Can you elaborate on 'dealing with staff'- as in they're rude? Or having to wait?
You mention you book online. Do you find that process tedious?
I agree overall it always had a godaddy vibe where I feel as if they're trying to upsell me on everything- but find that more annoying from a UX point.
Reserving and finding they oversold is one i've heard a bunch. deff working to change that. As for the tranny, was this something that happened at one of the "main brands" (hertz, avis) or a second tier one?
and could the fear be solved by automatic free insurance?
Ryan, thanks for your input!
I was under the impression Silvercar required you to take a shuttle there, is this not the case anymore? Or maybe not an issue for you?
This is a slippery slope. You have to keep in mind that >2% (some estimates as high as 7%) of Google Queries are related to lyrics/ RG related content. They also (arguably) have much better, much more relevant content.
As such a large amount of google searches would end up with someone wanting a RapGenius page - it's only fair that they would get preferential treatment over a niche startup/site/blog.
It's ironic... Doesn't it seem businesses you build with the goal of an exit turn into lifestyle businesses-- while the ones that you build as a lifestyle business tend to be the ones you get the most offers for.
I guess it goes back to the YC teachings of "Build something people want".
I think therefore you need to strive and be happy for your company to be a lifestyle business, even if your ultimate goal is an exit- or else you'll never have the passion to actually turn it into something worth exiting.
I chose option 3 because I think every business is therefore a bit of both. Because conversely, even a business which someone builds as a lifestyle-- will eventually exit if the "price is right".
For anyone that's going to claim snapchat as an example of this not being true-- I'd argue they're waiting for a higher valuation or to monetize and then go public-- both exit strategies
I agree... to an extent. But does blacklisting them help get more relevant search results?
Seems like the best scenario would be ignoring the extra links... My point is that, yes, Rap Genius did something wrong. But a punishment like this is equally as wrong- And it's Google showing the world that they run like a bureaucracy not a "start-up"* which I feel is how they portray themselves.
*I obviously KNOW Google's not a start-up, but i'm saying the pretend/try act like one. Ex: Should be caring more about accurate/relevant Search results for lyrics rather than if some tech start-up gamed their system. If they want to crack down on shady SEO tactics there are plenty of other places to start that result in LESS relevant results.
You're focusing soley on the rules, not the reasons for them. The rules are in place to make the most relevant results appear at the top. If RG was optimizing everyones search results for everyone- how can that be "bad".
Again, it's a super beaucratic way of looking at it-- whereas I'd say the "tech" way is looking at the bigger picture. And not punishing for punishments sake.
P.s. They said they would be retweeting only stuff they were interested/supported... Not just blanketly.
P.s.s. Down-voting a comment you don't agree with, but still adds something useful to the discussion-- yada yada, seems like censhorship too ;)
This is absolutely rediculous, google is upholding it's rules but forgetting the POINT of the rules. The whole point is to make the most relevant results come up on google searches. The fact that rapgenius needs to "hack their way" to higher link relevancy seems like a internal google problem and penalizing them makes googles results LESS relevant.
Tl;dr google's cutting off their nose in spite of their face.
I'm so confused at this backlash, this is hacker news- mahbod, tom and the rapgenius team have built an amazing product, and found a clever way to help with search engine optimization. Good for them. They're optimizing EVERYONES search experience-
I think it's ridiculous in this case for them not to have preferential page rank... If the average user would prefer them over a competitor ( which I beg someone to argue) then who cares if they creatively by-passed some ambiguous google guidelines.
What is the quantum of utility over other dating apps?
Why would you foremost like to discuss the app and only then "eventually build it" - why not jump right in and see if your future customers find it "cool and love..(it)"?