(This begins a regular weekly feature—Friday morning interviews with organizations of interest to small businesses.)
OddBodd originally was the name of a character from a UK spoof of the movie, Frankenstein. When Nolan Collins' (born in the UK) sister bestowed that nickname on him at the age of eight, he took it with good nature. In fact, it may have been kismet. Because Collins used it to brand his new venture.
"We needed a Google, and that was it" says Jen Collins, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, referring to the type of name that means nothing yet is hard to forget.
Hatched in Lake Bluff, IL., in 2006 and now in final development, OddBodd.com plans to be the on-line business portal. Catering especially to small businesses, OddBodd.com offers an impressive array of internet branding for its community.
Membership on the site includes access to video, event and job posting systems, also referral networking, contact info, a map and an about us section. All for a pre-launch price of $99. It is designed to be a place where consumers can connect with businesses and not just a place for businesses to make more business connections, although they can do that too!
"Our introductory ninety-nine dollar price buys a onetime, lifetime, all in membership," stated Ms. Collins. "We have a thousand businesses in twelve states signed up and over 150 different industries represented already."
OddBodd.com has 10 marketing reps in Chicago. And that's just a start. Through strong viral, street and on-line marketing campaigns, OddBodd.com intends to become a global presence.
You can get more information by contacting Jen Collins at jen@oddbodd.com or 847-445-4649. You can also go to http://www.oddbodd.com/bizzbodd/queenbodd or www.oddbodd.com to meet Jen and view the beta site.
I interviewed Jen about the business. Following are her comments. They act as insights and inspiration for small businesses everywhere. It's especially interesting to listen to her words now—at the front step of her and her husband's dream—and to imagine what those dreams may become:
Nolan came up with the concept about two and a half years ago. We owned a small safety business and found internet marketing to be frustrating. It was expensive, time consuming, and didn't get the results. There was dissatisfaction with trying to find a business online. You do a Google search and get fifty pages of junk.
Our business partnership works well. Nolan is analytical and tech oriented. He works with the development team. I enjoy being out in public so I handle all the marketing and networking.
We intend to level the playing field of keywords and keyword manipulation. All businesses in Oddbodd.com will be available to searchers in a fair and equitable way.
We had lots of time in R&D—the last two and a half years. We read expert books in the field, interviewed consumers about how they found businesses and listened to business owner frustrations about their online presence.
OddBodd.com has more for the business owner than online yellow pages, DEX or localized directories. With the best features of job posting, events and offers site, Oddbodd.com limits the number of places a business has to post information and spend money. Businesses also have more potential connections with their clients.
Nolan and I want to use this business to give back to the communities we serve—we even developed a program to benefit all non-profits.
We are completely dedicated to this venture and are grateful for the support from the people around us and our incredible advisors. We're very excited about the possibilities. We already have ideas for related applications in the future too.
And who knows—with a son and a daughter 6 and 4 years old, Jen and Nolan may have little OddBodds slouching toward the family business to help realize future dreams!
Blessed are the risk takers- they will change the world. In truth, they are the only ones who ever have.
Comments
I'm proud to say that I am one of the first BoddGuides. I have extensive experience in sales, marketing and advertising. When I was first introduced to the concept of OddBodd, I immediately registered a site for myself (I was a display ad account rep for a newspaper). I then met with Nolan, and when he further explained the concept, marketing strategy and how OddBodd was truly designed to help all types of businesses, I gave my two weeks notice and joined the team. My tag line became: "I may be odd but I'm not stupid!" Before the system was even "live", I registered over 100 businesses just based on the concept. At the time the site was static! Even before OddBodd.com was live, business owners grasped onto the idea and registered just by seeing it presented to them on paper! Well now it's quite a different and marvelous story. People are giving me their databases of contacts as personal referrals. I know that in some spectacular way, OddBodd.com is going to be a major influence in putting a spark into the economy. The system will allow businesses and consumers to connect on a personal level. Businesses will be so much easier to find. Phones and cash registers will start to ring. I consider myself very fortunate and I am so glad I went to the networking event where I met Mr. OddBodd and Queen Bodd, Nolan & Jen Collins. You never know what's going to happen unless you show up. So America, be prepared to see OddBodd.com showing up everywhere! BoddName: valface, a.k.a. Val Nelson
P.S. Not only has OddBodd created the most soft sales person oriented position, the BoddGuide (actually it's more like visiting and getting to know the local businesses - how fun), but has also created a new industry for videographers.
As president of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, I must say that I am truly impressed with the simplicity and cost effectivenss of the OddBodd concept when used to reach potential new business clients.
I have seen first hand how people are reacting to this combination of Facebook, My Space, etc. and the reactions are very positive.
This small business will soon be a large business that creates more jobs for us when we so desperately need them.
The OddBodd crew is to be congratulated for coming up with this great concept in inexpensive marketing. And it is FUN!
Dwight Houchins
President
LakeCounty Chamber of Commerce
847-249-3800
I'm a huge fan of oddbodd - the greatest part is that it cuts through the yellow pages / dex clutter and lets me get to know a business through facts and often video. I use it - and you should too.
Jeff Pinderski
Lake Forest, IL
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!