Business Models and Shameless Plugs

In this assignment I was tasked with creating two business model diagrams.  One of which was to be based on a company you have worked for and one where you create a new infomediary business.

StarWarsIntro.com
The first diagram is of a business I actually started in high school.  It was born from my love of Star Wars.  Users can can re-create the iconic scrolling text introduction with their own text, music or graphics.  I first created the program back when Flash Actionscript 2.0 was released.   There was no dynamic 3D text support with MX 2004 so I would manually create orders as they came in.  I spent a good two weeks glued to my desktop trying to match everything as close to the movie as possible.  It turned out to be a bigger success than I would have ever imagined.  I received order after order and was glad to take their money but I was not much fun converting each order manually into 3D and placing it into the program to run.  Once converted into 3D the text was no longer editable and customers would frequently want to change something at some point and I would have to repeat the entire process over.

Screenshot from starwarsintro.com

Actionscript 3 and CS3 came to the rescue and really changed the way I do business.  The dynamic 3D text support allowed me to re-create the program from scratch with the ability to load data dynamically from a text or XML file.  I am now able to offer a DIY version where users simply update the provided XML file with their text and the program does the rest.   I still offer a custom version where I create the scroll for them. It gives the simplicity of only needing one file and the option of using .mov format.  It is much easier for me to create and update than the previous version. Lastly I offer the source code for those who want the ultimate in control.

My client base is quite diverse. The majority are used for birthday celebrations. I have had someone propose to his wife with one which I thought was creative. Corporations often use them as intro's to training seminars or award ceremonies. Companies like ExxonMobil, Sony, Ernst & Young, and Vision Works to name a few are among my customers, many are repeat customers. TomTom even used the scroll as their press release in several languages when announcing Star Wars voices for their GPS devices. A few years ago a promotor working  MTV commissioned me to create personal invitations to celebrities for the MTV music video awards. Others incorporate them into their website or use them for some other purpose.

Jango Fett next to George Lucas

I am still waiting on King George to send a bounty hunter after me but perhaps he agrees with me that I am helping his brand more than taking away from his warchest.

starwarsintro.com

Adrenaline Junkies

For my infomedia business I created something out of my imagination.  I have several existing ideas but I chose to create a new one. I've only known my classmates for a week and they could steal my ideas. Just kidding..

My idea is a infomedia site geared to 'Adrenaline Junkies'.  There is currently no central location for thrill seekers to virtually meet, discuss their trips (brag), post videos or provide ratings/reviews of places to go. The site would be centered around a message board allowing users to post reviews / comments.  A few of the unique features of the website would be for users to be able to 'check in' at locations and provide an 'adrenaline rating' for where they are.  For example people check in at the Skykomish River in Seattle, or the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags and after the trip they can give it a rating to share with the community.  Users could then view the top 'adrenaline' activities from around the world and associated reviews/videos etc.  Companies could bid to become a featured adrenaline area or provide groupon style deals to adrenaline junkie users.  Users would also win points for checking in at locations, purchasing trips through the adrenaline junkie site or having a highly rated review among other things.  They could then use the points to purchase apparel, bid on trips etc.  Other community members could rate other members 'adrenaline adventures' to compete to become the the top adrenaline junkie. The possibilities are endless.

I think it is important to note that some of the customer segments can also be classified as partners.  The site in theory would benefit both the end user whether it be a thrill seeker or business and Andrenaline Junkie at the same time.    My application of the idea is fairly broad and it would likely behoove me to narrow the scope a bit..... but for the purpose of this exercise I am thinking big! This idea isn't that bad... hmmm time to register a domain name.