I know it has been a while and you are all waiting to hear the ongoing saga of the creation of www.dontgotravel.com.
Things are moving ahead nicely and I am working on the functionality of the site right now.
I'll tell you al a bit about what the website is going to do and if anyone has any ideas please let me know and I might incorporate your ideas into the site.
Basically the concept is for people to advise other people of things that are available to do in their own locale. So that if you are someone from the Houston area you would go into the site and look for things that other people from Houston recommend doing in the Houston area.
The site is browse-able as well as search-able. We intend to allow for searches based on multiple criteria including excitement level, age appropriateness, 'what to pack' and of course location. (If there are any other fields that you feel should be search-able please let me know.)
We are going to include local historical trivia, FAQs about the travel destination as well as discussion groups to be open for commenting on the attraction and other things to do while you are there.
Pictures are going to be linked to from your own picture hosting site and you will be able to link to videos of these attractions that you put up on our channel on YouTube.
I have a lot more to say and will keep you all updated over the next bit, but if you have any ideas please keep me informed.
In the meantime - Keep On Walkin'
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
The Concept
So I told you all that I would explain the concept of www.dontgotravel.com over the next few days, so here goes. First I think that I will tell you all a bit of how the idea came about.
A few weeks ago I was meeting with a friend of mine who wanted to look for investment for a Corporate Video company (they would make all sorts of videos for a corporate environment including advertising, training and presentation videos) that he wants to start up. My first concern was that there was not enough of a market place to warrant outside investment and then I realized that they did not even have a significant portfolio (which to me was a bigger issue in getting off the ground).
We spoke a bit further and I felt that we should go through what footage he already had and create a fake company that hired him to make some videos (the concept was to come up with a company that based on their needs would logically take advantage of already shot footage for their video needs) for them.
As we went through his footage we realized that he had a good sized collection of travel related footage. I thought for a few minutes (maybe less) and said we should create a company that helps people plan 'non-travel trips'. Now let me explain that phrase 'non-travel trips'. The concept was that since prices of gas and plane tickets was on the rise and finances are falling people need to find things to do that are closer to home.
Now I as a New Yorker had never been to the Statue of Liberty and I believe that many people in many locales have never been to local attractions and usually thought about places like Disney World and the Grand Canyon for a REAL travel experience. Why did people have to spend thousands of dollars to experience 'travel' when they had plenty of trips in their own backyard.
So the idea was born for www.dontgotravel.com, which was to be a fake company to help my friend create a few portfolio pieces to get his video company off the ground.
I went home that night and did a lot of thinking about this idea and came to the realization that this was not to be a fake company but there is a real need for something like this right now.
Well I guess tomorrow I'll start explaining how I see the site working and the value.
Please send this blog on to friends and invite them to join us in this journey.
In the meantime - Keep On Walkin'
A few weeks ago I was meeting with a friend of mine who wanted to look for investment for a Corporate Video company (they would make all sorts of videos for a corporate environment including advertising, training and presentation videos) that he wants to start up. My first concern was that there was not enough of a market place to warrant outside investment and then I realized that they did not even have a significant portfolio (which to me was a bigger issue in getting off the ground).
We spoke a bit further and I felt that we should go through what footage he already had and create a fake company that hired him to make some videos (the concept was to come up with a company that based on their needs would logically take advantage of already shot footage for their video needs) for them.
As we went through his footage we realized that he had a good sized collection of travel related footage. I thought for a few minutes (maybe less) and said we should create a company that helps people plan 'non-travel trips'. Now let me explain that phrase 'non-travel trips'. The concept was that since prices of gas and plane tickets was on the rise and finances are falling people need to find things to do that are closer to home.
Now I as a New Yorker had never been to the Statue of Liberty and I believe that many people in many locales have never been to local attractions and usually thought about places like Disney World and the Grand Canyon for a REAL travel experience. Why did people have to spend thousands of dollars to experience 'travel' when they had plenty of trips in their own backyard.
