Taking on a small business venture in relation to bars. CP Ideas\Input?

[|Zach|]

Me and a buddy of mine have been looking to do something to make a little bit of extra cash. I came up with the idea of making a website. We already own the domain. It is going to be called www.DrinkSpringfield.net it will be targeted for Springfield, MO (where I live if some of you dont know) Springfield has a major university and a very large number of smaller colleges. We are basically going to make this website to give out information on the Bar scene in Springfield. You will be able to search by "bar" or search by "day of the week" Its main function will be to show everyone what the specials are around town. So if you are hanging out and you want to go out drinking with some friends you can look at whatever night it is and see all of the specials around town. That will be the main function of the site. Bar information and special information. If it seems to take off we would expand to more of a review and showcase type site.

I think if we can do this the right way we can get a lot of people to check out this site and make some money off advertising. Normal affiliate type ads at first but maybe if the site grew local bars would like to get their name on the place. As far as getting our name out we are gonna get the website name out of course through word of mouth but also on all the campus public posting type places...we are also going to make some shirts and hoodies for some of our friends that are cute little girlies to wear around campus....

I am posting this because of all the good ideas planateers seem to come up with. Is this the kind of thing you would be interested in to check out? Is there anything else I could add to a site like that, that could improve it alot?

[tk13]

There goes Zach, just spamming the board again. :rolleyes:


:)

[jspchief]

I'm not sure how many people would really use a website to find good bars. Typically you hear about good bars via word of mouth. And sites like these that I've seen in the past seem to always be outdated, why should I assume this one will be any different? (devils's advocate).

The anserws to my skepticism are the same answers you'll need to generate customers. I don't know what types of bars you're targeting, but some bars have a minimal advertising budget. I suppose if you made it reasonable, they might consider it. Another problem "selling" the site is convincing bar owners that it's actually working. Even if you could show that it gets so many hits, how do they know that their bar is gaining business from it? Coupons probably won't fly with the bar crowd.

[Bowser]

Link to some porn. Traffic will go through the roof!!

:thumb:

[Bowser]

On a serious note, have date/schedules of what is happening around town. Or maybe at certain bars, so we'll know when to come heckle Jenny Gump and Jimnasium on karaoke night!

[Phobia]

Nobody from Springfield ever shows up for anything anyway.

[|Zach|]

I'm not sure how many people would really use a website to find good bars. Typically you hear about good bars via word of mouth. And sites like these that I've seen in the past seem to always be outdated, why should I assume this one will be any different? (devils's advocate).

The anserws to my skepticism are the same answers you'll need to generate customers. I don't know what types of bars you're targeting, but some bars have a minimal advertising budget. I suppose if you made it reasonable, they might consider it. Another problem "selling" the site is convincing bar owners that it's actually working. Even if you could show that it gets so many hits, how do they know that their bar is gaining business from it? Coupons probably won't fly with the bar crowd.
I think the thing that will really draw in people will be the listing of specials. People do go to bars based on word of mouth but there are also a very large group of college kids who go where ever the great drink special is and they are always searching for different ones. Having good updated information of course is going to be an important part of this. That is the main reason we are going to try to pull this off becuase like you all of the other sites I have seen that are anything like this is "outdated"

With you other point...I would like to have the bars support in wanting to maybe to advertising or go out of their way to support the site but the bars help are not NEEDED aside from just getting enough information to list on the site. The advertising that will be on their in start will basically be generic stuff that seems to sell well with a college crowd seeing a website. I.E. "Busted Tee's" is a site that makes funny tshirts aimed at college kids. You 4 dollars if someone buys a tshirt through your ad. I have made a fair amount of money with this just through my personal site. So like I said...bar owner participation would be great and I will be working for it...but its not needed in the beginning.

[Skip Towne]

Damn! I had exactly the same idea. Only I'm not going to charge anything for my ads.

