Comments on: Loladex—Local Search With A Little Help From Your Facebook Friends http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/ Startup and Technology News Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:28:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: unitedBIT’s RoundUp » Blog Archive » Loladex—Local Search With A Little Help From Your Facebook Friends http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2060216 unitedBIT’s RoundUp » Blog Archive » Loladex—Local Search With A Little Help From Your Facebook Friends Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:56:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2060216 [...] TechCrunch] Tags: facebook app, local search, localeze, loladex, opentablePosted under Web 2.0 [...] [...] TechCrunch] Tags: facebook app, local search, localeze, loladex, opentablePosted under Web 2.0 [...]

]]> By: Media coverage roundup « Think Locally http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2056530 Media coverage roundup « Think Locally Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:38:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2056530 [...]  Erick Schonfeld at TechCrunch got things started late on Tuesday evening.  TechCrunch is one of the most widely read blogs covering the Web [...] [...]  Erick Schonfeld at TechCrunch got things started late on Tuesday evening.  TechCrunch is one of the most widely read blogs covering the Web [...]

]]> By: Managed Service Provider http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2055820 Managed Service Provider Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:10:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2055820 Loladex is certainly an interesting concept, combining personal recommendations with localized business search. Sometimes the selection process is enhanced when recommended vendors and service providers have been through an independent third-party certification process. That's the case with finding a managed service provider -- both locally and internationally. Loladex is certainly an interesting concept, combining personal recommendations with localized business search. Sometimes the selection process is enhanced when recommended vendors and service providers have been through an independent third-party certification process.

That’s the case with finding a managed service provider — both locally and internationally.

]]> By: Eric http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2053532 Eric Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:21:59 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2053532 This is a good idea, although Loladex is not alone. A month ago, we launched a beta version Facebook app similar to it(http://apps.facebook.com/hoodbook/). We did it in 10 days (a few thousand dollars?). But we don't have 16 million business listings. This is a good idea, although Loladex is not alone. A month ago, we launched a beta version Facebook app similar to it(http://apps.facebook.com/hoodbook/). We did it in 10 days (a few thousand dollars?). But we don’t have 16 million business listings.

]]> By: AhmedF http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2053300 AhmedF Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:09:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2053300 Business data doesn't grow on trees - it has 'real' costs. And building a scaling system to deal with 10 million+ listings isn't a piece of cake. And no one ever said that their entire $350k is spent already. Sheesh. Business data doesn’t grow on trees - it has ‘real’ costs. And building a scaling system to deal with 10 million+ listings isn’t a piece of cake. And no one ever said that their entire $350k is spent already.

Sheesh.

]]> By: Laurence Hooper http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2053283 Laurence Hooper Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:04:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2053283 @MikePop: We're launching a company, not an application. (Thanks, Thusenth.) FWIW, I am not paying myself at the moment. As for users, the number you see on Facebook is from yesterday. We launched our public beta this morning; it has been strictly friends and family until now. Give us a couple more days before consigning us to the deadpool, please ... @MikePop: We’re launching a company, not an application. (Thanks, Thusenth.) FWIW, I am not paying myself at the moment. As for users, the number you see on Facebook is from yesterday. We launched our public beta this morning; it has been strictly friends and family until now. Give us a couple more days before consigning us to the deadpool, please …

]]> By: Thusenth http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2052872 Thusenth Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:09:08 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2052872 When did 350K in funding become the entire cost of one Facebook application?? They've launched their first iteration of their platform - I'm sure, like the post mentions, there are more pieces coming. When did 350K in funding become the entire cost of one Facebook application??

They’ve launched their first iteration of their platform - I’m sure, like the post mentions, there are more pieces coming.

]]> By: MikePop http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2052828 MikePop Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:57:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2052828 $350,000 to launch a facebook app? Are you kidding me?!?! Did Laurence & Dan give each other $150,000 annual salaries? It would have been cheaper to go to those facebook app specialty companies and they would have had a far better application. "Like all Facebook apps, Loladex will only become useful once a lot of people adopt it and start rating things." I checked around and it appear as if this application has been around a long while and was only able to get 250 of the 50 million or so user of Facebook...far fewer than such special apps as zombie bites and ninja battles. I checked out the application and it's nothing special. If uncov was still around, I'd look for their "fail" article...instead, I'll have to wait for Loladex to hit the Techcrunch deadpool. $350,000 to launch a facebook app? Are you kidding me?!?! Did Laurence & Dan give each other $150,000 annual salaries? It would have been cheaper to go to those facebook app specialty companies and they would have had a far better application.

“Like all Facebook apps, Loladex will only become useful once a lot of people adopt it and start rating things.” I checked around and it appear as if this application has been around a long while and was only able to get 250 of the 50 million or so user of Facebook…far fewer than such special apps as zombie bites and ninja battles.

I checked out the application and it’s nothing special. If uncov was still around, I’d look for their “fail” article…instead, I’ll have to wait for Loladex to hit the Techcrunch deadpool.

]]> By: James http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2052621 James Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:04:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2052621 Friends are not a good source for recommendations unless they have the same tastes as you do. And if you think about it, most of them don't. They are you friends for reasons other than the sharing of taste in restaurants, or clothes, or music. Even if the tech scales and they get critical mass of people, I don't think this will work very well. Friends are not a good source for recommendations unless they have the same tastes as you do. And if you think about it, most of them don’t. They are you friends for reasons other than the sharing of taste in restaurants, or clothes, or music. Even if the tech scales and they get critical mass of people, I don’t think this will work very well.