So the idea was born for www.dontgotravel.com, which was to be a fake company to help my friend create a few portfolio pieces to get his video company off the ground.
I went home that night and did a lot of thinking about this idea and came to the realization that this was not to be a fake company but there is a real need for something like this right now.
Well I guess tomorrow I'll start explaining how I see the site working and the value.
Please send this blog on to friends and invite them to join us in this journey.
In the meantime - Keep On Walkin'
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Staycation
Wow, what a weekend it's been.
I was going to write about this past weekend with my brother's new baby's bris and sholom zochor (which was fun, exciting and tiring - btw the baby's name is Yisroel Meir) but I just Googled the word 'staycation' (which is a word that I started following a few days after I came up with the idea for www.dontgotravel.com when my wife told me that ABC news was doing a piece on the concept) which has taken this posting in an entirely different direction.
When I first Googled the word 'staycation' I ended up with about 35,000 listings and now when I went to check, it has gone up to 152,000 listings (this is in less than 2 weeks).
I think that this means that I am on to something and that I have got the right idea. Now it is time to start bringing traffic (well I guess that the site has to be up first).
This is a concept that though it is in its infancy is growing by leaps and bounds. I know that you all are dying to hear what the concept is exactly and waiting patiently for the site to go up. Well, it is a few more weeks till the site goes live so in the meantime I do owe you all an explanation of what will be on the site and what the purpose is. I'll keep you all waiting only one more day. Tomorrow I will start explaining the site and what you will be able to do there once it is up.
In the meantime - Keep On Walkin'
I was going to write about this past weekend with my brother's new baby's bris and sholom zochor (which was fun, exciting and tiring - btw the baby's name is Yisroel Meir) but I just Googled the word 'staycation' (which is a word that I started following a few days after I came up with the idea for www.dontgotravel.com when my wife told me that ABC news was doing a piece on the concept) which has taken this posting in an entirely different direction.
When I first Googled the word 'staycation' I ended up with about 35,000 listings and now when I went to check, it has gone up to 152,000 listings (this is in less than 2 weeks).
I think that this means that I am on to something and that I have got the right idea. Now it is time to start bringing traffic (well I guess that the site has to be up first).
This is a concept that though it is in its infancy is growing by leaps and bounds. I know that you all are dying to hear what the concept is exactly and waiting patiently for the site to go up. Well, it is a few more weeks till the site goes live so in the meantime I do owe you all an explanation of what will be on the site and what the purpose is. I'll keep you all waiting only one more day. Tomorrow I will start explaining the site and what you will be able to do there once it is up.
In the meantime - Keep On Walkin'
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Not as easy as it looks
Ok, going for 3 in a row.
For the past 4 months a good friend of mine has been trying to convince me to start reading Harlan Cobin (well not actually trying to convince me, that he did 4 months ago but he still hasn't come across any in his house to lend me).
So yesterday I went to the bookstore as both of the book chains in this country are having sales. I thought that if I was going to try this guy out I might as well do it right by buying everything that the store had to offer of his (well it might not be the right way but some of you know that this is MY way - I think that I got this from my father). So I brought all 4 books that I found to cashier who looked at the books and said (by way of a recommendation) "great writer, easy to get into while you are reading and forget as soon as you close it".
Now I don't know about you but I don't think that they said the same things about Twain, Dickens or Dostoevsky. In the last decade I think that the only book that I have read that was memorable after closing was Perfume by Patrick Suskind (which I definitely recommend) . I guess that todays books are trying to be more accessible to the MTV generation .
Well, since I grew up on MAD magazine and other types of short forms of entertainment I guess that the John Clancys, JK Rowlings, and James Pattersons of this world at least understand their audience and what sells. I wonder if we will ever get back to more memorable fare or are we just laying the groundwork for even shorter attention spans.
Whatever the situation is I hope that there are providers that will continue to know how to pander to the public whims and market to the right audience.
I think that the KISS principle is changing to Keep It SHORT Stupid.
