My entrepreneurial idea is for a scouting database for both collegiate and professional basketball players. The main draw to the site/app is that it allows the user or viewer to be the "expert" and create their own content. The engagement and conversation created would allow "Shoot, Score, Scout" to survive and thrive in a nichified arena.
Over the past 8-9 weeks, my idea has evolved exponentially. The topics we've been assigned to discuss have elicited ideas in my mind. I feel like after each blog post, I've slightly tweaked my main idea, even if it's been to a small degree. In the first phase of the project, I wasn't sure who would be intrigued by the site and what the incentive to post would be.
I eventually figured that elevating the best, most analytical comments would be featured more on the site and provide incentive to smart posts. Writers, bloggers, scouts, fans and players would be encouraged to post and create a trusting environment.
Another thing I tweaked as time went on was the use of Photoshop and design in general. There are so many basketball sites and I need something that could separate mine. Design can do just that. A sleek, smooth and readable design could easily draw more viewers and comments but I didn't realize that initially.
Security is another aspect of the database that evolved over time. At first it didn't strike me as significant but as I viewed basketball forums and blogs, I noticed that security and spam is an issue. The last thing I need is a spam-riddled database because it turns people away.
To make "Shoot, Score, Scout" a legit draw, I need to first get money and bring in basketball people to moderate who have a large internet klout. The given bloggers and writers would then have their readers write and contribute to the database. I would need financial and tech support to execute the idea to the best of my ability.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Blog Post For Computer Security
My entrepreneurial idea is a basketball scouting database called "Shoot, Score, Scout." The app allows the user to create content, be an "expert," and engage with other basketball fans, coaches, writers and players through the database.
Of course, computer security is something that has to be a key focus, especially in the beginning of the execution of "Shoot, Score, Scout." In general, the other websites that I would contend with have had some struggles with computer security, so if I could eliminate viruses and spam from my database, I would have an edge over the competitors.
I don't know how truly effective it is, but something I could to to minimize spam and viruses is to include multiple aspects to the registration phase to ensure it's a person registering. Also, I could use firewalls, safeguards and antivirus programs to ensure nothing can diminish or hurt
As a whole, to be a successful database, I have to ensure that it is clean. I have to avoid my users from getting worms, viruses, and make sure hackers and crackers steer clear of my program. If I can do this, I'll be one step closer to creating a potentially successful app and website.
Of course, computer security is something that has to be a key focus, especially in the beginning of the execution of "Shoot, Score, Scout." In general, the other websites that I would contend with have had some struggles with computer security, so if I could eliminate viruses and spam from my database, I would have an edge over the competitors.
I don't know how truly effective it is, but something I could to to minimize spam and viruses is to include multiple aspects to the registration phase to ensure it's a person registering. Also, I could use firewalls, safeguards and antivirus programs to ensure nothing can diminish or hurt
As a whole, to be a successful database, I have to ensure that it is clean. I have to avoid my users from getting worms, viruses, and make sure hackers and crackers steer clear of my program. If I can do this, I'll be one step closer to creating a potentially successful app and website.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Operating Systems
My entrepreneurial idea is a basketball scouting database called Shoot, Score, Scout. It allows users (fans, players, writers) to be the expert and share their analysis. If users engage with one another like I'd hope, there would be a unique basketball frenzied environment that analyzes players and shares pictures and ideas.
Operating Systems
Online, "Shoot, Score, Scout" would be used on a web browser so it would not necessarily be involved with operating systems. It would be viable on both Macs operating systems as well as Windows. Obviously, it would greatly benefit from working on both systems.
A big decision I would have to make is how the mobile application would service. Ideally, it would be nice to be used on both the Android market and the iPhone one. For iPhone, the app would have to almost conform to what they want, but for the Android, since it's open-sourced, I would have more freedom to make it just what I want.
In effect, the Android market design could be a little more fluid and in accordance to my liking. The iPhone app might not be as appealing to certain audiences, but as long as it reached the target crowd, that's fine.
