[meteorite-list] Don't Change!

From: David Hardy <mdavidhardy_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:41:16 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <159969.62653.qm_at_web50206.mail.re2.yahoo.com>

Look at www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com. Free site where collectors can post their collection WITH photos. Lots of great information already there.

David H.




----- Original Message ----
From: Eric Wichman <eric at meteoritewatch.com>
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 6:50:45 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Don't Change!

Hi all,

This is a long one, but it's one I hope you'll read and give some feedback on.

With all the talk here recently about spamming, ADs, marketing, new and old failed meteorite sites, groups, forums, lists, advertising, flaming, trolling, BS, back stabbing, libelous, fraud, trash talk, bullying, and websites that just don't take off I'd like to chime in a bit. Normally I just keep quiet and read list posts quietly except for the occasional little meteorite for sale ad. But as someone who has started no less than 3 meteorite related websites, forums and more recently a blog I can say from experience it's not as easy as it sounds. Take this as you will. I mean it with no malice or disrespect to anyone whatsoever.

If someone wants to jump on building a new Meteorite Photo website here's some domain names that are available:

meteoritephotos.com meteorite-photos.com meteoritegallery.com
meteoritealbum.com

No, I'm not saying build another meteorite related site, what I am saying is stop trying to "change the world" (I'm guilty of this) to anyone and everyone who posts to the Met-List trying to become the next best thing in the meteorite world. What I mean is this...

If you're trying to change the world you're setting yourself up for failure and most likely you don't even realize it. The meteorite world is small. Very small. Meteorite collectors and dealers are rare compared to other industries world wide, and whether we like it or not there are cliques and niches within this limited group. At last count I think there were some 950+ members on the Met-List but I could be wrong it might be more now. Now I know there are lots of people in the meteorite biz who aren't on the Met-List and who are members of other forums and yahoo groups all over the web, some are members of my forum as well. There's the Nugget Shooter meteorite forums, Illinois meteorites Sky Rock Cafe, and of course my own Meteorite Watch forum. Not to mention IMCA members, private collectors, dealers, museums, educational institutions and other related groups are all part of the meteorite world pie. Regardless of what kind of site it is, forum, blog,
 dealer shop, encyclopedia, photo gallery, or a new group, the point is the math doesn't work if you're solely trying to change the meteorite world by starting a "better meteorite site".

If you're familiar with real world advertising and marketing you must look at market share to evaluate whether a new product or service idea is viable. You do that by figuring demographics, estimating numbers of current customers and prospects and use a pie graph to visually represent certain areas of the market share in any given industry. This is where we get the phrase "a piece of the pie" in marketing terms. Google for example enjoys an estimated 65% of market share in the search engine industry. This is a HUGE piece of the largest pie in the world. The pie consists of all people who have an internet connection and who uses search engines to help navigate the trillions of web pages out there. You can only imagine how large this industry will become. It has unlimited growth potential considering the great numbers of future internet users. As new internet users sign on each day this pie grows at an exponential rate which will never end unless the
 internet goes away. Google's product is knowledge and everyone wants that product!

The meteorite world is quite different in contrast. There is a very limited supply of meteorites. The laws of supply and demand have a greater effect on an industry who's product is limited in scope. Everything being equal, the meteorite world's pie is very small. Maybe at most in the number range of tens of thousands of collectors, scientists and dealers. To be successful in any industry one must provide a viable product or service at a reasonable price based on a need or want. The product herein is meteorites and the pieces of the pie are all the dealer websites, groups, forums and lists out there. The Met-List has the majority of the forum market share. That will probably not change, there's really no need to... It provides a good service that does what people need it to do. No more no less.


The meteorite world itself will change when someone provides something that the "majority" of people in this industry need or want. Not something that "everyone" needs. Who is anyone to dictate what people need though? Don't make the mistake of looking for or trying to provide a solution for a problem that doesn't exist. I made this mistake as did many others on list and off. In my excitement for meteorites I forgot some very basic rules in marketing.

I've only been in this biz for a little over a year. I started back in August of 07' after my girlfriend got me a meteorite for my birthday. In that time I've started many meteorite related websites including a list, a group a forum and most recently a blog. I know from experience it is not easy to change something. Especially when it really doesn't need to be changed. Ever since I got my first meteorite I've been hooked just like many new meteorite enthusiasts are when they first get into the field.The excitement of meteorites is universal and they become extremely addicting to the small percentage of people who are fascinated at first glance. Then you have your "that's cool" people who simply say "that's cool" and never get into meteorites like we do. The point being that the customer base is super small, the product supply is even smaller and trying to make a be all website just doesn't work.

The only way to really change things is to help people, not change them. It's about psychology, philosophy, statistics and it's cliche, but it's true nonetheless. As a friend of mine recently told me, the way to change is to "Provide a difference".

If you provide a difference people both want and need the change will be automatic.

Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorites USA


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Received on Fri 26 Dec 2008 08:41:16 PM PST