Comments on: Can ChaCha Be Saved? http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/ a blog by SmallBox bloggers blogging about Internets and such Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:07:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: PJ Christie http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/comment-page-1/#comment-305 PJ Christie Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:21:00 +0000 http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/#comment-305 Oh hey I meant to mention that last week Cha Cha did indeed sync accounts with Twitter. I haven't used it yet but it is good to see a local company integrating to hot web applications. Oh hey I meant to mention that last week Cha Cha did indeed sync accounts with Twitter. I haven’t used it yet but it is good to see a local company integrating to hot web applications.

]]> By: IndySawmill http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/comment-page-1/#comment-304 IndySawmill Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:52:00 +0000 http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/#comment-304 Ahem... I meant to say...<br /><br />Blackberry/iPhone + Google killed the Cha Cha star... Ahem… I meant to say…

Blackberry/iPhone + Google killed the Cha Cha star…

]]> By: IndySawmill http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/comment-page-1/#comment-303 IndySawmill Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:51:00 +0000 http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/#comment-303 Blackberry/iPhone killed the Cha Cha star.... Blackberry/iPhone killed the Cha Cha star….

]]> By: Colleen http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/comment-page-1/#comment-297 Colleen Fri, 20 Mar 2009 20:10:00 +0000 http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/#comment-297 I've never been a fan of ChaCha,it feels like an unnecessary middle man. I do agree having human customer service is nice and I prefer in many situations but with the internet being so accessible on hand held devices, why the need for ChaCha? I've been googling since I was a teenager, I know how to search out and get an answer I don't need ChaChas help. The Twitter/Cha Cha mash up is interesting but again why even use Cha Cha. Just twitter if anyone has good Sushi restaurants suggestions.... So I think maybe it's time to say avoir to Cha Cha. I’ve never been a fan of ChaCha,it feels like an unnecessary middle man. I do agree having human customer service is nice and I prefer in many situations but with the internet being so accessible on hand held devices, why the need for ChaCha? I’ve been googling since I was a teenager, I know how to search out and get an answer I don’t need ChaChas help. The Twitter/Cha Cha mash up is interesting but again why even use Cha Cha. Just twitter if anyone has good Sushi restaurants suggestions…. So I think maybe it’s time to say avoir to Cha Cha.

]]> By: PJ Christie http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/comment-page-1/#comment-295 PJ Christie Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:05:00 +0000 http://blog.smallboxweb.com/2009/03/17/can-chacha-be-saved/#comment-295 I'm not going to worry too much about ChaCha for one reason. Patents. It's no secret that ChaCha is the primary vehicle for Scott Jones to build a business around his <a HREF="http://www.scottajones.com/index.php?q=patents" REL="nofollow">patents</a>.<br/><br/>I can't get into the question of if his patents are enforceable in the realm of some of these topics on the page, but I can tell you that<br/><br/>a. mobile services is and will continue to grow exponentially<br/><br/>b. we can't get stuck on the idea that search always has to be global and all things to all people<br/><br/>c. lots of humongous corporations are spending big bucks trying to deliver good customer service efficiently and effectively to acquire and retain customers.<br/><br/>I'm going to assume that the business analysts at work can connect these dots. Use Scott's patents to improve corporate customer service and deliver results via mms for their clients with an ad on the end.<br/><br/>What I would do, and nobody asked me, is to position a company like ChaCha or Twitter (which for me is only a mobile application for that matter) to deploy custom customer management software with the purpose of getting real people to answer distributed support questions via mobile search.<br/><br/>Then add on the upsell. Here's some common customer service problems I've needed help with:<br/><br/>utility company - what's the status of my installation - now sign up for our energy saver program<br/><br/>broadband internet - what are the SMTP settings I need for my email - upgrade to VOIP phone<br/><br/>government - what are the filing deadlines for my homestead exemption tax discount - vote for the white guy<br/><br/>Traditional searching methods provided no answers to these questions. Spending time on the phone when I'm paying daytime rates for cellular minutes is a real drag.<br/><br/>If I were to irresponsibly start throwing numbers around, I would guess they have 9 and maybe 10 figure$ wrapped up in patenting some valuable concepts. Life is long and I have to believe Mr. Jones is shrewd enough to make it pay in the long run, despite the seeming impossibility of success with the model the way it is today. I’m not going to worry too much about ChaCha for one reason. Patents. It’s no secret that ChaCha is the primary vehicle for Scott Jones to build a business around his patents.

I can’t get into the question of if his patents are enforceable in the realm of some of these topics on the page, but I can tell you that

a. mobile services is and will continue to grow exponentially

b. we can’t get stuck on the idea that search always has to be global and all things to all people

c. lots of humongous corporations are spending big bucks trying to deliver good customer service efficiently and effectively to acquire and retain customers.

I’m going to assume that the business analysts at work can connect these dots. Use Scott’s patents to improve corporate customer service and deliver results via mms for their clients with an ad on the end.

What I would do, and nobody asked me, is to position a company like ChaCha or Twitter (which for me is only a mobile application for that matter) to deploy custom customer management software with the purpose of getting real people to answer distributed support questions via mobile search.

Then add on the upsell. Here’s some common customer service problems I’ve needed help with:

utility company – what’s the status of my installation – now sign up for our energy saver program

broadband internet – what are the SMTP settings I need for my email – upgrade to VOIP phone

government – what are the filing deadlines for my homestead exemption tax discount – vote for the white guy

Traditional searching methods provided no answers to these questions. Spending time on the phone when I’m paying daytime rates for cellular minutes is a real drag.

If I were to irresponsibly start throwing numbers around, I would guess they have 9 and maybe 10 figure$ wrapped up in patenting some valuable concepts. Life is long and I have to believe Mr. Jones is shrewd enough to make it pay in the long run, despite the seeming impossibility of success with the model the way it is today.

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