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Ask HN: Rate my startup www.2dparts.com

7 points by danecjensen 16y ago

If you have any ideas on how to do effective sales and marketing please do tell me. Thanks.

WalterGR 16y ago
2dparts.com > Connection was reset while loading. <refresh> > The page isn't redirecting properly > Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete. > This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies. Screw it.
- papaf 16y ago
  www.2dparts.com is fine and looks rather cool. I've not used the google app engine and one of the reasons for not using it is that it doesn't handle naked domains very well. Surely there is a way of getting better behaviour than this though?
apsurd 16y ago
Sales and marketing 101: show don't tell. Maybe I am not your target market since I don't know what a dxf file is, but it would be universally appealing to see a gallery of products you've cut. A sort of "what's possible". I don't have a dxf file so your website is one giant brick wall to me.
- asmithmd1 16y ago
  I know what a DXF file is (AutoCad file format - de facto industry standard for 2D drawings) but I don't have one handy. I was just wondering today how much it would cost to laser cut a sheet plywood into parts for an idea. After seeing your site I still don't know. How about some informative articles? "When to use laser cutting vs. water jet," "Use these [simple | low-cost | on-line ] CAD tools to design your next project." Why not publish the rates that go into your calculation? i.e. - "I charge $25 to set-up a job and then $50/hr for machine time. The water jet will cut 1/4" steel at xx inches per minute. Where in the world are you located?
- seven 16y ago
  Agree. Perhaps he should make a small video that explains the whole process. What is a dxf file. How can I create one. Some dxf files, results and costs as example so that I would have an idea about how expensive this would be. btw: How much would you charge for 100 lockpick-business cards? http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/
hotmind 16y ago
Here's what I recommend my clients do before spending a dime on sales and marketing: make a Facebook profile of your ideal client. Fill in everything: age, location, education, favorite movies, interests, etc. Find pictures of this ideal client. Once you have this profile completely filled out, lock your crosshairs on this fictional person. Your marketing needs to be a rifle shot, not a shotgun blast. Your marketing spend will be less and yield more ROI if you do this.
- hotmind 16y ago
  Your website analytics should be giving you some insights as well. Look at your referral traffic, geographical information and esp. the search terms used to find you, as that will give you insight into their intent. Maybe this is old news to you. I'm not sure. Just trying to help :)
sidmitra 16y ago
Clickable - http://www.2dparts.com http://www.2dparts.com
HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago
Have you looked at BigBlueSaw for ideas? Look into RC car/plane hobbyists and people on Make. Probably a lot of potential customers there.

7 points by danecjensen 16y ago

If you have any ideas on how to do effective sales and marketing please do tell me. Thanks.

2dparts.com > Connection was reset while loading. <refresh> > The page isn't redirecting properly > Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete. > This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies. Screw it.

papaf 16y ago
www.2dparts.com is fine and looks rather cool. I've not used the google app engine and one of the reasons for not using it is that it doesn't handle naked domains very well. Surely there is a way of getting better behaviour than this though?

apsurd 16y ago

Sales and marketing 101: show don't tell. Maybe I am not your target market since I don't know what a dxf file is, but it would be universally appealing to see a gallery of products you've cut. A sort of "what's possible". I don't have a dxf file so your website is one giant brick wall to me.

asmithmd1 16y ago
I know what a DXF file is (AutoCad file format - de facto industry standard for 2D drawings) but I don't have one handy. I was just wondering today how much it would cost to laser cut a sheet plywood into parts for an idea. After seeing your site I still don't know. How about some informative articles? "When to use laser cutting vs. water jet," "Use these [simple | low-cost | on-line ] CAD tools to design your next project." Why not publish the rates that go into your calculation? i.e. - "I charge $25 to set-up a job and then $50/hr for machine time. The water jet will cut 1/4" steel at xx inches per minute. Where in the world are you located?
seven 16y ago
Agree. Perhaps he should make a small video that explains the whole process. What is a dxf file. How can I create one. Some dxf files, results and costs as example so that I would have an idea about how expensive this would be. btw: How much would you charge for 100 lockpick-business cards? http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ranh/106709219/

hotmind 16y ago

Here's what I recommend my clients do before spending a dime on sales and marketing: make a Facebook profile of your ideal client. Fill in everything: age, location, education, favorite movies, interests, etc. Find pictures of this ideal client. Once you have this profile completely filled out, lock your crosshairs on this fictional person. Your marketing needs to be a rifle shot, not a shotgun blast. Your marketing spend will be less and yield more ROI if you do this.

hotmind 16y ago
Your website analytics should be giving you some insights as well. Look at your referral traffic, geographical information and esp. the search terms used to find you, as that will give you insight into their intent. Maybe this is old news to you. I'm not sure. Just trying to help :)

sidmitra 16y ago

Clickable - http://www.2dparts.com http://www.2dparts.com

HeyLaughingBoy 16y ago

Have you looked at BigBlueSaw for ideas? Look into RC car/plane hobbyists and people on Make. Probably a lot of potential customers there.