Re:Show HN: Use Intercourse to improve your pitch – we'd lov...
by gmays on Sunday December 22, 2013 @06:38PM
(#6952293)
Intercourse, brilliant name. There are so many funny ways to market it, particularly in the US. In fact it doesn't matter what this app does, the name itself has a lot of potential (it is a cool app by the way).
-At the end of a pitch when users are asked to rate it: Was it good for you?
-Make it social: Intercourse with friends / Intercourse with strangers
-Make it spread: Viral marketing campaign called STD.
-Make it practical: Marketing campaign about using phone/apps safely: Practice safe intercourse.
-Best practices: Never drink before Intercourse or you may not rise to the occasion.
-Have rankings: Let people brag about how good they are at Intercourse.
-Voyeur mode: The feature that lets people watch other people 'Intercoursing' should be called voyeur mode.
-Inactive user message: It's been too long since last Intercourse. Use it to make sure it still works. Call inactive user mode 'High School Band'
-Too short of a pitch: Really dude? Done already?
-At events: Intercourse in public.
-Multiple participants: Group Intercourse.
-Call the intro video: The Talk
-Help/Info section: Learn more about the birds and the bees...
Re:Show HN: Use Intercourse to improve your pitch – we'd lov...
by MJR on Sunday December 22, 2013 @06:45PM
(#6952318)
I completely disagree. 'Funny ways to market it' will instead be 'Offensive and inappropriate' in many settings. The average person on the street doesn't give presentations, so immediately you're trying to target an education or business market. Is that the audience that will respond best to a name that can be taken out of context or isn't easy to grasp? Simply choosing that name already gives you a steep hill to climb. Not every company can take a name like this and turn it into a viable brand. There aren't that many opportunities to be a Virgin Records and make it work.
Re:Show HN: Use Intercourse to improve your pitch – we'd lov...
by gmays on Sunday December 22, 2013 @07:02PM
(#6952366)
This isn't a 'presentation' app, it's not PowerPoint. It's a 'pitch' app. In this context, who gives pitches? That's right, a younger, more casual audience, not 50+ execs.
Besides, contrary to popular belief most people have a sense of humor. It's OK to laugh at sex jokes, it really is. I know there's been a wave of political correctness around here lately, but this is a bit much. It just makes me picture a bunch of boring people with zero personality too afraid to laugh at anything, and thus too afraid to connect with their audience because they just might offend someone's sensibilities.
This is realistic way to make Intercourse go viral (teehee). You need to take advantage of opportunities like this. This was serendipitous, but great marketers sometimes can't even create opportunities like this on purpose.
Re:Show HN: Use Intercourse to improve your pitch – we'd lov...
by bushido on Sunday December 22, 2013 @07:24PM
(#6952417)
> This isn't a 'presentation' app, it's not PowerPoint. It's a 'pitch' app. In this context, who gives pitches? That's right, a younger, more casual audience, not 50+ execs.
A pitch is a very popular term in the financial and investment banking(IB) industry. Granted the people making pitches in finance are relatively young, but the audience is usually older. Pitches are usually paired with pitch books[0].
Now it's true that people have a sense of humor. But in these settings you have to let the person being pitched usually make the first move to open the stage for humor or animated language. The risk of offending the people being pitched is usually too great (even in a non IB setting).
I know quite a few teachers/professors/etc. who like using interactive tools who would love this app. Most have a good sense of humor, unfortunately I doubt they would take risks of suggesting intercourse in their classes either (I'd have to ask 'em to confirm).
Re:Show HN: Use Intercourse to improve your pitch – we'd lov...
by aroch on Sunday December 22, 2013 @07:00PM
(#6952358)
The more likely reason is intercourse.com is taken and .io is the new, favorite non-standard TLD in the tech and startup world. Just like .me was a few years ago.
Re:Show HN: Use Intercourse to improve your pitch – we'd lov...
by electic on Sunday December 22, 2013 @07:43PM
(#6952458)
DOA. This service will not get of the ground because of its name. I suggest you change it. There are so many other names that you can pick that do not have such a strong double meaning. You are unnecessarily hurting your startup, it is a challenge you do not need.
