Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Elevator Pitch for CyberSweat
CyberSweat is an online gathering place for health conscious women of all ages to get workout tips, nutrition advice, and to share ideas about living healthier lifestyles. Cybersweat offers tiered communities based on age and interests. There are three networking tiers: 21-to-35; 35-to-50; 50 and over. Women in these communities share their latest exercise and nutrition challenges and triumphs. A fun feature is the weekly Skype-based "mass exercise" led by a personal trainer. Members also set-up their own interaction via Skype. CyberSweat is developing a Nintendo Wii Fit connection and a mobile application. For those members who want to 'do good' while getting in shape, "Crunches for Cash" and "Sweating for Dollars" raise money for worthy causes such as Women to Women International and disaster relief. CyberSweat is a non-profit site that charges a small membership fee. The site relies on volunteers and donations to cover the remaining costs.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Revised Project Proposal
Katherine and Jen, thank you for your questions and suggestions. They were on point and helped me to focus on some 'squishy' parts of my project proposal.
A personal trainer would lead the Skype-based workout sessions. The times and days would be set and would be structured.
On the other hand, members of communities could arrange to have their own interaction via skype. These would be more free-wheeling and spontaneous.
Cybersweat would be different from other commercial sites because its primary goal would not be to sell something. Its objective would be to build communities of women based on exercising and developing healthier lifestyles and to connect on other levels as well.
Cybersweat would reach the next level of multimedia by connecting with Nintendo Wii Fit and potential mobile applications. (Good idea, Katherine.)
As Jen pointed out, there are a lot of different ideas and claims about nutrition and exercise. We would have professional nutritionists and trainers who would sift through all the garbage and select sites that offer solid advice based on scientific evidence. This could be done by two or three people and would be paid positions.
The site could be paid for by a nominal registration fee and/or selected advertising. If it's run as a non-profit we would try to keep overhead costs low and rely more on volunteers. Incentives would include creating communities, promoting healthier lives, and raising money for worthy causes.
The target audience would remain active, socially responsible women of all ages. There would be tiered communities. The main page would appeal to the entire group. Sub-categories would be tailored to meet the specific interests of each age group (as outlined above).
I would sign-up for Cybersweat. I've presented the idea to a few savvy women of various ages who said they'd participate.
I'd like to get some more input. What do you think?
A personal trainer would lead the Skype-based workout sessions. The times and days would be set and would be structured.
On the other hand, members of communities could arrange to have their own interaction via skype. These would be more free-wheeling and spontaneous.
Cybersweat would be different from other commercial sites because its primary goal would not be to sell something. Its objective would be to build communities of women based on exercising and developing healthier lifestyles and to connect on other levels as well.
Cybersweat would reach the next level of multimedia by connecting with Nintendo Wii Fit and potential mobile applications. (Good idea, Katherine.)
As Jen pointed out, there are a lot of different ideas and claims about nutrition and exercise. We would have professional nutritionists and trainers who would sift through all the garbage and select sites that offer solid advice based on scientific evidence. This could be done by two or three people and would be paid positions.
The site could be paid for by a nominal registration fee and/or selected advertising. If it's run as a non-profit we would try to keep overhead costs low and rely more on volunteers. Incentives would include creating communities, promoting healthier lives, and raising money for worthy causes.
The target audience would remain active, socially responsible women of all ages. There would be tiered communities. The main page would appeal to the entire group. Sub-categories would be tailored to meet the specific interests of each age group (as outlined above).
I would sign-up for Cybersweat. I've presented the idea to a few savvy women of various ages who said they'd participate.
I'd like to get some more input. What do you think?
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Project Pitch
CONCEPT:
CyberSweat.com (or org) would be a place for women to visit for the latest workout tips, nutrition advice, resource for sports medicine, workout apparel, to share ideas and information, to contribute to carefully selected causes and to have fun.
PITCH:
The importance of exercise and healthy nutrition is well established. Putting a healthy lifestyle into practice can be a daunting task or boring -- you need motivation.
