[Tutorial] How to create a Lockerz invite site & use twitter/facebook/craigslist

In this tutorial I will explain how I created http://lockerz.cameronkfield.com, and how to use facebook/craigslist/twitter to get refs.

First of all, my website doesn't use any sort of script that automatically invites people. It's setup so that when people submit their email address it is emailed to me. Then I just copy/paste it into Lockerz, and the invite is sent. I thought about using a script at first, but decided against it so that:

a) I could control who got invites to my site (so that I didn't get banned by people abusing the invite site)

b) If Lockerz was down the script would be useless and the invite would be lost

c) Inviting people manually helps me keep track of everything and stay on top of it all

SO, here is how you get a site like http://lockerz.cameronkfield.com

1) Find free hosting (google "free hosting")

2) You need a simple form that will ask the user for their email address, and then email it to you. Create a form using www.emailmeform.com - it will let you either use a captcha (default) or limit it to submissions 3 per IP...it's up to you, just be sure to use one or the other. Also put the same email address for spam email since sometimes they classify things that aren't spam as spam

3) Put the html form code that that website generates for you on your website, and toss up some pics/text about Lockerz so people know wtf it is - I went a step further and added a 'proof' section to prove that people have gotten prizes --> http://lockerz.cameronkfield.com/proof.html

4) Test if it works

5) /Profit

Note: The current layout on my site was created by a gamer - please do not copy it, please do not spam him asking if you can use it, please be creative.

Feel free to use any pics/text from my site.

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Using twitter/facebook/craigslist

For facebook and twitter, basically just spam your status/tweets with things like "Want free stuff? Check out [put your link here] !". For some examples check out my twitter feed --> www.twitter.com/cameronfield

Now for craigslist, you have to entice people and bend the truth sometimes. Here is exactly what I used on craigslist (since I posted in multiple cities I had to change the title/body slightly so that the system wouldn't notice the duplicates...but you can get a general idea):

Lockerz is the place to go to buy the coolest stuff at the lowest prices, watch exclusive video, discover new music, play the hottest games, hang out with your friends - and get rewarded for just about EVERYTHING you do on the site. Lockerz is giving away tons of prizes every friday - why you might ask? Because they want to gather a following! I spoke with one of their reps and was told that lockerz wants to become a hub that people go to to rent movies, get music, watch funny videos, buy new electronics, etc. So they figure the best way to do this is by giving stuff away FOR FREE!

Our mission is to be your daily habit, not a site for your parents or grandparents looking for their long-lost friends from Kindergarten.
One other thing you'll love about Lockerz are PTZ (or "Pointz"). PTZ are Lockerz' proprietary loyalty "currency" that you earn whenever you buy, watch, play, share, invite friends, or even just show up on Lockerz. Redeem PTZ at the PTZ Place for incredible prizes, great products and dream experiences. PTZ are really easy to earn! Everyday you can earn points just for logging in, and then earn even more PTZ for the 'dailies' which are questions that ask for your opinion (things like "Mac or PC" "What's your definition of going green" etc.). They're really easy and there's no wrong answer!

Some of the prizes include:

Macbook (1000 PTZ)
Xbox 360 games (100 PTZ)
Playstation 3 games (100 PTZ)
Apple TV (500 PTZ)
iPhone cases (35 PTZ)
USB flash drives (50 PTZ)
iPod Nano (300 PTZ)
iHome (325 PTZ)
iPod Shuffle (150 PTZ)

As you can see these guys are serious about getting attention. The best part is, we can all benefit from it!

To get an INSTANT invite check out http://lockerz.cameronkfield.com !

Also I would always include 2 pics, I've attached some to this post as examples.

People will frequently flag your listings, so just post in a bunch of cities and check every few days and repost if it gets removed.

Make an account on craigslist, it will make things 10x easier. Post this in either for sale > free or for sale > electronics and make the title things like "Want free electronics? Check this out!" or "Who said nothing in life was free?!" - those worked for me.

Anyways, hopefully this will help you guys get some extra refs for the restock on the 15th. If this tutorial helped you, please leave thanks.

Let me know if you have any questions! I'll be glad to help you out.

Thanks CAM!

Cameronfield is the guy who helped me to make my site.
I used this exact method.
Kudos and karma to him.

No problem...I know it's not extremely thorough, but there's not a whole lot to it...

Soon I'll add info on how I used Facebook/Myspace/Craigslist to get refs as well.

can i borrow some of your images and text cameron with permission

Yeah, also the site design that the_creator is using is the same design I used originally. I take no credit for it in now way, I found it when researching lockerz before I made the site. So feel free to copy that all you want.

My current layout is actually a gamer's (all credit goes to him), so please do not copy it. Feel free to use any of the text/images, but be creative with the rest of the layout. Most of the prize pics I used for my 'proof' section were from the Lockerz facebook. Add Lockerz as a friend, then go to their page and click "pics" and there are a shitload of prize pics people have uploaded.

see my sig

too hard 4 me lol
thanks

What "free" hosting do you guys use?

Freewebs, ripway, freehostia