.tv May I get comments on the front page of ReceptionHalls.TV

[localexperts]

I'm working on the broken links to finish this up today or tomorrow.

We are going to play three local videos (if we have inventory), with the video under Featured Videos for Play on Demand or more information. If we don't have local videos, we will play three videos from national locations.

The big question, should we put a 5 sec video intro the site which a fade to the logo and then a fade to black with a voice over that says "You're watching Reception Halls TV". After the intro, the first video will play.

I'm debating with myself on the intro video. Any help or comments would be appreciated. I'm 50/50 on doing this.

http://www.receptionhalls.tv

 

[TheBulldog]

Looks ok.....although I will say that the video took about 30 seconds to start, which seems slow to me. And when it did load, it looked kind of bad. A lot of artifacts and blocks. (if that makes any sense)

Yes, do the intro. Let it play asap while the other video loads in the background.

 

[Steven]

Amazing site!

I think 5 sec video intro sounds like a good idea

 

[equity78]

Agree with Bulldog and Steven, do the intro makes sense IMO

 

[poiuytrewq]

Your site is very nice and clean. I would agree - do the intro.

Nice work.

 

[mckennaronnie]

Video takes too long to load.
Intro would work well i think.

Overall it's a excellent, clean site like all of yours George

 

[localexperts]

thank you for the feedback.

The first video plays in 3 seconds on my connection, so I didn't realize there was a problem. Since I'm outside Baltimore, we have a local hall's (Martin's Catering) video play first before the one that plays for everyone else. That is probably why I didn't notice the long load time for the one video. I agree 30 secs is way too long - that needs to get fixed ASAP.

I'm going to go ahead and do the intro based on the feedback. Thank you!

 

[Dr. Mindwrecker]

I like the site, simple and clean. Feels like what the future parking pages will hopefully look like. Actually, my feeling is that parking pages will have to be similar to what you are doing if they want to continue to survive.

 

[localexperts]

I agree 100% mindwrecker.

Text only parking pages will look dated in a few years. Marchex, with their Openlist platform has already started developing "deeper" parking pages for their domain portfolio (http://www.seattlepestcontrol.com/). While Openlist is a step in the right direction, I believe that video, interactive tools, and other widgets will find there way onto parking pages in the next 3-5 years.

 

[Dr. Mindwrecker]

Your page looks way better than the marchex page.

Did marchex go public a few years ago, is that the same company?

Another site I have looked at is Rick Schwartz's Property.com

He is developing it sort of like a parked/info/launch of page.

 

[localexperts]

Looks like 2004 IPO.

http://www.startup-review.com/blog/marchex-case-study-execution-rather-than-innovation.php

Russ Horowitz and go2net invested in Respond's primary competitor - Imandi.com.

I have not checked out @ Property.com. Thanks for the headsup.

We are going to launch the following domains using this template:

discjockeys.tv
pestcontrol.tv
officiants.tv
landscaper.tv
contractor.tv
personaltrainers.tv
petsitter.tv

so this template is our quasi-parking page for several .TV domains. Other .TV domains like Remodeling.tv will use a "deeper" template integrating content from multiple sources.

 

[Dr. Mindwrecker]

Here is the thing I dont get.

Are the feeds marchex and the other parking companys using coming from google and yahoo?

I would prefer doing what Channel Local is doing over parking.

I only see parking making sense in the Frank Schilling business model, where you own 1000 or more names.

Looks like 2004 IPO.

http://www.startup-review.com/blog/marchex-case-study-execution-rather-than-innovation.php

Russ Horowitz and go2net invested in Respond's primary competitor - Imandi.com.

I have not checked out @ Property.com. Thanks for the headsup.

Well I know Rick talked about it in his blog before he stopped blogging regularly, that he was going to shift to some development. It has come quite a way in a short time.

It would be interesting if we could find out some real data on what he is closing for sales on that site.

 

[localexperts]

From Marchex home page (bottom of page links)

Directory Data from http://www.localeze.com/manage-business/index.asp

Reviews from http://www.yelp.com/

And then they put Google Ad Words @ the top of their parking pages.

 

[Dr. Mindwrecker]

Looks like 2004 IPO.

discjockeys.tv pestcontrol.tv o...://www.localeze.com/manage-business/index.asp

Reviews from http://www.yelp.com/

And then they put Google Ad Words @ the top of their parking pages.

So you can stream the same data?

EQ Please move this thread to the DOT TV NATION BOARD...LOL

 

[localexperts]

Stream Yelp and Localize....maybe in a few years.

 

[Len]

Only took about 10secs for the video to load for me. Agree with Bulldog, video looks very blocky. Otherwise it's a very clean, crisp site.

 

[Steven]

I'm getting a bit confused...
OpenList.com looks like a very good and comprehensive city guide website, but it's streaming from yelp and localeze (with yahoo map api integration)?

I know yelp allows developers use its API, but localeze does as well (is that where they are retrieving yellowpage data?)?

 

[htmlindex]

Absolutely great looking site you've got there!

I also agree that the video loads a bit slow as well thought.

 

[rodash]

I've edited this post because the problems I had were related to a bandwidth problem. I've got a 1.5Mbps connection and it took minutes to load. Gave the impression it was timing out.

Still, bandwidth problems aside, it's a clean look and a winning concept. Well done.

 

[localexperts]

I'm getting a bit confused...
OpenList.com looks like a very good and comprehensive city guide website, but it's streaming from yelp and localeze (with yahoo map api integration)?

I know yelp allows developers use its API, but localeze does as well (is that where they are retrieving yellowpage data?)?

I was joking on the streaming. As you mentioned, it looks like they are using the API to show Localize directory data, overlayed with Yelp.com review. Pretty common for most directory providers to use a base database like Infousa and add on their own advertiser content.

BTW, thanks for the new comments. I'm looking at the video download stuff today. I appreciate everyone giving me their time and effort to make comments. It did help us decide to go ahead with the intro video. I hope we are able to do .TV proud.

The more developed sites, the more type in traffic.