"So what does Zaadz actually DO?"
Posted on Sep 13th, 2006
by
Siona
So like most of you, I'm sure, I keep getting asked - especially by my friends and family - "What, really, does Zaadz DO? I've checked out the site, but what's it really all about? What's the plan?" (And unlike most of you, I work here, so I do feel somewhat obliged to answer.) While I tend use this as an opportunity to evangelize my usual pitch about good business, the triple bottom line, and the two Ms (money and mission! Or the two Ps! Profit and purpose . . Or . . well, you get the picture), here's my more focused description. Just in case, y'know, any of you have been wanting for a workable reply.
"What does Zaadz do? Well, we've been working on growing our essential foundation: we're a social networking site with a purpose. Zaadz is, at the core, a community of individuals committed to the idea of changing the world by being the change. We've already got an amazing - and growing! - crowd of impassioned people who are clear about their values and their dedication to positive development -- on both the personal and planetary level.
"Our site is currently invite onlly, but partnerships are an ongoing part of our business model. We provide discussion forums and the space for a semi-permeable online community for those organizations who resonate with our purpose. From WIE Magazine to individuals such as Bishop Spong and conferences and movements like Peace through Commerce, we offer both a targeted wealth of interested individuals and tools that encourage the connection of their existing members.
"We're just about to move into our next phase, that of serving small businesses and socially conscious entrepreneurs. We'll be launching our zPro tools shortly. Imagine you're a massage therapist, a life coach, a personal trainer, or acupuncturist. What if you could manage your clients, scheduling, and payments online? Instead of having someone call you to arrange an appointment, they could check your availability on your site, coordinate when they'd like to come in, and pay up front. We'll offer customizable pages, newsletters and other tools, and, perhaps best of all, visibility. Zaadz is already ranked in the top 10,000 sites (approaching the top 5,000) on Alexa, and we plan to be THE go-to page for conscious consumers. Small businesses that join us don't need to fight for recognition; all that's needed is for their clients to find Zaadz, and do a local search. We're also in the process of teaming up with various certification and educational organizations, so that massage schools can make sure their new graduates can easily step into the world of online marketing. And we'll be doing event registration and processing as well . . . after all, our user base is nothing if not an event administrator's dream.
"Of course, this is just the beginning. Our goal is to be THE most trusted and impactful company in the world, and will be expanding into the 'real world' before too long. As soon as 2008, you'll be able to visit the first Zaadz Oasis, a sweet blend of yoga studio and spa, with a cafe offering organic foods and probiotic drinks. (WiFi enabled, of course, so that you work-from-home types will have a Starbucks alternative . . . and if you're feeling too stressed, just schedule a chair massage . . ) Zaadz Resorts will help you unwind, Zaadz publishing will help you grow, and from there . . . well, you've probably got a taste of where we're headed."
Or something like that.

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LOVE IT! I am soooo going to be utilizing this page when people ask me about where Zaadz is at and where it's going! :) Beautiful potentiality… of something that's already awesome - kinda feels like a never-ending lotus bloom!
thanks for sharing your thoughts Siona! very well articulated. love it! i'm glad i work here.
as for my personal vision of Zaadz check out this geeky musing :)
Well said!
right on. can Zaadz support “conscious business” while also having a sense of humor and a dark side?
hell yeah. we've got lots of sense of humor floating around here. as for the dark side, leave that to me :)
The “local” focus of the Zaadz business model leaves out all of us folks who live hours away from cities, and doesn't allow for the usual internet shopping idea. Why?
Over on the Conscious Capitalism pod a woman has started an external links page for this, and there's also talk of setting up a barter page as well. It feels strange somehow. Could you explain this?
Thanks,
Lauren
Wonderful Ideas, Siona! Keep it up!
much love, Rohit
wonderful, wonderful approach to small businesses.
ACL
funny how I stumbled on this page exactly 2 years after it was written. It's 2008 now. I am still looking forward to Zaadz oasis. And Zpro. :) Or is it gonna be Gaia Oasis now? I guess nobody expected it to be sold to Gaim then. It's still a great site of course. :)