Need to talk to people who know people

[David91]

Hi All

This is a preliminary announcement of a new internet start-up based in Singapore. I'll be putting up classified ads in a few weeks time.

Before we get too formal about things, I'd like to talk to people who have regional contacts in the worlds of:

art

film and TV

journalism

music.

PM me if you have a relevant network and we can exchange information. Anyone who can help will bypass the formal advert stage and should be prepared to discuss terms for short or medium term involvement.

David

[sundaymorningstaple]

PM me if you have a relevant network and we can exchange information.
David

Somehow this rings false. If I have a network and you do not then what information will you be able to give me as in "exchange information" as it would appear you do not have any information to exchange. Would appear a bit one-sided don't you think?

[David91]

Well, it would seem that I am really a fish out of water here in Singapore. I am launching a business in April. If no-one wants to offer to put information out on their networks in advance of the more formal announcements, I will not push the matter. It would have been convenient to reach out informally to those who will have an interest in the new website, allowing more time for exploration and discussion of the services that will be on offer, but if your suspicions cut off this word-of-mouth approach. . .

[ksl]

PM me if you have a relevant network and we can exchange information.
David

Somehow this rings false. If I have a network and you do not then what information will you be able to give me as in "exchange information" as it would appear you do not have any information to exchange. Would appear a bit one-sided don't you think?

Yes your right SMS! This guy is just after some freelancers to help kick start his website, probably without pay, but with incentives in the company if successful. He doesn't have much to exchange at all, at this stage.

David, don't be disheartend! I think maybe a little more transparency, would be more helpful, of what you are really looking for.

allowing more time for exploration and discussion of the services that will be on offer

Are you not looking for people in the respective services offered? You can't blame SMS for suspecting, that this is more of an adverisement, than a discussion of services on your website.

who would be interested in discussing what you want, to display on your website? I mean it is all a little when you have no audience yet, unless you are actually looking for people to support you!

[David91]

"Are you not looking for people in the respective services offered? You can't blame SMS for suspecting, that this is more of an advertisement, than a discussion of services on your website."

Sorry everyone, I was trying to strike a balance between honesty and dishonesty. It seems I got the balance wrong. I'm at the egg and chicken stage with a web 2.0 project that, as everyone in my position would say, will be slightly more likely to succeed than all the others. We're coding the site now with a target date for the beta version in April and I'm moving to complete all the formalities of the set-up. I don't really want to start talking about the detail of the design in public just yet but since that design has a substantial e-commerce element, I thought I would make a few gentle noises to alert some of the groups of potential product suppliers in ASEAN as to the services the site will offer to sell their products. April is not so far away.

Both the other posters are completely correct about the spirit of my initial post. It does not actually advertise for people to "sell" or "promote" anything although it was intended to be clear that if anyone had offered some practical assistance over and above passively transmitting information, I would have initiated a discussion of terms (which again, as anyone in my position would say, are slightly different from the usual commission/slice of the equity currently offered by people like me who are undercapitalised).

My real intention is simply to find out whether anyone will talk to me at a preliminary stage before we get into any more overt recruitment process. At this point, I am looking for people who share some of my values and would be interested to see whether the ideas representing those values will work commercially. So I would like to talk to people who, like me, enjoy art, literature, music and film. Yes, there is a "for profit" motive in the background. Whether it will ever be a large or a small profit for those who do ultimately become involved in the operational side, no-one at this stage can say. But, since I believe that this "business" should be about something more than just making a profit, I am content to aim for a small profit. As a consequence, you should recognise the likelihood of suppliers of product to the site making more money than they would otherwise have done—a fact they might be interested in hearing about.

I'm not sure where this leaves us so I'll stop here and await further responses.

[ksl]

should recognise the likelihood of suppliers of product to the site making more money than they would otherwise have done—a fact they

First of all David, just to spar with you, to give you something to think about, I was freelancing for a Taiwanese digital camera manufacturer several years ago, he requested my help in branding his product, at the time I knew nothing of online marketing.

I did successfully brand the product within a year from Scratch, it was not easy, first I had to build an attractive website, then I had to ensure that people could find the website easy on the search engines, keeping my costs to the minimum, I believe I was working 14 to 16 hrs a day for the whole year, just to interest my target audience.

I don't believe anyone will supply products to your website until you can prove substantial traffic to your website, at least a few thousand per day.

I'm sure there may well be some people interested in joining your project, although I believe you should be, thinking of how to get your exposure, and to differentiate, your website from others, you need a niche, to be able to attract your target audiences, you then need to keep them inside your website.

You have a very long and hard road ahead of you, because you need quality content, for the subjects.

It is kind of difficult to give you any guidance, without understanding the details of your plans, and expectations, although networking is probably the only way you can expand, there doesn't seem to be any incentive for suppliers to get involved at this time.

You really need to search for the holy grail, something different or more specialised in the services you want to provide, don't think of the products but the experience you are trying to provide for surfers.

Have you completed your website optimisation, with description and keywords for each webpage? The meta tags are significant and the criteria for search engines submission vary all the time.

Is your target audience global or local, can you direct us to any other websites, that are providing the same service?

