Blog

LaunchPad: Rising from the Ashes

Posted by Rick Hosmer on May 20 2009| 1 Comments

After developing a great regional online social networking platform in 2008, LaunchPadINW decided to change how it worked. Unfortunately, that change resulted in a lot of members bailing on the product and going to Facebook for their social networking experience.

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to go backward. That's what LaunchPadINW did. Yesterday, they admitted their error and are re-launching their social networking site back on the original Ning platform.

The way they handled the announcement was inspired. They sent out an email to members comparing their botched "upgrade" to other "Great Disasters of America's Past." While the ill-fated "upgrade" doesn't quite compare to the Titanic, Hindenburg, or Exxon Valdez, over 1,100 members were affected by the crash. LaunchPadINW is inviting "survivors" back to the original site. I know I will be happy to come back to LaunchPad.

Way to go Bill Kalivas, Bill Peabody, Allen Battle, and Michael Orr. You guys took a tough situation and came out winners.

Find out more at the LaunchPad website.