Operating Systems
Online, "Shoot, Score, Scout" would be used on a web browser so it would not necessarily be involved with operating systems. It would be viable on both Macs operating systems as well as Windows. Obviously, it would greatly benefit from working on both systems.
A big decision I would have to make is how the mobile application would service. Ideally, it would be nice to be used on both the Android market and the iPhone one. For iPhone, the app would have to almost conform to what they want, but for the Android, since it's open-sourced, I would have more freedom to make it just what I want.
In effect, the Android market design could be a little more fluid and in accordance to my liking. The iPhone app might not be as appealing to certain audiences, but as long as it reached the target crowd, that's fine.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Photoshop
My entrepreneurial idea is Shoot, Score, Scout. Also called S3, Shoot, Score, Scout is a basketball scouting database that doubles as an app. The beauty of the idea is it allows the user to be an "expert" and share their opinions with other basketball fans, writers, players and coaches.
In the lab this week, we worked with Photoshop. I've worked with it in the past as well, so I know it's an extremely valuable tool. I think it could vastly improve my product. Photoshop is a useful tool in branding for graphics as well as working with certain pictures. For "Shoot, Score, Scout," Photoshop would mainly be used for the banners on the app and site.
Each page needs a banner to go along with the over-arching banner of the site/app. The banners could easily be created in Photoshop without taking too much time. Another tool I'd like to use for the site is a flow chart or a "hotness" of a player. Depending on a players' ratings and statistics, players could be separated into "hot," "hotter," "-," "cold," and "colder." Photoshop can help depict those hotness of a player by using either warm or cool colors in its banner.
Also, Photoshop can be used to make Graphics on our staff page. Instead of having one big picture, a large graphic stating all of our information and background can be put in one place. Photoshop would allow that to be aesthetically pleasing while working well within the scheme of the site.
In the lab this week, we worked with Photoshop. I've worked with it in the past as well, so I know it's an extremely valuable tool. I think it could vastly improve my product. Photoshop is a useful tool in branding for graphics as well as working with certain pictures. For "Shoot, Score, Scout," Photoshop would mainly be used for the banners on the app and site.
Each page needs a banner to go along with the over-arching banner of the site/app. The banners could easily be created in Photoshop without taking too much time. Another tool I'd like to use for the site is a flow chart or a "hotness" of a player. Depending on a players' ratings and statistics, players could be separated into "hot," "hotter," "-," "cold," and "colder." Photoshop can help depict those hotness of a player by using either warm or cool colors in its banner.
Also, Photoshop can be used to make Graphics on our staff page. Instead of having one big picture, a large graphic stating all of our information and background can be put in one place. Photoshop would allow that to be aesthetically pleasing while working well within the scheme of the site.
Blogger Review
For my review, I chose to research and look at Michael Litos, a basketball blogger who has expanded his brand with entrepreneurial ideas in journalism and multimedia projects. He has been able to open a production company that produces highlights and week-in-review type packages. Litos' blog can be found at www.caahoops.com.
Litos will post a blog-post two-four times each week. The topics include predictions on how games will result, vibes from previous interviews and the world of basketball, in general. He attracts readers with his attention to minute details and by detailing teams that otherwise don't get as much attention. His transparency and work as a trust agent has helped him build his brand and the success of his blog. Litos mostly covers CAA men's basketball in his blogging, and he's been able to expand his audience thanks to his entrepreneurial skills.
However, Litos has failed to truly engage with his wide audience. Something he needs to do is create more back-and-forth between him and his readers. He gets many comments, but he doesn't respond to them. Also, Litos, for some reason, doesn't post his multimedia pieces on his blog. If he wants to be a truly successful blogger, he has to incorporate all of his talents into his CAAHoops blog.
Litos will post a blog-post two-four times each week. The topics include predictions on how games will result, vibes from previous interviews and the world of basketball, in general. He attracts readers with his attention to minute details and by detailing teams that otherwise don't get as much attention. His transparency and work as a trust agent has helped him build his brand and the success of his blog. Litos mostly covers CAA men's basketball in his blogging, and he's been able to expand his audience thanks to his entrepreneurial skills.