[|Zach|]

Damn! I had exactly the same idea. Only I'm not going to charge anything for my ads.
I am not charging for ads. I am putting ads of other companies on the site that people will be able to click and I will be able to make money from.

Hopefully the site could do well enough where I could charge for ads but it wont start out that way.

[shaneo69]

Other info to put on site.......

When I was away at college, we drank as much at our apartment as we did at the bars. As a result, we were always trying to find the campus newspaper with the beer ads, so that we could buy the most beer (however crappy it was) for the cheapest price. So if you put the liquor stores' specials on the site each week, you may be able to get advertising from them as well.

Now don't be giving me anymore negative rep, you little uber-douchebag.

[chiefz]

I know I try to checkout sites like that prior to business travel (has to be a sizeable place, but Springfield MO would probably do).

Lots of people would likely look at something like that for personal travel as well, although I am not sure how big Springfield MO tourism market is.

As far as doing something locally, I am not sure you would get much traffic for the reasons stated above by jspchief.

I actually had a friend try something similar in Springfield IL and it was a major flop because 95% of people seemed to get the local bar scene news from the local radio and or radio websites and a local rag paper that was designed specifically for that.

Not saying it won't work there but you might want to broaden that to include travelers information, not only on the bar scene but also local tourist information like Hotels and attractions.

[|Zach|]

Other info to put on site.......

When I was away at college, we drank as much at our apartment as we did at the bars. As a result, we were always trying to find the campus newspaper with the beer ads, so that we could buy the most beer (however crappy it was) for the cheapest price. So if you put the liquor stores' specials on the site each week, you may be able to get advertising from them as well.

Now don't be giving me anymore negative rep, you little uber-douchebag.
Thats a good idea...maybe listing the lowest prices for beer and what not. That would be a tough undertaking though. So many places... I am not sure if we have the resources for such an under taking.

Interstingly enough in all of my time at Chiefs Planet that is the only instance I have ever negative repped anyone.

[chiefz]

On another note you might consider adding local bar live band activity as a category of its own.

I do know someone that runs a site like that and seems to be doing fairly well, although I think it is a bitch to constantly update it.

[Iowanian]

Zach.....

My idea(r)[fah tha chowdah heads on the bahrd]........get bars having "events"...or maybe bands etc, to have your site post Coupons for less or free cover charge, or a free drink or something.

If they know they can get something cheaper, as well as information.........financially challenged college students would be all over it.

a springfieldgirlsgonewild link might help too.........challenge users to post vids of local contests etc.

I was also going to suggest contacting liqor stores for ads and specials/sales/coupons.........as well as other related business.

drunk college kids eat alot of Pizza delivery...for example.

[jspchief]

I am not charging for ads. I am putting ads of other companies on the site that people will be able to click and I will be able to make money from.

Hopefully the site could do well enough where I could charge for ads but it wont start out that way.

The "specials" service will be the big draw. And I like the idea of generating the revenue from outside sources. That way you could say whatever you want about the bars and if you did start doing reviews it wouldn't seem influenced. Maybe rather than you charging the bars, you could basically have them advertise your site. Put up a Tee or a hoodie with you website name, or a "as seen on drinkspringfield.net" sign. Something that would help generate hits in payment for you listing their bar.

[|Zach|]

The "specials" service will be the big draw. And I like the idea of generating the revenue from outside sources. That way you could say whatever you want about the bars and if you did start doing reviews it wouldn't seem influenced. Maybe rather than you charging the bars, you could basically have them advertise your site. Put up a Tee or a hoodie with you website name, or a "as seen on drinkspringfield.net" sign. Something that would help generate hits in payment for you listing their bar.
Well to start out I am not charging the bars at all. If i had some kind of brand identity or some kind of reputation I could do that but I have nothing (yet) to warrent charging a bar anything. Basically I am trying to get good content....to get a base amount of people that know about the site...and hopefully like the site. From those people I think I build somewhat of an identity and from that I think I could start working with bars more.

