It's an interesting ploy, but the success is going to be based entirely on what type of beta tester you're trying to attract.

Personally, as an introverted tech, I'd be interested in signing up, poking around, and filing bug reports, but requiring me to spam my friends list for an invite isn't something I'm willing to do.

I thought the same thing at first...but then realize they're not asking you to tell your friends before you get an invite. They're asking after you've already signed up.

Seems like a good way to "price" access to the beta at an amount people are willing to "spend."

You make a good point. We've been thinking about other ways for people to move up in the line that involve some of those things.

We don't require you to spam your friends list for an invite, but if you share the link with your friends, you'll get it earlier :)

For me personally I wouldn't share things with my friends that are an unknown quality unless they themselves traffic in things that are of an unknown quality. Most of the people on my friend's list are not interested in beta testing.

Same. Anyone know why they already changed it back?

It's still the 'viral' one for me. Home page asks for the email, then gives me http://fork.ly/6KYLWf .

StackExchange did something similar with their private beta where they asked you to embed an image and link to their site somewhere on the web. Clever SEO hack...

Kind of reminds me of Dropbox's viral referral program. The spam-ish aspect can get annoying at a point, but the interesting thing is that it's not the website that's spamming you, it's your friends, so you can't really be mad at the website.

This makes me think the viral referral model still has some untapped potential.

It doesn't need to be spammy. If it were me, I would just feel a little more incentive to post about it on Twitter/FB and other places than I would otherwise. Brilliant idea.

As a one time idea, this is unique and clever.

Unfortunately, I foresee many "me too" companies that will make this a tired paradigm.

I disagree. I could see this working over and over if executed well.

Imagine a brand new site called Hulu that promises free TV shows in a legal way. To get on the beta, you do the normal list sign up but they tell you that you could get first access if you referred 3 people. Would you dig out 3 people to refer? My response is "Hell ya!" if I think my friends will like it.

How you get people to want the service bad enough that they'll invite others to get on a priority list will likely be the thing that people will need to focus on.

If I was desperate to get an account, I would create fake e-personas to sign up as well. I would be embarrassed to spam my friends for my benefit.

"if I think my friends will like it."

So, through this process, your early access is restricted to sites your friends like?

If I like something, I'm sure I'll know 3 people who will likely like the same thing.

If you are trying to get 'priority' or early access to the site/service then you have no idea if your friends will like it. You don't even know if you like it yet.

I think for the "viral" launch page, there should be some vague information about what the site/product is about.

This was covered on HN previously, although misleading title. "Wordpress Themes for Launching your Minimum Viable Product" http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1697302

If this works, someone should productize this: a "launching soon" widget that anyone can use.

It reminds me of Living Social referral program:

After you buy the deal, you'll get a unique link to share. If three people buy the deal using your link, then your deal is free.

What if this idea is changed to some sort of competition? Something like the top 10 people who refer the most friends will get a free subscription as a prize.

This has worked well for us at http://feastery.com. No issues with the quality of the invitees.

No, you put in your email and then get the link.

Spam friends; obtain bauble.

It's not that new an idea. I tend to lose a teeny bit of respect for people who fall for it.

Site's down

Museo logotype FTW