I have developed a social network out of my twice a week TNT (group weight-training & cardio at the gym) and once a week NIA (dance, martial arts, meditation). We are lawyers, psychologists, professors, bankers, policy wonks, journalists and massage therapists and have taken our friendships outside the gym. We meet for "coffee talk" once a week and share the trials and tribulations of our personal and work lives -- as well as our latest workout/diet challenges. These relationships have become an integral part of my life and are what get me to the gym or the workout studio.
What if we took this approach to the cybersphere and expanded it to build a national or international community? How about taking it a step further and using the community to raise money for worthy causes? CyberSweat.com (org) would be a one-stop exercise, nutrition, sports medicine, apparel, networking website targeting socially responsible women who are interested in building an international community of like-minded people while doing good and getting in shape.
CyberSweat would feature the best links in each of the above categories and we'd create some of our own.
FUN FEATURES:
Members would register and choose an avatar (Superwoman, Wonder Woman, Minnie Mouse, GI Jane or your favorite "Golden Girl").
There would be opportunities for spontaneous Skype-based workout sessions within a community.
CyberSweat merchandise (t-shirts, etc.)
Videos featuring members and fitness experts
TARGET AUDIENCE:
Active, socially responsible women of all ages. That is a broad category but could be managed by offering tiered communities. The main page of the website would appeal to the entire group. Sub-categories would be tailored to meet the specific interests and needs of each age group.
For example, Tier 1 -- women 21-to-35. This community would build a community around their interests. The website would feature information, stories and ideas for that age group -- and advertising.
Tier 2 -- women 35-to-50
Tier 3 -- women over 50
DOING GOOD:
CyberSweat's communities could spring into action for good causes. "Sweating for Dollars" or "Crunches for Cash" as a way to funnel contributions to organizations such as Women to Women International, Suited for Change, etc. or to raise money for disaster relief.
GETTING WOMEN TO CYBERSWEAT
--Hire an SEO consultant to develop a strategy
--Use Facebook and other social media
MAKING $$$
Google AdSense
CyberSweat.com (or org) would be a place for women to visit for the latest workout tips, nutrition advice, resource for sports medicine, workout apparel, to share ideas and information, to contribute to carefully selected causes and to have fun.
PITCH:
The importance of exercise and healthy nutrition is well established. Putting a healthy lifestyle into practice can be a daunting task or boring -- you need motivation.
I have developed a social network out of my twice a week TNT (group weight-training & cardio at the gym) and once a week NIA (dance, martial arts, meditation). We are lawyers, psychologists, professors, bankers, policy wonks, journalists and massage therapists and have taken our friendships outside the gym. We meet for "coffee talk" once a week and share the trials and tribulations of our personal and work lives -- as well as our latest workout/diet challenges. These relationships have become an integral part of my life and are what get me to the gym or the workout studio.
What if we took this approach to the cybersphere and expanded it to build a national or international community? How about taking it a step further and using the community to raise money for worthy causes? CyberSweat.com (org) would be a one-stop exercise, nutrition, sports medicine, apparel, networking website targeting socially responsible women who are interested in building an international community of like-minded people while doing good and getting in shape.
CyberSweat would feature the best links in each of the above categories and we'd create some of our own.
FUN FEATURES:
Members would register and choose an avatar (Superwoman, Wonder Woman, Minnie Mouse, GI Jane or your favorite "Golden Girl").
There would be opportunities for spontaneous Skype-based workout sessions within a community.
CyberSweat merchandise (t-shirts, etc.)
Videos featuring members and fitness experts
TARGET AUDIENCE:
Active, socially responsible women of all ages. That is a broad category but could be managed by offering tiered communities. The main page of the website would appeal to the entire group. Sub-categories would be tailored to meet the specific interests and needs of each age group.
For example, Tier 1 -- women 21-to-35. This community would build a community around their interests. The website would feature information, stories and ideas for that age group -- and advertising.
Tier 2 -- women 35-to-50
Tier 3 -- women over 50
DOING GOOD:
CyberSweat's communities could spring into action for good causes. "Sweating for Dollars" or "Crunches for Cash" as a way to funnel contributions to organizations such as Women to Women International, Suited for Change, etc. or to raise money for disaster relief.
GETTING WOMEN TO CYBERSWEAT
--Hire an SEO consultant to develop a strategy
--Use Facebook and other social media
MAKING $$$
Google AdSense
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