As it is...from the start it will be...all of the content...and the ads will be from affiliate programs and other companies to kind of get my feet off the ground. I basically want to give bars a reason to work with me when it starts out.

The only thing I can think of now that I could possibly sell to a bar is being able to put up a nice adverisment or a nice write up if they put the website some place in their joint. I would like to avoid that for now though...

Thanks for the input by the way I am gald I made this thread....

[MOhillbilly]

Isnt there already a paper about spflds. downtown/bar scene? I think the headshops carry it and stick it in your rear ect.

[|Zach|]

Zach.....

My idea(r)[fah tha chowdah heads on the bahrd]........get bars having "events"...or maybe bands etc, to have your site post Coupons for less or free cover charge, or a free drink or something.

If they know they can get something cheaper, as well as information.........financially challenged college students would be all over it.

a springfieldgirlsgonewild link might help too.........challenge users to post vids of local contests etc.

I was also going to suggest contacting liqor stores for ads and specials/sales/coupons.........as well as other related business.

drunk college kids eat alot of Pizza delivery...for example.
This is a set of good ideas. The only thing is I am not quite sure why a bar or event would give me any discounts becuase I can't yet prove to them good will come of it. I think this will work well once I get a good base.

Another idea I have that I will put on the site is a photo gallery. I think it would be a cool deal to have pictures of people drinking at the member bars to send us for the website. It kind of builds a community and could show bars that people look at the website...and it could make a "hey im on a website send your pics in" factor.

[ChiefsOne]

Hopefully the site could do well enough where I could charge for ads but it wont start out that way.

I see your point to get started with, but how hard do you think it will be to go later and try to charge for something they are already getting free?

I would try running the specials and maybe doing coupons for free entry with your logo on the bottom to get your name out.

Maybe you could go to all the bars and do a rating based on different criteria. Do a little blurb on the scene and post some pics.

[shaneo69]

The other thing the campus paper always listed was which frats were having parties, and when. If you also put that info on your site, along with the liquor store specials, you'd be catering to all college students' dilemma as to whether to stay home and drink for cheap, go to a frat party, or hit the bars.

Since the liquor stores are in competition with bars, which are in competition with frat parties, the hope would be that they would eventually fight to advertise on your site.

[ChiefsOne]

Isnt there already a paper about spflds. downtown/bar scene?

I think it is call "The Pulp"!

[|Zach|]

I see your point to get started with, but how hard do you think it will be to go later and try to charge for something they are already getting free?

I would try running the specials and maybe doing coupons for free entry with your logo on the bottom to get your name out.

Maybe you could go to all the bars and do a rating based on different criteria. Do a little blurb on the scene and post some pics.
Thats true...they wouldn't be charged for having a listing on the site but I could charge them for advertising above and beyond a regular listing and we could also work out other things....a bar knowing that people are seeing the website to their place because of it is the big battle...

[teedubya]

throw a message board on there too... that way the drunk idiots can post shit... like nude pics of their girlfriend...

also, www.thepokerpub.com is here in kansas city, they go into bars with poker tables and hold large tournaments... my wife and I last Saturday went to Johnnys Tavern on 119th... it was a great time, and it only cost beer that I drank... no fee to play poker.

Good times... find out of anyone does taht in town... good fukcing time....

exclusive printable coupons for liquor stores would be huge.

when you get your site going good, use some of your ad dollars to buy some ads yourself to get traffic up.

[grandllama]

I've done this before and it really depends on the market... the one for Indy did fairly well and we sold it for a tidy profit... the one for the burg is kinda comatose... bar owners like the idea that they can advertise prices online (they can't in traditional media) but then they find somebody to build them a geocities website for $20 and figure that is just as good.

One potential problem is the domain name, regular advertisers may be turned away and you may be setting yourself up for trouble from MAAD, city / county, etc by the name 'drinkspringfield'.... 'partyspringfieldstyle' or something like that is less in your face and more likely to get other advertisers...

