By Freddie Holmes
A would-be entrepreneur from Caerphilly has turned to internet users for investment into his homegrown geek website Chaos Hour.
Padraig Balch, 25, from Van Road, Caerphilly, started the website roughly one year ago and is now using Kickstarter online to take his website to the next level.
Kickstarter allows web users to fund creative projects by pledging money online.
Each project is independently created and the developer retains complete responsibility by setting a goal and deadline for all funding. If the full amount is raised before the deadline date, then the funding is awarded.
Chaos Hour is an online ‘geek publication’ carrying news on gaming, comics and films.
Padraig said: “Using Kickstarter allows people to buy into Chaos Hour.
“If someone is interested in the idea then they can put money towards it, which ultimately comes back to them. It’s not a charity, whatever you put towards it you get back.”
The website has only been running for a year but has since seen visitor numbers of more than 2,500 a day coming to the site, with 600,000 in total so far.
Padraig said: “The jump in popularity of the website was huge, because at the start nothing was really happening, which was disheartening. But after three months we suddenly started getting loads of traffic to the website and it’s boomed from there.
“It’s really encouraging being supported by people that work in the same industry as you and that appreciate the same things.
“Using Kickstarter allows you to test the market to see if people will like your product, and it seems they do with Chaos Hour.”
Padraig’s Kickstarter project for Chaos Hour has already hit the £2,000 funding target.
He said: “I have huge faith in the site and the team behind it.
“Being part of the team that runs a website feels so amazing.
“Seeing the reactions of people that use the website through videos and interactions is really heartwarming.”
Funding for the Chaos Hour project on Kickstarter ended on Saturday September 7 at 4pm.
Padraig added: “I don’t really have an end goal, all I want is a self sustained workplace where people enjoy what they’re doing and people enjoy being part of the community we’ve created.
“I think that to get paid to do something that you love is everyone’s dream.”
• For more information visit www.chaoshour.com.
I donated as I think supporting local business is important.
However, the website is hideous. The dark colours give the impression that you are trying to imitate G4TV or Gamespot which I am sure is not your intention. Use brighter shades and use the colour white more. It instantly gives a cleaner, less cluttered look.
The think borders around the different sections on the home page need to go and a back ground colour should be allowed to shine through (preferably white. The images linking you to Facebook, Twitter and Youtube need to be in colour too.
There needs to be a greater use of subcategories and filters. For example, when you click on 'reviews' instead of listing every review, have categories allowing you to filter for film reviews only or game reviews only etc…
The articles are mostly well written but also lack information and usually constructed of rambles. For the reviews go into more depth about the game engine or game mechanics.
Peer to peer lending is going to be massive and it wouldn't surprise me if in time any smaller loans are typically done this way rather than a mainstream bank.