Amazon allows you to query their site to obtain information on items that are on sale. Unfortunately, this is a pain in the ass for individuals to use because you have to put the percentage discount you’re looking for in the URL parameter:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/?node=172282&pct-off=90
(90% Off Deals in Electronics)
As startups, we need to create value for our users by investing time and energy and doing work for them so they can get to what they are looking for faster. Brand Name Coupons did this by creating a comprehensive page that allows users to run these searches with just one click. It’s not pretty, but its effective and hats off to them for taking the initiative to do it.
We’re striving to do the same thing at Judy’s Book. Our Holiday Shipping and Returns Policy Guide and the After-Christmas Sales Guide are examples of this. If we can continue to deliver value in this way, I believe we will build loyalty.
There’s a catch – delivering value for users means we have to work our asses off. It means paying people to work on Christmas weekend to enter data about offline sales information, it means scrambling to release data the instant it becomes available.
Cutting corners, avoiding getting your hands dirty and generally taking the easy way out is seductive, but it short-changes the people we’re working for. The good news is that if you can stay focused and put in the effort, it’s well worth it.
Our parents were right (damn it) – there are no shortcuts.