The idea of making money of affiliate programs can work if you can get people to visit and hang around (ie make it sticky with message / chat / event calendar / etc)

[BigRedChief]

Nobody from Springfield ever shows up for anything anyway.

I thought of this witty comment first......I swear...okay Phoboa beat me me to it....Phobia is DA MAN! :thumb:

Dammit Carl! :cuss:

[BigRedChief]

It's an uphill battle and not a very good business model. You only make money on click thru traffic. Dink has too many negative's atached to it. Especially in the belt buckle of the bible belt.

[ChiefsOne]

Zach, I think it is a pretty good idea, but before you start going out to the bar owners and like you should have a business plan for them to see.

Look professional, logo, real business cards and a presentation folder for them. Show them the number of hits you are getting and response from the free listing.

Pass out flyers around all the campuses directing them to your site.

[|Zach|]

It's an uphill battle and not a very good business model. You only make money on click thru traffic. Dink has too many negative's atached to it. Especially in the belt buckle of the bible belt.
This whole site is geared at College kids....and there is nothing negative attached to drink in their eyes...

[Iowanian]

My only other idea is that there is a significant tourist attraction in your city that draws alot of "drinking" types................while it may not be an exact fit, figuring out a way to tie in some BassPro clientell might be good................People looking for basspro will be doing alot of interenet searches for the site, and maybe lodging and entertainment....

[BigRedChief]

BTW, You guys in Springfield remember a local entertainment magazine called "Sights and Sounds"?

[ChiefsCountry]

I've done this before and it really depends on the market... the one for Indy did fairly well and we sold it for a tidy profit... the one for the burg is kinda comatose... / etc)

Isn't all the bars in Warrensburg on one street? ROFL

[ChiefsCountry]

Me and a buddy of mine have been looking to do something to make a little bit of extra cash. I came up with the idea of making a website. We already own the domain. It is going to be called www.DrinkSpringfield.net it will be targeted for Springfield, MO (where I live if some of you dont know) Springfield has a major university and a very large number of smaller colleges. We are basically going to make this website to give out information on the Bar scene in Springfield. You will be able to search by "bar" or search by "day of the week" Its main function will be to show everyone what the specials are around town. So if you are hanging out and you want to go out drinking with some friends you can look at whatever night it is and see all of the specials around town. That will be the main function of the site. Bar information and special information. If it seems to take off we would expand to more of a review and showcase type site.

I think if we can do this the right way we can get a lot of people to check out this site and make some money off advertising. Normal affiliate type ads at first but maybe if the site grew local bars would like to get their name on the place. As far as getting our name out we are gonna get the website name out of course through word of mouth but also on all the campus public posting type places...we are also going to make some shirts and hoodies for some of our friends that are cute little girlies to wear around campus....

I am posting this because of all the good ideas planateers seem to come up with. Is this the kind of thing you would be interested in to check out? Is there anything else I could add to a site like that, that could improve it alot?

Would be a good idea, I have buddies that would like know where to party all the time. I agree you need a better name than drinkspringfield.net, message board good idea.

[Bob Dole]

Check out http://www2.lawrence.com/places/bars/ for good ideas.

[BigRedChief]

This whole site is geared at College kids....and there is nothing negative attached to drink in their eyes...

My dad ran Brown Derby Central for a few years right across from SMS. That store made 2 million in sales each year. Brown Derby is defintely someone you would need to hook up with. My mom still has contacts there in Brown Derby. Give me a shout out if you need your foot in the door.

[Demonpenz]

I would get a business plan, one off the internet will be fine. Make alot of colorfull pie charts showing your internet growth right now and the future., and your 5 to 10 year plan. Show how little they need to invest, and how it has room to grow. If it doesn't work the way you want it too, just chalk the loss up to college. I am pretty sure you will learn far more by digging your hands into this plan than any class will do. At good old Western, we have a program called Small Business Institute and we make help set up buisnesses.

[Bob Dole]

On another note you might consider adding local bar live band activity as a category of its own.

