An idea community: good or bad idea?
I'm planning on starting a new website to build a community of people who want to share their ideas.
Why should I share my ideas?
There are a lot of benefits to publicly sharing your ideas.
1. Get early feedback
Getting early feedback is crucial. Other people think differently. They will see problems you don't. They will highlight what is good about your idea, or how it could be better.
2. Get others onboard
If someone else discovers your idea and is passionate about it, why not let them get on board and help make it reality?
3. Collect early interest and turn them into customers
If someone likes your idea, they would probably want to hear about it when you have something ready to show. Get them signed-up to your mailing list or following you on Twitter.
4. Momentum
Keep others up to date with your progress. You should get feedback at every opportunity. If you are flailing, why? What do you need to get you back on track?
5. Get others to develop your idea
Maybe you just need some little tool to get something done. Perhaps you don't have time to make it, but someone else does.
So that's a lot of benefits. Let's tackle the one big drawback.
"But someone will steal my idea and make millions"
Yes, they could. Here is why they won't:
1. They don't have the passion you do
So your idea is about windsurfing, reading, classical music, biscuits, whatever. The point is, it's something you're passionate about. Other people don't care about what you care about. If they are just as passionate about it as you, why not join forces?
"One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested".
2. It's all about the execution
"Ideas are a dime a dozen, successful implementation is what matters. Use this phrase when explaining to others why you stole their idea."
@HackerNewsTips
Want a few more quotes about ideas being a dime a dozen?
3. It's all about the people
"If you give a good idea to a mediocre group, they'll screw it up. If you give a mediocre idea to a good group, they'll fix it. Or they'll throw it away and come up with something else."
Ed Catmull, Pixar: Keep Your Crises Small
4. They don't have your insight or experience
Most of the time ideas come about from the environment around us and/or through a direct experience. Will others have the knowledge and passion you have?
5. They won't find out about it in time
It's called first mover advantage. Use it to your advantage. Make sure you get a flying start. Make overcoming that head-start you gained a hurdle that will put them off.
6. Really great ideas don't catch on immediately
"Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats."
Howard Aiken
Hasn't this idea already been done already?
Yes, but not done well enough. As I mentioned, it's all about the execution. I've got lots of ideas on how to make a better ideas community.
One of the problems with existing idea sites is that the ideas are too diverse. Most people will not tolerate too much noise - ie. topics they are not interested in. I would focus on a specific topic area and try and grow a loyal community. Since I'm interested in technology and web apps, it would make sense to start there.
Interested in helping me build this website? Please contact me.
Want to find out when I launch the site? Please subscribe to this blog or follow me on Twitter.
Tell me why this is a crazy idea and why it won't work. Tell me why you think it might work. Write a comment below.
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