30 replies to this topic

[payeng]

There are hundreds of sites, forums and blogs dedicated to Automotive content.

So what's the reason that one should come to Motoroids?  What's its USP?


1. Is it the design?

No. Even after the redesign, it just looks like any other site/blog out there.


2. Is it the content?

Well, no offence but I can read the almost same material elsewhere on the net too.


3. Does it have the most number of participants in its forum?

No, at least not right now.


There was one USP though,   i.e the free to download Motoroids2 PDF E-magazine (although Motoroids wan't exactly the first to try this in India. A site called monoshock.in did try something similar.). But sadly now even that has dissapeared.

The founders of Motoroids needs to think hard on finding a USP for Motoroids.

Edited by payeng, 03 July 2010 - 09:25 AM.

[satyenpoojary]

I more or less agree to you Payeng.
One of the reasons I guess is that we hardly have anyone sponsoring us to take the site and the magazine forward. However, I will let Revmaster respond to this one!

I for sure would like to see the magazine back, as far as the USP is concerned, I guess for now its the availbility of the information through different convenient channels like FB, Twitter, Mobile browsers, plus the yet to flourish Wiki, and ofcourse the fastest "scoop" listign site is it!

[razorBlades]

I am waiting for the magazine too, it was like a chocolate topping on a vanilla and now its missing

[Silver Phantom]

razorBlades said:

I am waiting for the magazine too, it was like a chocolate topping on a vanilla and now its missing

i guess we are to currently only enjoy the Vanilla. once the chocolate arrives, we devour it whole.

[Revmaster]

That's a very interesting question that payeng has raised. The core philosophy at Motoroids, at the outset was to be different, to have a clear point of distinction from the current crop of motoring blogs and websites. Difficult as some may find to believe it, the philosophy remains the same till date - just that the circumstances have made us slow down a tad.

We started off with the magazine, something for which we got great acclaim and popularity. The magazine clearly was our point of distinction. But at what cost? With almost zero cash flows, Motoroids was paying through its blood to keep the production values of the magazine alive. We worked very hard to create a magazine, only to realize that it was not helping our Google rankings - something that was the sole defining factor to get any sort of sponsorship. A very small team, and the heavy work involved in creating a world-class magazine meant that we were losing out on timely updates on the website, pushing us down the rankings, and dimming our chances further to get some money into the system. So we decided to put some business sense into the system - overhauled the architecture and started putting all the stories (much more than the ones you got in the magazine) directly on the website. The ploy has paid dividends for us. The footfall on the site is much higher.

A free magazine without any money coming in is like committing to charity while not being able to feed your own family. Clearly, the magazine is not on the cards, until we get some money to expand the team and are able to take care of both website and the magazine at the same time.

Now for the points of distinction. Which other blog is dedicated to automotive consumer media with an on-the-ground presence, and representation across the nation organizing activities while also writing authoritatively about cars and bikes at the same time (not just forums with everyone putting his tuppence)? Please don't compare our numbers with people who have been there for 7-8 years - for we are not even a year old. The amount of popularity Motoroids has gained in eight months without any financial backing is solely because of the honest efforts of its team to deliver authoritative, unbiased content to its patrons with a rare zeal.

Its not that we are blind to certain facts. If wishes were horses, we would have made a show better than Top Gear here - but there are ground realities , and should I add, we are trying our best to tackle them. We have hundreds of ideas - but we'd require resources to implement them - and that's exactly what we are waiting for. We are doing whatever we humanly can to get some deals in place to have some cash flows. Talks are on, and we are hopeful that things will soon be better. And trust us, the moment that happens, you'll see the most distinctive portal on the Indian automotive horizon. That's a promise.

In the meantime, if any of you can help us with sealing a sponsorship deal, that would be wonderful, as it would help us achieve that 'distinctive' position much more quickly. Any helping hands?

[payeng]

I understand and sympathize with the Business aspect (no wonder even the e-mag of Monoshock.in did not survive beyond 5-6 issues), but honestly speaking for me, the Motoroids2 PDF E-mag was the reason why Motoroids caught my eye.

I hope that the E-mag is once again revived.

Edited by payeng, 09 July 2010 - 11:43 AM.

[Revmaster]

It sure will be. We'll just have to wait for a bit.

[payeng]

Revmaster said:

That's a very interesting question that payeng has raised. The core philosophy at Motoroids, at the outset was to be different, to have a clear point of distinction from the current crop of motoring blogs and websites. Difficult as some may find to believe it, the philosophy remains the same till date - just that the circumstances have made us slow down a tad...

...Now for the points of distinction. Which other blog is dedicated to automotive consumer media with an on-the-ground presence, and representation across the nation organizing activities while also writing authoritatively about cars and bikes at the same time...

I doubt a layman (the majority of the footfalls will come from such guys) will be able to appreaciate and differentiate the above mentioned USP of motoroids from the hundreds of other "copy + paste" blogs/sites.

Please take my opinion as honest feedback.  For a layman the motoroids site won't appear very different from those "copy + paste" blogs/sites.

If there is a USP, then make it obvious.  Very obvious.. for the sake of repeat footfalls.

[Revmaster]

One of the most obviously distinctive features that Motoroids has now is WIKI, which NO other auto site in the country has. Request the members to start contributing.
we'll be adding another distinction to the website very soon. Something that all of us have been craving for, for a VERY long time.

[antz.bin]

Where exactly is the wiki.. I failed to find it..

Edit: I just found it.

Edited by antz.bin, 11 August 2010 - 09:10 AM.

[sheelpriye]

Motoroids has just started its innings, its an infant.

With support from fellow motorheads, I see it as one of the best forum/web-sites in coming years.

[pulsurge]

Am sure it will be. I feel Motoroids is like a Swiss Knife....all at one place.

[ravisanjeevk]

In my opinion for a forum or website to be sucessfull the following are required.

1. Information following constantly.
2. Forum should hold the members like magnet- members should always come back, discuss and debate. FOr this to happen information should be available that is not available any where else. Being exclusive.
3. Presentation - I don't see the presentation of motoroids impressive sorry if I'm being rude.

Eg;- Check POTN - Post a question and see how many views you get and how many reply. Just open any section and you will see consistency.POTN is free for all but see the way it is run. One of the best forums I'm part of.
4. Excellent Staff who run the show. I'm not questioning the staff here as some of them are my good friend and tour with them most sll the time.

I became member here as I like Biking but never had the enthu to come back. I tried to post a log the other day and limitation was set to 26 images. I was able to upload my travel logs in XBHP and Bangalore bikers with out having any issues and I had to edit the copy to just post in Motoroids which was a double work.

[Revmaster]

Your issue has been addressed sir. Post as many words and images as you like now on

[ravisanjeevk]

Revmaster said:

Your issue has been addressed sir. Post as many words and images as you like now on

Thank you Master
First thing in the morning Travel logs will be up.