Re:Show HN: Use Intercourse to improve your pitch – we'd lov...
by MurrayHurps on Sunday December 22, 2013 @05:43PM
(#6952108)
Prepared to reconsider the name if people actually object to it, but quietly hoping we can reclaim the definition of "communication or dealings between individuals or groups".
Re:Show HN: Use Intercourse to improve your pitch – we'd lov...
by timtamboy63 on Sunday December 22, 2013 @06:54PM
(#6952342)
Definitely reconsider the name. Intercourse would work great if it was an app targeted to the general public, but definitely not in the education/business market.
Re:Show HN: Use Intercourse to improve your pitch – we'd lov...
by minimax on Sunday December 22, 2013 @07:58PM
(#6952497)
Ok picture this. Susan is in her cube. Nick, the office's resident smarmy dickhead walks up.
"Hey Susan, want to try Intercourse with me?"
Now Susan is extremely uncomfortable and Nick the dickhead gets to claim he was just talking about software.
It's cute what you're trying to do with the name but it won't work. Just look at the joke threads already in the comments here. It's all the proof you need.
-At the end of a pitch when users are asked to rate it: Was it good for you?
-Make it social: Intercourse with friends / Intercourse with strangers
-Make it spread: Viral marketing campaign called STD.
-Make it practical: Marketing campaign about using phone/apps safely: Practice safe intercourse.
-Best practices: Never drink before Intercourse or you may not rise to the occasion.
-Have rankings: Let people brag about how good they are at Intercourse.
-Voyeur mode: The feature that lets people watch other people 'Intercoursing' should be called voyeur mode.
-Inactive user message: It's been too long since last Intercourse. Use it to make sure it still works. Call inactive user mode 'High School Band'
-Too short of a pitch: Really dude? Done already?
-At events: Intercourse in public.
-Multiple participants: Group Intercourse.
-Call the intro video: The Talk
-Help/Info section: Learn more about the birds and the bees...
Ok, I'll stop now.
Besides, contrary to popular belief most people have a sense of humor. It's OK to laugh at sex jokes, it really is. I know there's been a wave of political correctness around here lately, but this is a bit much. It just makes me picture a bunch of boring people with zero personality too afraid to laugh at anything, and thus too afraid to connect with their audience because they just might offend someone's sensibilities.
This is realistic way to make Intercourse go viral (teehee). You need to take advantage of opportunities like this. This was serendipitous, but great marketers sometimes can't even create opportunities like this on purpose.
A pitch is a very popular term in the financial and investment banking(IB) industry. Granted the people making pitches in finance are relatively young, but the audience is usually older. Pitches are usually paired with pitch books[0].
Now it's true that people have a sense of humor. But in these settings you have to let the person being pitched usually make the first move to open the stage for humor or animated language. The risk of offending the people being pitched is usually too great (even in a non IB setting).
I know quite a few teachers/professors/etc. who like using interactive tools who would love this app. Most have a good sense of humor, unfortunately I doubt they would take risks of suggesting intercourse in their classes either (I'd have to ask 'em to confirm).
[0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_book
Fingers crossed...
The name is not worth risking the future of the app.
However, one thing which is certain is, that it will definitely draw attention :)
"Hey Susan, want to try Intercourse with me?"
Now Susan is extremely uncomfortable and Nick the dickhead gets to claim he was just talking about software.
It's cute what you're trying to do with the name but it won't work. Just look at the joke threads already in the comments here. It's all the proof you need.
What a good, WOODY, word. ;)
1. Post a 60 second pitch about your startup/project 2. People provide feedback
We ran out of steam after a few weeks, it was difficult getting people to post their videos (chicken & the egg thing), plus we got distracted etc.
You said it's a part of a bigger project, so I wish you luck! (funny, I'm also based in Sydney).
L. intercursus, a running between - inter, between, cursum, to run.
An equivalent word is intercurrent. Same etymology, without the modern connotation.
Having heard myself on recording before, and seen myself on camera, I will be waiting for the Android Version 0:-)
Would love to hear how you find it.