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Building an index/comparison website

A detailed account of a Fastlane process...
D

Deleted84049

Guest
Background
I will keep this short: classic action faker here. However, this time I decided to make a website and make you all my accountabilibuddies. :praise: Instead of endless research I will take my super limited HTML knowledge and my limited design capabilities and just start. My goal is to put out a minimum viable product in a short timespan (two weeks max) and then work from there.

Idea
I am building a website that displays all companies offering a certain service in the country. For now I just show the location and contact info, so that it is easily searchable and simple (I want to add pricing and availability as well later on, but I want to get the site live asap to avoid action-faking or loss of motivation on my part). It is just not very visually appealing yet.

I have seen that I have one real competitor, but he didn't take the trouble to index EVERY one of the places listed on Google maps (I am doing this by hand, as I don't know another way and like I said, I want to go live asap). He also doesn't show up until page 3 if you type the singular search term of the word (which is way more popular than the plural), so I'm not concerned with the market being saturated. Also, the fact that it takes so much effort to put them all together in one spot, makes me think "Entry" has been met.

Execution
  • I made the site (with Squarespace), and designed the bare necessities (logo / favicon / etc).
  • I am making a database of all the companies offering the service by manually taking the info from Google search and Google Maps.
  • When I am done with this, I will rewrite the text parts, with a SEO mindset.
  • I will add all the tracking that I need (please comment on what I absolutely need and might not think of myself).
  • After that I will put the site live.

Backlog
The things I want to do in the (near) future are twofold. First I want to add more elaborate features, that I have no idea how to add at this time. Either by using apps or adding the code myself. Second, and this is once I start generating some traffic, I want to add ways for the website to make money. I will not make visitors pay, the main goal of the website is providing free information.

Features:
  • A price and feature comparison system on the website, where visitors can see the things that matter to them right away without having to go to the individual websites.
  • Clickable maps. Not just a table with information. Since it's about addresses, I think a clickable map, that works easily on mobile is a nice-to-have feature.
  • A login system for the companies so they can update their prices and if their service is available.
Money:
  • Ads. The services that is provided by the companies I indexed is linked to something you can purchase, so the ads make sense.
  • Premium space. A spot on the website for the service providers to be put in the spotlight.
  • Not completely related, but I also noticed a lot of the companies have either no website or a very crappy looking one, so I see an opportunity here as well by approaching them and offering to make one for them. (but not before my site is finished)
Feedback & Tips
Any feedback or tips are welcome. Especially on the development side, my knowledge of webdesign in the 20th century is very limited so far and consists mostly of googling and copy-pasting the code I find. Any other features you would add or general tips, please do tell!

Thanks!
 
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Kasimir

Bronze Contributor
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Sep 4, 2020
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Switzerland
good idea.
Would focus rather on premium ad space than the usual ads. Because you know exactly what your visitor wants.
Maybe even use affiliate links and upsells. You could add a blog for some organic traffic and maybe even some products, which are your own. Like an e-book.

Whish you all the best.
 

FlyingDutchman

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Aug 17, 2020
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Haarlem, The Netherlands
I am making a database of all the companies offering the service by manually taking the info from Google search and Google Maps.
This takes an incredible amount of time for the initial content + periodical upkeep. Have a look at an API solution that feeds live data at all times. Optimal results with no manual work.

You listed multiple possibilities to generate money alread. Why not throw a little affiliate linkage in there too?
Especially when making them fancy new websites, this will ensure not only an initial 'website creation fee', but also a nice kickback whenever a service is bought by guests coming from you.
 
D

Deleted84049

Guest
This takes an incredible amount of time for the initial content + periodical upkeep. Have a look at an API solution that feeds live data at all times. Optimal results with no manual work.

You listed multiple possibilities to generate money alread. Why not throw a little affiliate linkage in there too?
Especially when making them fancy new websites, this will ensure not only an initial 'website creation fee', but also a nice kickback whenever a service is bought by guests coming from you.
I was thinking about this too, but couldn't find any API like that (also read it was against Google maps' policy) and didn't want to waste time searching and not taking action. Any tips on software?

I was also thinking about affiliate links, but I didn't think about the fact that I can use this in my website design idea as well. Same product basically. Thanks for that!
 
D

Deleted84049

Guest
Any reason you chose Squarespace?
Made a site with Wix before and I prefer Squarespace. I'm really not a coder (yet?) so it feels like a good way to get started? But I'm open to anything.
 

FlyingDutchman

New Contributor
Read Rat-Race Escape!
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User Power
Value/Post Ratio
111%
Aug 17, 2020
9
10
Haarlem, The Netherlands
I was thinking about this too, but couldn't find any API like that (also read it was against Google maps' policy) and didn't want to waste time searching and not taking action. Any tips on software?

I was also thinking about affiliate links, but I didn't think about the fact that I can use this in my website design idea as well. Same product basically. Thanks for that!
I'm not aware of tools in this field. But there are (too) many 'database companies' that scrape new listings at local Chambers of commerce (to subsequently sell the data).
These might be interesting.
 
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