Ask HN: I'm looking for a partner

[lachyg]

Hi Guys,

I'm not totally sure if this type of post is allowed, but I'd love to partner with a like minded person from HN.

I'll tell you a bit about the site, and my dialemma. I have run this site for 2-3 weeks, and it has just surpassed 400,000 page views. I hit profitability in the first week, and it is growing quite well. I'm making money through sponsored cases and affiliate revenue.

The problem is, I'm not sure what type of partner. Whether I want someone with good connections, PR ability, or the technical know how.

Would appreciate all input!

Cheers, Lachy

[lachyg]

http://ipadcasefinder.com/ is the site. I'm doing quite well and plan on expanding it to be a network of Case Finding sites. It may look a bit 'lame', but it has the potential to be a very big earner (We could easily make $4k profit in our first month).

[valisystem]

Don't call a your product 'lame' just because it is simple.

Making it good as you did is nothing but 'that' simple, maybe your experience make you think it is the natural way to go but not everyone follow that way.

And don't be ashamed that such a product doesn't trigger any real technical challenge. Be proud of it.

[orblivion]

Well whatever we think, clearly your customers don't think it's lame :)

[may]

First and formost, you want someone with intergerity. Someone who has your back and won't screw you over.

They may be great at coding, or business or PR or something else entirely. But you want someone you can trust by your side. Preferably someone who's great at something you're not, since you seem to have your end running just fine.

Someone who's in it for the right reasons.

At least, that's how I do it.

My two cents, - Nicholas E. May http://www.notjustbinary.com

[lachyg]

Ok, so I've found this rip of a site: http://ipadcasestore.org. What should I do? I know we bought the theme, but they ripped the concept, the filtering, the theme, etc. This sucks! (Also, they're ranking for our keyword - Which we had for about a week, then Google dropped us from all major keywords).

[lewi]

Oh that is harsh! What douche bags!

[gosuri]

Congratulations. You have solved the problem really well.

My biz partner is currently some one I went to school with and a good friend for years, some one I can share my bank account password with.

Connections are important but my personal thought is if you have a great product and achieved the market-fit hiring a professional or an advisor to help is at your disposal. But don't partner if the only asset they bring is connections.

I recommend looking in your circle first, some one you've worked with in the past, understands you really well, shares your vision and trust you.

There is some great advise on http://venturehacks.com/articles/pick-cofounder that might help you.

Good luck with the search.

[kevinelliott]

I think before you can really pick a partner, you need to think very thoroughly about what you're very strong at, and what you could use a bit (or a lot) of improvement at.

For so many people, it's hard to be willing to identify what you are not so great at doing. Sometimes it's just a matter of admitting it. In other cases, you may actually struggle to determine where your weakest points are.

Then, once you've done that, you should look at the list and think about what you LIKE to do, and what you DON'T LIKE to do.

Prepare a final list which is composed of a cross section of what you are/aren't good at doing, and what you do/don't like to do.

Chances are, a person who is good at and likes to do what you aren't good at and don't like to do, is a good match for you.

[kevinelliott]

In other words: If you're good at web design and programming, then perhaps you want someone who's more business and idea focused. This person would need to have some connections too.

Otherwise, if you just don't like doing the design portion, but you really like to code, then find another entrepreneurial minded person who like to design.

[jacquesm]

Congratulations, you've got a live one.

Be critical about your prospective partners, and build in a trial period, if at all feasible meet in person.

[lachyg]

Sounds like a good plan. First step is finding a partner though!

[vaksel]

since iPad is a registered trademark...you can lose that domain at any time

Milk it as much as you can...but don't expect to keep it forever.

I think a big problem with trying to rank for trademark terms, is that you'll never beat out apple for the #1 position. So even though "ipad case", is searched 70K+ a month, #2 position will only see a 1/3 of that if lucky.

[lachyg]

Do you think Apple would come at us?

[one010101]

I agree mostly, but I would never say what can or can't happen, since this is in the civil arena. It all depends on what a jury would consider "reasonable" and that's hard to nail down. At the end of the day I think you are right, but Apple might like the value added and may not decide this is someone worth investing their massive resources to mobilize against. I'd prepare for it, but it is by no means inevitable.

[mawhidby]

There was a HN thread a few months ago regarding a cofounder wish list. Here's a link to the Google Spreadsheet that was created http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AgCvDTyBjHdOdDFfMENq...

[shafqat]

I just clicked on a link over to a vendor, and didn't see any affiliate tags on the URL. How do you make money on this purchase?

The product was the first one (CNS360 Neoprene)?

Great looking site, and nice idea.

[lachyg]

We only make money on some of the cases!

[pdx]

When I Google ipad case, I don't find this site.

When I go to google keywords and check ipad case I get 165K searches per month, and that's broad, not phrase.

How are so many people finding you?

[lachyg]

That's a bit of a problem. We had a very high ranking position on that term #5 or so. Then we suddenly dissappeared on every single term. We're trying to get in touch with Google on this issue - just to make it clear - we did no spam / blackhat.

[wesley]

Why would you need a partner for a simple affiliate site like this?

[lachyg]

I plan on expanding quite a bit. Setting up a huge network of sites, expanding on features, working out the best ways of marketing and SEO.

[quizbiz]

Please email me nnlevy at google's mail service. (For general purposes, you may want to add your contact info in your bio).

[lachyg]

Emailed you.

[rockstar9]

Can you describe how you got your initial traffic?

I'm very curious, and will probably be helpful to the community :)

[lachyg]

Well, it was basically just getting featured on big blogs, driving links and traffic. Then keeping it going on Twitter. What I do is find junior writers on the blogs, and then discuss the site with them, my story, etc. They will usually do a post.

Now my job is to keep it going.

[dord]

If you're interested in a techie startup partner, I'd be happy to tell you more about myself. dan at danmunro dot com

[eagleal]

If you're ok with a front-end, design bg guy, email me pmura A/T pmura.commercial

[charlesdm]

Throw me a mail if you want to have a chat. cdmba1 at gmail dot com

[lachyg]

Sent :-)

[JarekS]

Maybe you should share a link to your site?

[zackattack]

How did you come up with the idea?

Also, according to http://danielbru.com/2010/05/03/announcing-my-next-venture/ you made Daring Fireball...nice.

[lachyg]

Thanks! Just to be clear, Daniel was a partner, he's now just an advisor. I'm not Daniel :)

My dad basically told me that I should be making some passive income, and a few days previous my friend dropped and cracked my iPad (without a case). Thus, iPCF was born! Hah!

[aneth]

You sure got a lot of coverage and link love really quickly for a fairly simple idea. I'm curious how you accomplished that.

[lachyg]

It's really quite simple actually. I know it sounds cliche, but if it's good, people will write about it (if you tell them too). Basically, I get in touch with junior writers at the sites I target, and talk to them for a while before asking them for a favour.

Usually works!