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Let’s put our creativity to work by brainstorming for a collector’s Web site.
First, let’s talk about our target audiences. I’m a collector, so I know about “these people.” When you are passionate about your collection, which most collectors are, your “wants” become “needs.”
Let me explain. I have a watch collection. I didn’t mean to have a watch collection. It just sort of happened. I get rather carried away with things. With the watches, it became a learning experience with me with SEO and user/seller behaviors which even made it worse (or better, depending on how you look at it). I probably have 20-25 watches. Funny thing: I don’t even wear a watch to work these days. No time to decide which one to wear.
But here’s the main point. Do I need another watch? Absolutely not. Could a watch seller convince me to buy a new one with little trouble? Absolutely.
This is an important point to consider with collector’s Web sites. They may need another piece to complete a collection, or they may need this year’s new piece or a retired piece that they haven’t been able to buy. But they often buy because they’re passionate about their collection. They’re buying because they “want.” The way you describe the object on your Web site can greatly impact their buying decision.
What is the history of the piece? How many were made? Is it autographed? Do you have a spectacular picture of the piece that can be enlarged? All of these can make a “want” turn into a desperate “need.”
Your photographs of the collectibles have to be as professional as the David Singer photographs I use throughout this blog. If you want someone to spend large dollars on a collector’s piece, they have to be able to see the piece every which way there is. Allow them to rotate the piece to look at it from all angles.
Now, let’s get into the actual brainstorming.
Let’s say that we have a collector’s Web site, and we’re selling memorabilia from old movie sets. We have autographed pictures of movie stars, posters, dresses and clothes worn by stars, jewelry worn by stars, props used on TV and movie sets, books on movie stars and movies, etc. We also have items from estate sales of the stars. We have anything and everything “Hollywood” in our little online store.
We’re all set when it comes to optimization and rankings, but we need more traffic. What can we do?
We’re all sitting at a round table with a bunch of Legos in front of us, and we’re brainstorming for ideas for things we can do to bring in more traffic to our Web site. What do our target audiences want to see on our site? What would keep them coming back over and over again?
I’ll start with one simple idea. We’re going to set up chat rooms where we host chats on all types of topics related to collecting movie memorabilia. We’ll post the dates and times of the chats on the main page of our site, and we’ll make sure people “join” (even though the chats are free). We’ll even see if we can invite in some old movie stars for guest appearances.
What are YOUR ideas?
Robin
I would consider taking it a step further and breaking it down by specific genre and possibly by year.
Collectors love props, especially the “screen used” ones.
Examples:
Screen used science fiction props
(This page could include a gallery of actual collectors props that were actually used in science fiction film.)
Science fiction props - wish list
(This could be a lit of props that you are willing to purchase from other collectors.)
How about a pricing guide outlining what screen used or autographed props are worth?
(In other words create a resource for collectors)
Same for other genres of film such as:
-Westerns
-Drama
-Classics
-Mystery
-Comedy
-Melodrama
-Serial films of the 30s
-Serial films of the 40s
-Serial films of the 50s
-Crime Drama
-Horror
-Classic 3D Films
-Sword and scandel epics
-Jungle Films
-Fantasy Films
-Sherlock Holmes series
-Mystery Science Theatre
Collectors Animation cells (from classic cartoons)
Disney Studios (like Mikey Mouse - Pluto)
Fleisher Studios (Classic Popeye cartoons)
Hanna Barbera (Yogi Bear)
Walter Lantz (Woody Woodpecker)
WarnerBrothers (Bugs Bunny - Looney Tunes)
Maybe a section on rare classic animation cells:
Felix the Cat
I like the idea of including chats with actors, directors, lighting or sound people who could share their stories and anicdotes from the past.
Focus on some of the offbeat films too, maybe by Director or year the films were made:
Low budget directors
Roger Corman
Edward D Wood
Others?
Screen used props would need certificate of authenticity and could range from props like:
-weapons
-model spacecraft
-Monster props
-Make up appliances
-Animation models
-Alien props
-Jewellry
-Various bits of Apparel (worn on the screen)
-Props used by specific actors or actresses
-Props or photos that have been autographed by the entire group of actors in a specific film.
Example:
Photo signed by all 4 Marx Brothers.
Photo signed by both Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
Photo signed by the entire cast of Tarzan- Weismuller, O’sullivan and Johnny Shefield.
These are just a few ideas.
John
Comment by John 02.19.07 @ 4:27 pmWhat about finding out if there are any conferences for old movie buffs and posting the dates on the Web site? Have a place for people to post if they’re planning to attend, so you can meet while at the conference.
Build a sense of camaraderie by meeting at area conferences when possible.
Other ideas?
Robin
Comment by robin 02.19.07 @ 5:23 pmWhat about setting up forums where your visitors can talk about various topics?
Have a section of your site devoted to old movie stars, and be sure to connect a prop to the movie star(s) who was involved with the prop. If you have jewelry worn by a favorite movie star, you’ll may have a better chance at selling the jewelry than if it were just used in a particular movie.
Other ideas?
Robin
Comment by robin 02.20.07 @ 5:36 pmWhat does our target audience want to see on our site? What would make them want to visit?
What kind of information could we provide for them?
What about biographies of the lives of old movie stars? People are fascinated with movie stars, movie stars in the past and present.
What about an area that lists books about old movie stars, and links to those books in Amazon (using our affiliate links)?
What else?
Robin
Comment by robin 02.22.07 @ 11:21 amWhat about a tool of some kind that will help collectors give an estimated worth of an old movie prop?
An area where people can submit the props and collectibles to us to see if we’d be interested in buying them?
Robin
Comment by robin 02.23.07 @ 11:36 amLeave a comment
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