What I'm still wondering about is your direction, where are you going, with this, to who's doorstep are you aiming, there are people with a general interest, and there are those with a more deeper interest than others, if you get my message.

I think it is probably better to discuss, rather than recruit at this stage, so that we get a little transparency, I wouldn't worry too much about secrets, because as soon as it is up and running, you are still going to have to deal with competition, the game of chess starts right away! It is the ones, that can make a successful strategy, and tactics, that will lead the way. How are you going to be better than the competition, although don't broadcast that fact! take out your businessmans bible and your checklist of threats & weaknesses, come up with a strategy to survive.

Maybe you have done all this, it would be nice to know, how many are involved in the project upto now? and how many you expect to take on board!

Think of websites that can compliment you and your services, although do not fill it with affiliate services, this will just kill you off from day one!

[David91]

"Is your target audience global or local, can you direct us to any other websites, that are providing the same service?"

Thanks for your interest. I am not limiting the audience in any way and we are building in the option to carry a range of language scripts to allow for growth. There are, of course, many existing sites which offer particular services and opportunities but, to the best of my knowledge, there is no other site which offers anything as comprehensive or, in some senses, as radical. Now, of course, I am aware of the problems of promoting a more general as opposed to a specific site. If you attempt to appeal to everyone, the risk is that you end up appealing to none. Then there is the seed corn problem of providing some content for launch when you have no traffic. And I completely agree with you that networking is going to be the answer to developing the site.

I can already hear the criticisms of the model: that it lacks a clear focus, that it is too ambitious, etc. And there would be some justification to such views because many different elements will be allowed the chance to grow through the site. To help everyone make sense of the whole, I have grounded all the potentially disparate aspects in a unifying theme of social responsibility which I believe will have some resonance in the relevant target communities of suppliers and users. In asserting this as a simple fact, I know I may sound not a little naive. So to avoid any doubt in the minds of those who read this, I frankly admit that the project is a form of social/commercial experiment and that its implementation, even if only partially successful, would be considered threatening to some existing business interests. Hence, some potential suppliers will definitely be deterred. Others, however, will see this project as an opportunity that they would not get anywhere else. Equally, as the site develops, users obtain access to a range of content, products and services that they would not find anywhere else in a single web location.

Not unnaturally, I am curious to see whether otherwise relatively disparate groups will come together for this purpose and I am spending my capital to find out.

". . .it would be nice to know, how many are involved in the project upto now? and how many you expect to take on board!"

We are a small group at present. The business form is a co-operative. Thus, all who join have a single vote in a democratic decision-making structure and the right to share in any profit (should we manage this feat). Membership is free and no cap has been set on the numbers we are prepared to accommodate. If the co-operative is a success, membership will be allowed to expand in line with revenue generated. If people do not want to be members but the revenue permits it, we will pay people as either part-time employees or subcontractors.

[sundaymorningstaple]

To help everyone make sense of the whole, I have grounded all the potentially disparate aspects in a unifying theme of social responsibility which I believe will have some resonance in the relevant target communities of suppliers and users. In asserting this as a simple fact, I know I may sound not a little naive. So to avoid any doubt in the minds of those who read this, I frankly admit that the project is a form of social/commercial experiment and that its implementation, even if only partially successful, would be considered threatening to some existing business interests.

From what I can read, the first major flaw I can see is one that will possibly doom your venture before you get it off the ground. The term you used, I believe, was "Social Responsibility" which is kinda like "military intelligence" definitely an oxymoron in Asia in general. That's is why intellectual property is pirated so much here. Just food for thought.

[ksl]

In a way I think SMS hit the nail on the head, You need to go the opposite direction and solve the problems when they arise, with of course discretion, between the team.

what is needed is for unconventional pow wows to take place around the totem pole. If your team is skilled, with limited creativity, no disrespect to anyone, then at least you have something, throwing a spanner in the works, to shake the team up, to awake another line of thought from the mundane, is required I believe.

It's fine that the website is launched soon, although you shouldn't waste too much cash on it, without very good reason, I sincerely believe the time is not right, otherwise you would not be discussing here and now.

There are lots of ways to dig out the information you need. I think you made a good move to discuss the project, rather than to advertise, this way, you become more open and transparant for everyone to indulge and maybe contribute.

I would suggest holding orderly meetings once a week, for brain storming, if all your team agrees, before you actually launch, because of the work load, that may disrupt, that niche, that you are looking for, or you may well have.

art ,film and TV, journalism, music are interesting, but are they going to pull the crowds?
How about arranging a chaotic meetup, with your team and singapore expats, for those that are interested, so that you can get a taste of everyones ideas, jot them down, and sift through them, with a sparing partner, to bring out the good and bad points at a later date.

I've had many creative ideas myself, although, I could never do it alone, strength & weaknesses, play a very important part, to succeed, and the hardest thing in the world, is to relent ones authority, which may cost you the lot. So organisation setup, with a project manager is required to oversee and delegate at some time or other, it may not sound like much, although I believe you will need someone with insight and experience, to motivate and control the flow and work load..