However, Litos has failed to truly engage with his wide audience. Something he needs to do is create more back-and-forth between him and his readers. He gets many comments, but he doesn't respond to them. Also, Litos, for some reason, doesn't post his multimedia pieces on his blog. If he wants to be a truly successful blogger, he has to incorporate all of his talents into his CAAHoops blog.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Analysis of Competitors
My idea is Shoot, Score, Scout, which is an interactive scouting database for college and professional database. The user creates the content, and the best content is highlighted through the app.
I'm competing with mostly message boards and some blogs for my users. On message boards, fans interact with each other but the conversations can get muddled by useless trolls. Blogs also provide an area for fans to engage, but they don't get to create the content.
A major message board that I'd compete with is CAAZone. The Zone, as it's called by many of its users, is frequented by fans up and down the East Coast mostly. It is nichified, more nichified than my app, as it deals with just college basketball. However, there's no mobile app for it and there is no photo element to the site. Many users from this site would be part of my target demographic, though. CAAZone doesn't really market itself. It relies more on word of mouth and other blogs to spread info about it. Aesthetically, it's not too strong, but it has developed over time and has a loyal following.
Another competitor would be TrueHoop blog on ESPN. Many basketball fans go to this blog to comment and engage with other fans. Each fan insists that they're right and most comment often over the course of the season. A weakness for TrueHoop is that the font is small and hard to read. The design of the site in general, is just not that strong. TrueHoop doesn't market but ESPN links users to it, so there's not as much of a need for it.
Those are the two main competitors for Shoot, Score, Scout.
I'm competing with mostly message boards and some blogs for my users. On message boards, fans interact with each other but the conversations can get muddled by useless trolls. Blogs also provide an area for fans to engage, but they don't get to create the content.
A major message board that I'd compete with is CAAZone. The Zone, as it's called by many of its users, is frequented by fans up and down the East Coast mostly. It is nichified, more nichified than my app, as it deals with just college basketball. However, there's no mobile app for it and there is no photo element to the site. Many users from this site would be part of my target demographic, though. CAAZone doesn't really market itself. It relies more on word of mouth and other blogs to spread info about it. Aesthetically, it's not too strong, but it has developed over time and has a loyal following.
Another competitor would be TrueHoop blog on ESPN. Many basketball fans go to this blog to comment and engage with other fans. Each fan insists that they're right and most comment often over the course of the season. A weakness for TrueHoop is that the font is small and hard to read. The design of the site in general, is just not that strong. TrueHoop doesn't market but ESPN links users to it, so there's not as much of a need for it.
Those are the two main competitors for Shoot, Score, Scout.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Post Number Three - The System Unit
My idea is a scouting database for college and professional basketball. The app allows people to be the "expert" and post their analysis and rankings of players. The best analysis are shared on a home screen as well as pictures from games posted on Instagram and basketball scouting-related articles. The user rankings allow users to follow a players career through a flowchart that consists of rankings and advanced metric statistics.
For this given topic, because this app is adaptable to different platforms, it would be able to be used on different system units. The app could be used on mobile devices, tablets, and really anything with an internet connection.
Because it's an application used for multiple devices, I'm not exactly sure what I should include in this post, but I'll take a trial run. Because it's a mostly user-generated content app, whatever system unit the app is on needs to have a keyboard. This would allow the user to create content and not just read. Reading wouldn't allow the exchange of words that the sites bases its craft off of.
It's also important to note that it would have to be especially designed for certain uses on phones and tablets. People have a hard time reading on their phones, so the design would have to be built so that it wouldn't be an issue. There obviously would be no need for webcams or microphones or speakers. The beauty of the app is that it's simple. It's mostly user-created content which means there's no need to instill webcams or anything messy into the initial ideas. However, it's important to let it develop though.
For this given topic, because this app is adaptable to different platforms, it would be able to be used on different system units. The app could be used on mobile devices, tablets, and really anything with an internet connection.