In the meantime - Keep On Walkin'
For the past 4 months a good friend of mine has been trying to convince me to start reading Harlan Cobin (well not actually trying to convince me, that he did 4 months ago but he still hasn't come across any in his house to lend me).
So yesterday I went to the bookstore as both of the book chains in this country are having sales. I thought that if I was going to try this guy out I might as well do it right by buying everything that the store had to offer of his (well it might not be the right way but some of you know that this is MY way - I think that I got this from my father). So I brought all 4 books that I found to cashier who looked at the books and said (by way of a recommendation) "great writer, easy to get into while you are reading and forget as soon as you close it".
Now I don't know about you but I don't think that they said the same things about Twain, Dickens or Dostoevsky. In the last decade I think that the only book that I have read that was memorable after closing was Perfume by Patrick Suskind (which I definitely recommend) . I guess that todays books are trying to be more accessible to the MTV generation .
Well, since I grew up on MAD magazine and other types of short forms of entertainment I guess that the John Clancys, JK Rowlings, and James Pattersons of this world at least understand their audience and what sells. I wonder if we will ever get back to more memorable fare or are we just laying the groundwork for even shorter attention spans.
Whatever the situation is I hope that there are providers that will continue to know how to pander to the public whims and market to the right audience.
I think that the KISS principle is changing to Keep It SHORT Stupid.
In the meantime - Keep On Walkin'
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Attempt at a Real Post
Day 2
I guess I will try to become a bit disciplined and at least at the beginning try to post at least once a day. Not sure that I will always have something to say but I will try to make it at least a bit interesting.
As I was writing the words above I started thinking about Pinocchio, "Now I am a real boy". Now I am a real Blogger. Hey after the first post anyone who really knows me knows that it usually would not happen that I could keep something up 2 days running.
But now I actually do have something to say.
Over the past 10 years I have had hundreds of business and product ideas and every single one had been held up for some reason and I had never gotten any of them off the ground - but here it is - I have now paid for my new website to be hosted. To me that is a big accomplishment. I am beginning to believe that I am actually going to make this business happen.
Maybe in some of my upcoming posts I will talk about some of my past business ideas. Please send me your comments.
To all of you naysayers make sure to check out www.dontgotravel.com in the next few weeks.
In the meantime - Keep On Walkin'
I guess I will try to become a bit disciplined and at least at the beginning try to post at least once a day. Not sure that I will always have something to say but I will try to make it at least a bit interesting.
As I was writing the words above I started thinking about Pinocchio, "Now I am a real boy". Now I am a real Blogger. Hey after the first post anyone who really knows me knows that it usually would not happen that I could keep something up 2 days running.
But now I actually do have something to say.
Over the past 10 years I have had hundreds of business and product ideas and every single one had been held up for some reason and I had never gotten any of them off the ground - but here it is - I have now paid for my new website to be hosted. To me that is a big accomplishment. I am beginning to believe that I am actually going to make this business happen.
Maybe in some of my upcoming posts I will talk about some of my past business ideas. Please send me your comments.
To all of you naysayers make sure to check out www.dontgotravel.com in the next few weeks.
In the meantime - Keep On Walkin'
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Getting to know you
This is a first for me. I generally do not write for other people to see unless I have to.
I always thought that Blogging was for other people and I would never get caught up in it, but I guess that I finally feel as if I have something to say that I want people to hear.
I do not know what kind of writing I will be doing here so I guess that you will have to keep up with me and find out as I do. All that I do know is that I will be writing about my family, personal goings-on, my business and interesting issues and ideas that I come across.
One posting may be wholly fact another may be opinion and yet another may be fiction.
Stay tuned and let's find out together.
I always thought that Blogging was for other people and I would never get caught up in it, but I guess that I finally feel as if I have something to say that I want people to hear.
I do not know what kind of writing I will be doing here so I guess that you will have to keep up with me and find out as I do. All that I do know is that I will be writing about my family, personal goings-on, my business and interesting issues and ideas that I come across.
One posting may be wholly fact another may be opinion and yet another may be fiction.
Stay tuned and let's find out together.
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