an application ( according to
http://opensocial.ning.com/ )

That is definitely not going to help make things viral. I cannot imagine 60% of my friends even knowing how to copy/paste, and even if they know how to copy/paste, it is too much work!

I’m going to wait another couple months until Open Social matures and in the meanwhile, keep focusing on Facebook apps.

]]> By: Shane http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-636 Shane Mon, 05 Nov 2007 20:32:57 +0000 http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-636 Keith- Can you share any revenue details about Grow-a-Gift? Are those user "pennies" converting to real pennies? I don't recall seeing paid gifts so I'm assuming the app is still free. I'm amazed at how well The Lotto app is doing with ad revenue and am curious how it is panning out for gift-type apps. Thanks! Keith- Can you share any revenue details about Grow-a-Gift? Are those user “pennies” converting to real pennies? I don’t recall seeing paid gifts so I’m assuming the app is still free. I’m amazed at how well The Lotto app is doing with ad revenue and am curious how it is panning out for gift-type apps. Thanks!

]]> By: Tom Printy http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-640 Tom Printy Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:41:38 +0000 http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-640 Congrats on your app. It seems like in this space it pays to be early to the table. We met at the Facebook garage and I finally have my app online. The app is called Beaver Books and allows you to sell books and buy book both from friends on Facebook and by using services like Amazon and Half.com. We were inspired by your talk and meeting at the event and worked hard on this app (part time we have other jobs). It would be interesting to get your feedback on this application. The URL is http://apps.facebook.com/beaverbooks/ -Tom Congrats on your app. It seems like in this space it pays to be early to the table. We met at the Facebook garage and I finally have my app online. The app is called Beaver Books and allows you to sell books and buy book both from friends on Facebook and by using services like Amazon and Half.com. We were inspired by your talk and meeting at the event and worked hard on this app (part time we have other jobs). It would be interesting to get your feedback on this application. The URL is http://apps.facebook.com/beaverbooks/

-Tom

]]> By: thehoffmen http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-683 thehoffmen Thu, 15 Nov 2007 15:04:34 +0000 http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-683 Keith, My dad told me the story about the penny for years growing up. (Maybe I told it to you?? :) Joel always talks about how cost of sale is always constant in shrinkwrapped software. What facebook provides is a way of reducing the friction to an install to a (as you point out) amazingly low level. Now with paypal, the friction for a sale is reduced to an equally low level. Of course, google is the best known example of collecting pennies.... It's cool that the rest of us can start playing in that arena as well. Keep on going! John Keith,

My dad told me the story about the penny for years growing up. (Maybe I told it to you?? :) Joel always talks about how cost of sale is always constant in shrinkwrapped software. What facebook provides is a way of reducing the friction to an install to a (as you point out) amazingly low level. Now with paypal, the friction for a sale is reduced to an equally low level.

Of course, google is the best known example of collecting pennies…. It’s cool that the rest of us can start playing in that arena as well.

Keep on going!

John

]]> By: Math Guy http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-764 Math Guy Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:22:56 +0000 http://www.chicagobeta.com/collecting-pennies/#comment-764 Your math is wrong. There are more people in the US that you seem to realize. Your math is wrong.
There are more people in the US that you seem to realize.

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