The way you will benefit is to make this thread your desktop, for a period of time, to glean information, tips, and ideas, from seasoned people, taking notes, and discussing, what they want, after all, many of these people here are committed to singapore expats, why?

After all there are so many different inputs from all kinds of people, from many different social backgrounds wanting to voice their opinions.

They are intense about their opinions, and they love the arguments and discussions, there is actually something here, that makes you not want to give in, and that is invigorating in itself, although it does have to be monitored. arbitration!!

Maybe thats a key word for you to look at!

Friday is normally time out, Gin and tonic night first time for 4 years, and that's my excuse for ranting a little.

If you decide to have a meet, let me know, time is all i have these days, You can if you want, PM me, with the skills of your team members.

I will sign a confidentiality agreement if you need.

[David91]

"Social responsibility" means different things to different people. Here in Singapore, the Straits Settlement Co-operative Societies Ordinance came into force on the 1st January 1925, and its legacy is seen in the values daily demonstrated through the NTUC's businesses which would be considered integral to local life on the island. More generally, I see little causal connection between the extent to which one group of people may indulge in copyright piracy, and the question of whether a business should apply principles of corporate social responsibility to its processes and operations. Your implication that a business can only hope to be a success if it is unethical and, possibly, corrupt is a sad reflection on our times.

[ksl]

"Social responsibility" means different things to different people. Here in Singapore, the Straits Settlement Co-operative Societies Ordinance came into force on the 1st January 1925, and its legacy is seen in the values daily demonstrated through the NTUC's businesses which would be considered integral to local life on the island. More generally, I see little causal connection between the extent to which one group of people may indulge in copyright piracy, and the question of whether a business should apply principles of corporate social responsibility to its processes and operations. Your implication that a business can only hope to be a success if it is unethical and, possibly, corrupt is a sad reflection on our times.

No david, I think you have misunderstood, we are not talking plagiarisms, piracy or anti government feelings, we are talking about the right to voice opinions and discuss in free speech, with respect to all. We are not robots.
What you are actually showing in your text above is your limited ability to express yourself on a global level, by all meens remain local and stick your head in the sand.

This is nothing to do with politics, this is to do with people having the right to say what they want. and your website evaluating what people say, and of story! Your are the one held resonponsible for your website.

And please, don't come the patriotic saint act on a public forum like this, becuase your actually discussing with experienced people here, that spotted your intentions on you first posting,

You would like to call it borderline dishonesty, although we knew what you was up to,
My integrity and loyalty is not only proven to to the UK, but also to this little spot in the ocean, and also my forefathers, So i believe you are a little out of order with, with what you write.

[sundaymorningstaple]

"Social responsibility" means different things to different people. Here in Singapore, the Straits Settlement Co-operative Societies Ordinance came into force on the 1st January 1925, and its legacy is seen in the values daily demonstrated through the NTUC's businesses which would be considered integral to local life on the island. More generally, I see little causal connection between the extent to which one group of people may indulge in copyright piracy, and the question of whether a business should apply principles of corporate social responsibility to its processes and operations. Your implication that a business can only hope to be a success if it is unethical and, possibly, corrupt is a sad reflection on our times.

Maybe a sad reflection on our times but do you read the Dire Straits? have/are you follow/following the NKF saga? Ethics and corruption are part and parcel to almost all large organizations the truth be known. The larger an organization the more ways to hide it. China Aviation and the recycling company in recent times comes to mind. No country is safe from unscrupulous businesses or persons within those businesses.

I was not trying to infer that you were attempting to engage in illegal activities. I was inferring that Asian businesses WILL if given a seemingly open opportunity. I would have to agree with ksl in so much as I think it is time to take off your rose coloured glasses and pull you head out of the sand. There is nothing I like more than success stories. I hope you make it. But! If you are going to poo-poo every thought or opinion just because they are not in sync with yourself, it is a sure recipe for disaster.

Good Luck on your venture. I hope it is a success.

sms

[David91]

Hmm

It seems to me that this is thread is drifting off-topic. My original hope was that I could at least talk to people who, in the future, might be willing to pass on advance information about the new site to regional artists, musicians, et al. We seem to have been sidetracked. I have talked in the most general of terms about the project and you have offered advice.

Well, thank you for the advice. I shall accept it in the spirit in which it was offered. I also tender my own apologies to sms. It was not my intention to poo-poo anything you said. I was merely responding to your posts in neutral generalities rather than being direct. I always hesitate to argue positively with people on a forum because it is difficult to manage tone and I can sometimes come over as too aggressive. To set your mind at rest, I confirm that, in the real world, I count my change in coffeeshops, negotiate for the local not the ang moh price in wet markets, and tell the taxi drivers that I will not pay the inflated price immediately I see they are starting to go the long way round. I first came to Singapore in 1990 and have held PR here for some years so I do have an insight into how the local culture works.

[AdamC]

Hi SMS, dun be dishearten, in business nothing gonna works out if You don't put into practise. Start up the fundamental based on ur current concept. works things out with ya team, n be prepare sufficent reserve fund for you to last for the first few months.

There's nothing called impossible business, but there's something called dishearten businesses