Comments on: The beauty of “re-purposing” http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/ News, opinion, and fresh thinking for web developers and designers. The official podcast of sitepoint.com. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:10:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: EagleEyesDesign http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-58457 EagleEyesDesign Fri, 22 Sep 2006 18:36:02 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-58457 Yep, sound advice. I've been fascinated by a mineral makeup company that only does business online. Aromaleigh.com. I read their forum daily. Over the years the owner Kristen Bell started out with just pet aromatherapy, then switched to fragrances, then finally added natural mineral makeup for women. And she adds and removes products constantly. She uses the forum to see what is getting raves and why other items are not thrilling the ladies. Other advice would be to sell services that are fun and addictive. Lush.com is similarly addictive. That keeps people coming back and telling their friends. Some gals spend thousands and purchase monthly. Not that I would know anything about that, ha ha. But for certain, keep trying new things and listen when you get raves. - Christina C Yep, sound advice.

I’ve been fascinated by a mineral makeup company that only does business online. Aromaleigh.com. I read their forum daily. Over the years the owner Kristen Bell started out with just pet aromatherapy, then switched to fragrances, then finally added natural mineral makeup for women. And she adds and removes products constantly. She uses the forum to see what is getting raves and why other items are not thrilling the ladies.

Other advice would be to sell services that are fun and addictive. Lush.com is similarly addictive. That keeps people coming back and telling their friends. Some gals spend thousands and purchase monthly. Not that I would know anything about that, ha ha.

But for certain, keep trying new things and listen when you get raves. - Christina

C

]]> By: Zack http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-54535 Zack Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:25:48 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-54535 That's sound advice Andrew. I am in the process of starting a business and optimistically hoping my initial plan of attack proves successful. If not though, I will be keeping this in mind. Not to geek up the conversation, but it's similar to building a good webapp. I'm in the process of building one and am being extra careful to design for reusability so even if it should fail, I'll have building blocks to use elsewhere and my efforts won't be completely wasted. Of course, if it's a success, I'll do the same. At the end of the day, I have chunks of code that can be "re-purposed" as needed to help me shift to where the action is. That’s sound advice Andrew. I am in the process of starting a business and optimistically hoping my initial plan of attack proves successful. If not though, I will be keeping this in mind. Not to geek up the conversation, but it’s similar to building a good webapp. I’m in the process of building one and am being extra careful to design for reusability so even if it should fail, I’ll have building blocks to use elsewhere and my efforts won’t be completely wasted.

Of course, if it’s a success, I’ll do the same. At the end of the day, I have chunks of code that can be “re-purposed” as needed to help me shift to where the action is.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-53923 Anonymous Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:30:50 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-53923 Good point Andrew. I think many young start-ups force themselves to stick to their original business plans, even after they have determined that the plan isn't working or bringing in enough money. I fell into that trap. When I started my web business in 1995, I first tried to just design websites for small and medium-sized businesses. The problem was I found that the web was so new back them that I spent too much time explaining the Internet to potential clients. The sales cycle was too long. I was a one-man show and was barely making enough money to cover all the bills. Then one day, I met a person who was involved with a large ad agency and they needed someone to make banners; yes those 468 x 60 animated GIFs that you used to see all over the web. At that time, I really needed the money so I started cranking out advertising banners in Photoshop. The agency loved my work and I was able to charge good money. I finally wound up giving the web design business to friend and changed my business model to provide banners and services to advertising agencies. Eventually I learned Flash and brought in two freelancers to work with me. If you want to be successful, you have to be willing to change and try different ways to do business. I could have stayed with web design, but I did better by going into a different market that was more exciting and paid better. WiLd Good point Andrew. I think many young start-ups force themselves to stick to their original business plans, even after they have determined that the plan isn’t working or bringing in enough money. I fell into that trap. When I started my web business in 1995, I first tried to just design websites for small and medium-sized businesses. The problem was I found that the web was so new back them that I spent too much time explaining the Internet to potential clients. The sales cycle was too long. I was a one-man show and was barely making enough money to cover all the bills.

Then one day, I met a person who was involved with a large ad agency and they needed someone to make banners; yes those 468 x 60 animated GIFs that you used to see all over the web. At that time, I really needed the money so I started cranking out advertising banners in Photoshop. The agency loved my work and I was able to charge good money. I finally wound up giving the web design business to friend and changed my business model to provide banners and services to advertising agencies. Eventually I learned Flash and brought in two freelancers to work with me.

If you want to be successful, you have to be willing to change and try different ways to do business. I could have stayed with web design, but I did better by going into a different market that was more exciting and paid better.

WiLd

]]> By: Madmac http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-52621 Madmac Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:53:54 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-52621 Agreeing with both of you here. I've shifted specialties more than once by looking in the proverbial mirror and asking myself what bills I willingly pay. Then researching on what it would take to offer that service or product, whether by resale or learning a skill, to others. Agreeing with both of you here. I’ve shifted specialties more than once by looking in the proverbial mirror and asking myself what bills I willingly pay. Then researching on what it would take to offer that service or product, whether by resale or learning a skill, to others.

]]> By: pdxi http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-52372 pdxi Thu, 07 Sep 2006 01:31:13 +0000 http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/09/07/the-beauty-of-re-purposing/#comment-52372 One can even repurpose himself! When I started freelancing full time a couple of years ago, I wasn't sure which services I was going to offer. I set out to do (X) but instead ended up doing (Y), which was ultimately more profitable and easier for clients to "get". Just because you start out doing one thing and are met with failure, it doesn't mean that there isn't a sliver of value hidden beneath it all. The trick is to constantly reevaluate your position and shift your strategy every so often. Or at least, that's what I think :) One can even repurpose himself! When I started freelancing full time a couple of years ago, I wasn’t sure which services I was going to offer. I set out to do (X) but instead ended up doing (Y), which was ultimately more profitable and easier for clients to “get”.

Just because you start out doing one thing and are met with failure, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a sliver of value hidden beneath it all. The trick is to constantly reevaluate your position and shift your strategy every so often.

Or at least, that’s what I think :)

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