subject: The Groupon Clone and the Social Internet [print this page] The Groupon Clone and the Social Internet
Some Internet innovations are centered on one site. Online retailers who operate on a national level, for instance, are synonymous with a few big names in the marketplace. Sometimes, however, Internet innovations involve how commerce is conducted. One of the new features that Internet marketers are exploring are group buying scripts. These offer several different ways that web site owners can increase revenue.
Normally, advertisements on the Internet are fairly one-way affairs. The customer sees them and maybe they respond to a call to action or maybe they don't. The groupon is a combination of a direct sale and an advertisement. The groupon, as the name implies, is essentially a group coupon. These are offered by businesses based on there being enough interest for them to make the deal offered profitable. For a business, the calculation is very simple. For example, a restaurant may be able to offer a plate that is normally $12 at $8 if they could get 100 people to buy it. The groupon allows people to sign up for the deal and, if enough do, the offer is provided.
This is dependent upon a group buying script. This is a script that is installed on a web server that offers this sort of power to the site. The groupon clone script allows users to sign up for the deal and provides other functions, as well. The best examples are compatible with the social networking sites and offer forums and other features that make the site attractive to a wider variety of users. Some groupon clone products, for example, will create a forum thread for every offer posted to the site.
A groupon clone isn't restricted to one particular product. With the increasing use of social networking among consumers, it's feasible that any number of diverse offers could be pitched from the same site. Users who found an offer that was suitable for a friend may choose to share it with them via one of the social networking services provided by the appropriate module.
A groupon clone script, though it performs a very technical role on a site, will usually have modules and other familiar systems for expanding functionality. It's still advisable to get a groupon clone that comes with support to ensure that you're never lost. These sites are easy to administer and can address any number of niches.