Comments on: Mypunchbowl joins growing list of Evite rivals http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/ News About Tech, Money and Innovation Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:27:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: event planning service http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-801763 event planning service Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:30:36 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-801763 <strong>event planning service...</strong> Your blog makes very interesting reading. I'm sure others will think so too I look forward to reading their comments.... event planning service…

Your blog makes very interesting reading. I’m sure others will think so too I look forward to reading their comments….

]]> By: Jill http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-681648 Jill Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:48:56 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-681648 I use two evite sites...one for business and one for everything else. SendAnInvite.com lets me have complete control of my evite in that I can WYSIWIG my evite completely, use my own logo plus add information to the rsvp forms like preferences and my own user defined fields, etc. Very feature rich. They make money by charging for sending your email so it does cost, but for 12 bucks I can email 100 clients, so it's worth paying for the control they give me. The other site I found was a newer site called BareBonesInvites.com. They're free to use, have Google ads in their evites, but they don't send the email for you. They give you the link so you can email it yourself. I like that since there's a better chance that my email will get thru if I send it myself. I tend to stay away from alot of sites that have no business model and support sites that at least appear to be legitimate businesses trying to make a buck either thru advertising or subscriptions. Support the little guy !!! I use two evite sites…one for business and one for everything else. SendAnInvite.com lets me have complete control of my evite in that I can WYSIWIG my evite completely, use my own logo plus add information to the rsvp forms like preferences and my own user defined fields, etc. Very feature rich. They make money by charging for sending your email so it does cost, but for 12 bucks I can email 100 clients, so it’s worth paying for the control they give me.

The other site I found was a newer site called BareBonesInvites.com. They’re free to use, have Google ads in their evites, but they don’t send the email for you. They give you the link so you can email it yourself. I like that since there’s a better chance that my email will get thru if I send it myself.

I tend to stay away from alot of sites that have no business model and support sites that at least appear to be legitimate businesses trying to make a buck either thru advertising or subscriptions. Support the little guy !!!

]]> By: norm http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-8267 norm Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:24:42 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-8267 mypunchbowl, it far better than koolvite, more practical and functional layout and options. mypunchbowl, it far better than koolvite, more practical and functional layout and options.

]]> By: PG http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-7630 PG Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:15:49 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-7630 Invite for good is another alternative with some social good. One can use it as regular e-invite tool. Alternatively, if interested in social cause one can add a charity gift registry to the invite. http://www.inviteforgood.com Invite for good is another alternative with some social good. One can use it as regular e-invite tool. Alternatively, if interested in social cause one can add a charity gift registry to the invite.
http://www.inviteforgood.com

]]> By: vandana http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-7606 vandana Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:44:01 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-7606 Koolvite.com offers a differing alternative to Evite and MyPunchBowl based on the premise that its the invite that matters. We believe that there is an audience that wants their invitations to be richer, distinct and with a personal touch. We expect to be live by February but below are some sample invitations that demonstrate our concept. http://www.koolvite.com/getEvent/getEvent.jsp?&guestId=50e0902c1023e3c4011024075a0300fb http://www.koolvite.com/getEvent/getEvent.jsp?&guestId=000000000f35a2a1010f35a5840100de http://www.koolvite.com/getEvent/getEvent.jsp?&guestId=50e0902c1023e3c4011026c470090098 Koolvite.com offers a differing alternative to Evite and MyPunchBowl based on the premise that its the invite that matters. We believe that there is an audience that wants their invitations to be richer, distinct and with a personal touch.

We expect to be live by February but below are some sample invitations that demonstrate our concept.

http://www.koolvite.com/getEvent/getEvent.jsp?&guestId=50e0902c1023e3c4011024075a0300fb

http://www.koolvite.com/getEvent/getEvent.jsp?&guestId=000000000f35a2a1010f35a5840100de

http://www.koolvite.com/getEvent/getEvent.jsp?&guestId=50e0902c1023e3c4011026c470090098

]]> By: Mike Rundle http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-7601 Mike Rundle Tue, 16 Jan 2007 07:15:21 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-7601 It always amazes me when someone produces something that's been done before and is still jazzed about it, enough to dedicate a chunk of time to the project. If I'm going to start a company and do something that I'm excited about, you can bet the farm it's not the 57th Evite clone, YouTube clone, Netvibes clone, or Flickr clone. It always amazes me when someone produces something that’s been done before and is still jazzed about it, enough to dedicate a chunk of time to the project. If I’m going to start a company and do something that I’m excited about, you can bet the farm it’s not the 57th Evite clone, YouTube clone, Netvibes clone, or Flickr clone.

