I don't know how MakeXYZ is doing as regards profitability. My suspicion is that it's not yet reached break-even. If my suspicion's correct, we risk losing the platform that's been developed and the community which we enjoy being part of. So! Here's an opportunity for us to contribute financially to help build what may be, in 5 years time, a huge and vibrant community.
So, my question is. What are we prepared to pay MakeXYZ for?
Sponsorships for headline position on search results are all very well but, as we've all noted, we already take top place when we search our own location. Hardly surprising as we'd have to have another printer living next door to appear in the second place. Perhaps sponsorship which would ensure top spot for any search within a specific radius of our own location might be attractive. In my case, I'd be happy to pay $9 for a radius of say 50 miles. That would encompass the whole of London. A city with a population of 8.3 Million. I'd also be willing to sponsor MakeXYZ if I could be sure that they'd appear above similar sites in search results on google.co.uk.
Anything else? Well, one or two ideas that come to mind. No doubt there'll be more and I'd encourage everyone to come up with as many suggestions as they can...
MakeXYZ membership discounts on Shapeways / printing consumables.
Access to a members' area within the forum for discussions like this one?
Discounts on other member's shop items and/or services
Payment for small ads on MakeXYZ for one-off sales
Periodic showcases of you and your set-up, based on an email "interview" with Nathan
Rating of print quality based on printing a specific item.
etc etc etc.
So, guys. What other ideas do you have?
Cheers!
Rootz / AndyL
9 years, 7 months ago
This website can offer a big goal that needs a team to deliver great quality. The makexyz team is here as solo artists. One maker, one programmer, one manager, one customer, one selfless saint.
A Moonshot Project needs a talented team, not a lone genius. Share profits in a team that makes a difficult product. A contract will be signed by team members about hours and pay.
In that area I would like to see the standardized pricing options opened up and the ability to connect with other MakeXYZ makers to facilitate dropshipping on certain orders behind the scenes. We would like to focus exclusively on production but can't ignore prototyping jobs as often times they turn into production jobs down the line. On the other hand there are many talented makers on MakeXYZ that would love to do the one off-prototyping and be fed those jobs on a regular basis as an "affiliate". Printers working as affiliates may need their own rating system viewable on the backend.
I would also like to have a premium listing that allows integration with some custom internal processes via API. Maybe down the line this functionality could be developed into a full-on cloud based ERP system to facilitate the entire 3D production process. I would pay even more for that :)
re: your first, you can now sponsor w/ a 50 mile radius: www.makexyz.com/sponsor
and also: we're not going anywhere.
or, at least not until we can 3D print clones of ourselves -- at which point, we'll be outside.., while 3D printed Nathan and Chad are in here talking with you guys / your replicants.
Now I guess I'd better put my money where my mouth is! LOL
Also, will MakeXYZ have a presence at the NY World Makerfaire? I'll be there promoting my services guerrilla style.
dave
dave
the pain point i did get feedback from the customer on mxyz was the email forwarding and not having a direct connection with me. it is something to look at.
also i do not see that any of the pricing accommodates resolution and infill which significantly affect the print and expectation.
Which brings me to another point. I thick it would be really helpful to have a hit counter for our profiles and items in our stores. I currently have no idea what scale of traffic I'm attracting.