prototyping business concepts
What’s interesting is how the entrepreneurs initially tried out (or stumbled upon?) their business venture: They combined Snapvine andEventful into a service for bands’ MySpace pages. “They added these features to the MySpace pages of client bands like Mudvayne and HellYeah, and fans loved them.” So with very little work on building out technology, they were able to quickly experiment with a service, find out what worked well, and then expand to realize the full business opportunity. Now they play a concierge service to celebs who want to engage with their fans online, focusing as much on the service they provide as the software tools that make the logistics possible. Business concepts can be easily prototypes and tested, especially with so many LEGO-like mashable services available. The question for Buddylube wasn’t about technical feasibility or even what the tools looked like, it was whether a service could become a valued go-between for celebs and fans. With little investment, they learned the answer is “yes” and the right way to go about it.
This week’s Consumed column in the New York Times Magazine is about Buddylube, a “middleman” service (part software, part consulting) that helps celebs manage their online identities across multiple social networking services.