]]> By: rick gregory http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-7597 rick gregory Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:42:52 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-7597 Youtube is a bad example for reasons so obvious I'm surprised they have to be enumerated: 1) There's always an outlier esp. in new product categories. But the exceptions are called that for a reason. 2) Youtube only succeeded because it had first mover advantage. This is precisely what Mypunchbowl and the rest of Evite's competition do not enjoy. 3) Youtube never became a successful business... they simply got lucky and hit the jackpot. they built the right product at the right time and made some crucial correct decisions (use of Flash, integration with Myspace). But would they ever have become a hit standalone business? And what would they have done if Myspace hadn't been there? All that said, I'm going to check them out since I'm the guy who has to organize my monthly wine tasting... Youtube is a bad example for reasons so obvious I’m surprised they have to be enumerated:

1) There’s always an outlier esp. in new product categories. But the exceptions are called that for a reason.

2) Youtube only succeeded because it had first mover advantage. This is precisely what Mypunchbowl and the rest of Evite’s competition do not enjoy.

3) Youtube never became a successful business… they simply got lucky and hit the jackpot. they built the right product at the right time and made some crucial correct decisions (use of Flash, integration with Myspace). But would they ever have become a hit standalone business? And what would they have done if Myspace hadn’t been there?

All that said, I’m going to check them out since I’m the guy who has to organize my monthly wine tasting…

]]> By: Peter Caputa http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-7596 Peter Caputa Mon, 15 Jan 2007 23:37:23 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-7596 I guess we'll see. I wish them well, as I do any startup. I guess we’ll see. I wish them well, as I do any startup.

]]> By: JC http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-7595 JC Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:22:29 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-7595 And YouTube makes money how....? The point at this stage in MyPunchbowl's development is not to be in the black. Evite is archaic, and any regular user will tell you how un-user-friendly it can be. MyPunchbowl makes some big strides in that area. Evite's mindshare, not network effect, is what needs to be overcome. And there are many examples of how quickly well thought out grassroots sites can do exactly that. And YouTube makes money how….?
The point at this stage in MyPunchbowl’s development is not to be in the black.

Evite is archaic, and any regular user will tell you how un-user-friendly it can be. MyPunchbowl makes some big strides in that area. Evite’s mindshare, not network effect, is what needs to be overcome. And there are many examples of how quickly well thought out grassroots sites can do exactly that.

]]> By: peter caputa http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-7594 peter caputa Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:03:10 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-7594 Not to mention that eVite integrates with Citysearch - the largest local directory on the web - and Ticketmaster, the biggest online ticketing company in the world. Not to mention that eVite integrates with Citysearch – the largest local directory on the web – and Ticketmaster, the biggest online ticketing company in the world.

]]> By: peter caputa http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/comment-page-1/#comment-7593 peter caputa Mon, 15 Jan 2007 21:01:32 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/01/15/mypunchbowl-joins-growing-list-of-evite-rivals/#comment-7593 None of these new event planning tools have a good business model. They are slight variations on eVite. Don't people remember that eVite never really had a good business model? They bled until they were bought out by IAC. There's a lot of money to be made in the event business. And there are a lot of different ways to do it: registrations, advertising, sponsorship. But, helping people plan Grandma's Birthday party or buy balloons aren't any of those ways. The best they'll be able to do is make money from local advertising, local bookings or party planning supplies. And that's if they can steal market and mindshare from eVite to generate some page views, which is unlikely given that eVite dominates that market and has a huge network effect to protect it. None of these new event planning tools have a good business model. They are slight variations on eVite. Don’t people remember that eVite never really had a good business model? They bled until they were bought out by IAC.

There’s a lot of money to be made in the event business. And there are a lot of different ways to do it: registrations, advertising, sponsorship. But, helping people plan Grandma’s Birthday party or buy balloons aren’t any of those ways.

The best they’ll be able to do is make money from local advertising, local bookings or party planning supplies. And that’s if they can steal market and mindshare from eVite to generate some page views, which is unlikely given that eVite dominates that market and has a huge network effect to protect it.

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