]]> By: MistOne http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051673 MistOne Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:38:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051673 loladex a nicely done interface, cant say I love the colors but v. nice to see new layouts and visual q's loladex a nicely done interface, cant say I love the colors but v. nice to see new layouts and visual q’s

]]> By: The Hater http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051670 The Hater Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:33:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051670 @8: That was, and you are, pathetic. @8: That was, and you are, pathetic.

]]> By: Adam Hyman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051669 Adam Hyman Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:32:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051669 I think its an awesome idea. It's like Beacon, but cool!!!! I think its an awesome idea. It’s like Beacon, but cool!!!!

]]> By: MistOne http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051658 MistOne Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:14:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051658 not sure why judysbook gets plugged they bailed on this market for coupons or whatever a few years ago. not sure why judysbook gets plugged they bailed on this market for coupons or whatever a few years ago.

]]> By: John C. McClore http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051646 John C. McClore Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:53:42 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051646 Rather put that 350K on one hand of Black Jack. Probably a wiser investment. Rather put that 350K on one hand of Black Jack. Probably a wiser investment.

]]> By: Jon Carder http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051644 Jon Carder Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:51:57 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051644 This is not the first app on Facebook for local search that enables you to share local business reviews with your friends on FaceBook. MojoPages.com, esesame, yelp and a few others all have similar facebook apps that help you see who your friends recommend. I hope they looked at these other apps before making the investment. The existing apps are all fairly good, well designed and user friendly yet none of them is gaining any sustained traction. One existing app is powered by Yelp with deep pockets to throw at marketing and a heavy user base they can tap into from their website and their app still flopped, . Local search just isn't gamey or sexy enough to make a local search Facebook App worth the time. The only people who take the time to contribute large numbers of reviews and get their friends involved are a very very slim part of the population and very difficult to find. Even once you find them the battles only half over because then you have to keep them engaged. If they can crack that code, they stand a fraction of a chance at success. Good luck. This is not the first app on Facebook for local search that enables you to share local business reviews with your friends on FaceBook. MojoPages.com, esesame, yelp and a few others all have similar facebook apps that help you see who your friends recommend.

I hope they looked at these other apps before making the investment. The existing apps are all fairly good, well designed and user friendly yet none of them is gaining any sustained traction. One existing app is powered by Yelp with deep pockets to throw at marketing and a heavy user base they can tap into from their website and their app still flopped, .

Local search just isn’t gamey or sexy enough to make a local search Facebook App worth the time. The only people who take the time to contribute large numbers of reviews and get their friends involved are a very very slim part of the population and very difficult to find. Even once you find them the battles only half over because then you have to keep them engaged. If they can crack that code, they stand a fraction of a chance at success. Good luck.

]]> By: MistOne http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051643 MistOne Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:49:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051643 just seems like restaurant and retail business review sites have been done and done again. I think small biz is a fantastic space for social apps to serve but want to see some fresh innovation. just seems like restaurant and retail business review sites have been done and done again. I think small biz is a fantastic space for social apps to serve but want to see some fresh innovation.

]]> By: Dan http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051634 Dan Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:38:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051634 Wait until MyCityFaces.com gets more profiles loaded up, it will become the business listings website of choice! People first, company second! Reviews can be to one sided! Old School! Can't make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time! Wait until MyCityFaces.com gets more profiles loaded up, it will become the business listings website of choice! People first, company second! Reviews can be to one sided! Old School!

Can’t make 100% of the people happy 100% of the time!

]]> By: Laurence Hooper http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051631 Laurence Hooper Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:28:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051631 The money wasn't all mine, alas; I wish I were that rich. It's me plus friends & family. :) The money wasn’t all mine, alas; I wish I were that rich. It’s me plus friends & family. :)

]]> By: Michael B http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051617 Michael B Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:08:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051617 I prefer yelp. -Check out my site for ways to make money online http://mikesmoneyclub.blogspot.com I prefer yelp.

-Check out my site for ways to make money online http://mikesmoneyclub.blogspot.com

]]> By: moe http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051616 moe Wed, 26 Mar 2008 03:06:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051616 Seems cool.... Except, it already crashed twice on me. I can only imagine what will happen when the app has more then 43 daily users. I've made a few facebook applications and the key is scalability. Seems cool….

Except, it already crashed twice on me. I can only imagine what will happen when the app has more then 43 daily users. I’ve made a few facebook applications and the key is scalability.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051609 Ryan Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:57:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051609 Yelp has officially become my search vertical for business listings. With so much already invested in it, it'll be hard to pull me away from them. Yelp has officially become my search vertical for business listings. With so much already invested in it, it’ll be hard to pull me away from them.

]]> By: Kevin Allman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051601 Kevin Allman Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:45:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051601 whoa 350 k of your own money invested in a facebook app.. who knows..they might become #1 on all the social networks and then get acquired... whoa 350 k of your own money invested in a facebook app..
who knows..they might become #1 on all the social networks and then get acquired…

]]> By: The Hater http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051597 The Hater Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:40:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051597 Loladex? LOLlercoaster. Loladex?

LOLlercoaster.

]]> By: Apollos.ws http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051590 Apollos.ws Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:24:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/03/25/loladex%e2%80%94local-search-with-a-little-help-from-your-facebook-friends/#comment-2051590 Another search engine. Yay...lol. It's all going to be vertical search soon anyway. Another search engine. Yay…lol. It’s all going to be vertical search soon anyway.

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