testing embed

The shifting landscape

For the past few weeks I have found it difficult to work on the EpicJustice Site. I renewed my effort to reconnect with ex-coworker and getting back into the architectural world. Spend time helping Shelly with her search for a new house. Plus I brain stormed with Guido and came up with a simple concept of "ask the Architect" The idea and potential promises are nice but I came up a bit short on the execution as I have little actual landmark to show for my work.

beginning of phase two thinking

The original plan was too ambitious and narrowly focused, too many assumptions were made on too little marketing research.
Phase two will remedy those issues with a much more systematic approach. A simpler vision/ thesis and an earlier ways of studying market reaction.
To start I'll need a set of goals.
1. Generating 2000 events in 6 month, ie July 26, 2010
2. Generating 500 events in 4 month, ie May 26, 2010
3. Achieve 2x cost profit margin for all sales at the end of 6 month
4. Complete fully functional site with less then 5 open issues at the end of 2 month , ie. March 26, 2010
5. Post functional site pre-testing at the end of 6 weeks, ie. March 9, 2010
6. Complete 80% (by page count) site revision package and have it transmitted to developer in 2 weeks, including design for T shirts, ie. Tuesday February 9, 2010.

Re-imagining of the core concept.
YOU buy THEY decide.
A T-shirt site where your friends get to choose which tshirt you get by rating you on the epic justice meter.

Methods (not goals)
Take on a phased approach with specified landmark and date for each phase

Where am I now?

After taking a critical look at where the project sits I realize that things has gone off track quite a while back. The realization has been hard, especially given my present situation but it was absolutely necessary.
There are no choices, I had cut and ran in the past in similar situation but this time it is different.
There are two parts to the necessary solution. What needs to be done and where I need to be mentally in order to carry that solution to the next goal post.
To achieve that, the first step is to take some time off and realign those things in my life that I had avoided for the past few months. Face my fears and build my foundation anew. Only then will we proceed.

Reboot of website

I think the lack of response from every one spoke volume on the main problem of the site, mainly that it is confusing and difficult to understand exactly what the purpose is. As a result I think its time that I face the music and go back to the drawing board and figure out a better way to make this work.

What works now; I think the front end of shop selection is straight forward and works and will need little revisions. I also still feel that front loading the payment information is important. Especially if I am going to run contest where shirts are given away for free.

What doesn't work is the home page and the voting page, the two most important component of my site. They both need to convey the simple message of how the site function. ie. $+FAIL is required for purchase, and FAIL can only be earn by some one else voting for you.
Another major components that cause additional confusion is the email invite to vote system, it is entirely too cumbersome. Instead I am contemplating using IP lock out instead:
One vote per IP, plus I poll for zipcode unless they login. IP address then is associated with zipcode. and Databased for future prosperity.

Task ahead, week 3

Although the fancy image I made last week looks really good I don't think they do a good job explaining what Epic Justice is and create further confusion. I might be able to use them on a different page, but the image on the front page should do a better job of conveying the message of the working of the site.

I am also more convinced now that the free tshirt offer would be a good promotional tool at the beginning.
I must assume that sales per zipcode will be no more then 1 initially. The multiplier should be relatively forgiving to encourage propagation if it does occur. The initial threshold of free offer should be assume to be base for 95% of sales. Shirt should be $15 plus $5 shipping. User will still have to pay for shipping even if the shirt would be free. Threshold will start at 25 FAIL for the first 50 shirts and go up to 35 for the next 50.
The three designed Ts will not be available for purchase initially, just the free T. They will be release once all the Free Ts are given away.

New name for the blog

I rename the blog today to more accurately reflect what I am writing about these day. I will focus more about aspect of my life that has to do with working on the web startup Epic Justice apparel company.