I do know someone that runs a site like that and seems to be doing fairly well, although I think it is a bitch to constantly update it.


Bob Dole knows someone with a site like that, too.

[BIG_DADDY]

I would definately check out a sight like that if there was one for the area.

[Jenny Gump]

...we are also going to make some shirts and hoodies for some of our friends that are cute little girlies to wear around campus....



You might get more advertising bang for your buck if you just have them paint it across their bare breasticles....THEN walk around campus.

Seriously, I was thinking that itsalldowntown.com was already set up like this, but it includes all kinds of cultural as well as bar related activities....but just for downtown. After visiting their site, I am convinced you could come up with a better home page. I found this guy to be slightly annoying actually.
http://www.itsalldowntown.com/images/peoplerotate/person-02.jpg

[|Zach|]

You might get more advertising bang for your buck if you just have them paint it across their bare breasticles....THEN walk around campus.
Well it is funny you mention that. I am working on doing this...except they wont walk around campus. We are gonna take pictures and use them as advertising.


Seriously, I was thinking that itsalldowntown.com was already set up like this, but it includes all kinds of cultural as well as bar related activities....but just for downtown. After visiting their site, I am convinced you could come up with a better home page. I found this guy to be slightly annoying actually.


I saw that website. And they have some good stuff but all you get is the name...address...and number...

I think we can make an improvment.

[Jenny Gump]

Nobody from Springfield ever shows up for anything anyway.

That's real funny there Mr. Funny Man.

[Inspector]

You should probably post where all the DUI checkpoints are going to be set.


That might be pretty valuable information to some.

[|Zach|]

You should probably post where all the DUI checkpoints are going to be set.


That might be pretty valuable information to some.
Well damn. I would like that information for myself.

[PunkinDrublic]

Well if anything Zach I hope the site helps you network with some local loose women and gets you laid a few times.

[|Zach|]

Well if anything Zach I hope the site helps you network with some local loose women and gets you laid a few times.
ROFL

[Jenny Gump]

I just registered a new site....hope you don't mind Zachie.

www.ifyouliveinspringfieldandwanttogetdrunkcheckmywebsite.com (http://www.ifyouliveinspringfieldandwanttogetdrunkcheckmywebsite.com)

It's going to be a lot like Zach's, only better....with porn....and free beer vouchers.....and stuff.

[Bowser]

I just registered a new site....hope you don't mind Zachie.

www.ifyouliveinspringfieldandwanttogetdrunkcheckmywebsite.com (http://www.ifyouliveinspringfieldandwanttogetdrunkcheckmywebsite.com)

It's going to be a lot like Zach's, only better....with porn....and free beer vouchers.....and stuff.

The damn page cannot be displayed!!

How dare you come in here and tease us with porn and free beer! :cuss:

[KC2004]

Sounds great Zach. I'm kind of a manager (do everything a manager would do with out the title) at a bar here and would love the chance to get some of that stuff out. My only deal is I would have to start website. Band schedules, drink specials, and other special events would be a plus. If the bar served food a menu on there would be a plus.

[Braincase]

Why do you think college students drink alcoholic beverages?

[|Zach|]

Why do you think college students drink alcoholic beverages?
I overheard someone saying they did at a chess tournament I went do one day.

[ChiefsCountry]

How is the website going? By the way did you go downtown Saturday night, it was rocking.

[|Zach|]

How is the website going? By the way did you go downtown Saturday night, it was rocking.
Alot going on behind the scenes....we prob wont display it until we are really happy with what it is...not a work in progress type thing.

I did the Pub Crawl thing on Saturday. It was a pretty good time...spent most my time at Ernie Biggs. :)

[ChiefsCountry]

Alot going on behind the scenes....we prob wont display it until we are really happy with what it is...not a work in progress type thing.

I did the Pub Crawl thing on Saturday. It was a pretty good time...spent most my time at Ernie Biggs. :)

I don't blame you with the website thing. We went to Creek, it was pretty busy.