Because it's an application used for multiple devices, I'm not exactly sure what I should include in this post, but I'll take a trial run. Because it's a mostly user-generated content app, whatever system unit the app is on needs to have a keyboard. This would allow the user to create content and not just read. Reading wouldn't allow the exchange of words that the sites bases its craft off of.
It's also important to note that it would have to be especially designed for certain uses on phones and tablets. People have a hard time reading on their phones, so the design would have to be built so that it wouldn't be an issue. There obviously would be no need for webcams or microphones or speakers. The beauty of the app is that it's simple. It's mostly user-created content which means there's no need to instill webcams or anything messy into the initial ideas. However, it's important to let it develop though.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Social Media Post
My entrepreneurial idea is a scouting database that makes the everyday person an "expert." People can log-in and give their analysis on any player in college basketball or the NBA. The website will allow all people to be involved in the game of basketball, while engaging with others of the same interest and opinions.
Social Media Post:
Social Media directly affects a company's longevity. If a company can take advantage of a all social media has to offer, it can blossom quickly. For my scouting database, I'd like to make it easily compatible with Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Some other recent social media can be used, like Get Glue and Pinterest, but the main mediums would be the first three I mentioned.
For Twitter, links to the most read comments and highly analyzed players will be sent out to the masses. At the same time, it's most important to be etched into the fabric of the basketball blogosphere on Twitter. Engaging with writers and fans will allow the database to get more attention and fanfare. Any interesting changes in the players' flow charts will also be shared on Twitter as well as Facebook.
For Instagram, I think it'd be interesting to share pictures of players so that all posters can get an idea of what a player looks like. For players who are under-the-radar, the Instagram pictures can help get their name out and bring awareness to their name and their game. I think it's also key for the best posters to upload Instagram pictures of themselves to personalize the experience.
Social Media Post:
Social Media directly affects a company's longevity. If a company can take advantage of a all social media has to offer, it can blossom quickly. For my scouting database, I'd like to make it easily compatible with Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Some other recent social media can be used, like Get Glue and Pinterest, but the main mediums would be the first three I mentioned.
For Twitter, links to the most read comments and highly analyzed players will be sent out to the masses. At the same time, it's most important to be etched into the fabric of the basketball blogosphere on Twitter. Engaging with writers and fans will allow the database to get more attention and fanfare. Any interesting changes in the players' flow charts will also be shared on Twitter as well as Facebook.
For Instagram, I think it'd be interesting to share pictures of players so that all posters can get an idea of what a player looks like. For players who are under-the-radar, the Instagram pictures can help get their name out and bring awareness to their name and their game. I think it's also key for the best posters to upload Instagram pictures of themselves to personalize the experience.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Entrepreneurship Idea Post
My entrepreneurial idea is a basketball scouting database. It would be called Shoot, Score, Scout. My hope is that it would give ample people the opportunity to have their voice be heard and share their opinions, while interacting with other basketball fans, writers and players.
Everyone wants to be an "expert." This database allows people to be an expert and share their analysis of players. After watching a game or when someone's bored, they can log-in to the database and add their input and place a rating on a player. The ratings create a flow-chart that can be followed throughout a player's career. The best analysis will be put on the homepage.
The database would also create relationships between up-and-coming basketball fans and writers. Each person who has a username has their own page that would showcase their posts and their contact information. The database would also be a useful tool for those watching a game and wanting to know more about a player. It's an entrepreneurial idea that has legs, in my opinion.
Everyone wants to be an "expert." This database allows people to be an expert and share their analysis of players. After watching a game or when someone's bored, they can log-in to the database and add their input and place a rating on a player. The ratings create a flow-chart that can be followed throughout a player's career. The best analysis will be put on the homepage.
The database would also create relationships between up-and-coming basketball fans and writers. Each person who has a username has their own page that would showcase their posts and their contact information. The database would also be a useful tool for those watching a game and wanting to know more about a player. It's an entrepreneurial idea that has legs, in my opinion.
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