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Where.com Secures $11M Funding and a New Blogger

May 21, 2007 By Leave a Comment

We are proud to announce that a new client of ours, uLocate Communications, recently received an $11 Million round of funding through Venrock, Grand Banks Capital and Kodiak Venture Partners, and they will be using that funding to further their new and exciting mobile platform at Where.com. In addition to the funding, One By One Media and Bloggers For Hire will be providing them a professional blogger to jump into the Where.com application and use it as a consumer and to post about his experiences and thoughts on the application.  Where.com’s platform is very exciting, as is stated from the press release:

WHERE is the first application development platform that addresses the major challenges facing developers and operators in the mobile application landscape. Built on the same framework that powers MapQuestâ„¢ FindMe and Helio’sâ„¢ Buddy Beacon, WHERE delivers the promise of marrying mobile technology with GPS. As a result, consumers have a wealth of content to choose from, effectively personalizing their mobile GPS experience. WHERE helps you find the people, places and things that matter to you.

Walt Doyle, CEO and President of uLocate is also a participating blogger which makes this company a very forward thinking company that I expect great things from them anbd not just because they have chosen our company to assist them in their blogging efforts, that’s was just a bonus.  They understand the power of blogging and want to expose their platform to as many developers and other consumers as possible.  They understand the communication tool that blogging provides and have implemented their online plans to include this powerful tool.  This company is going places, and I’m glad we get to be a part of it.  For further info you can see the full press release.  Follow along and see how Where.com will rock your mobile experience.

Tags: uLocate Communications, , Grand Banks Capital, Kodiak Venture Partners, Where.com, One By One Media, Bloggers For Hire, , FindMe, Helio’s Buddy Beacon, , , Walt Doyle, , , CEO Blogs

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The New Digg Effect – What This Means For Social Media

May 2, 2007 By 3 Comments

After watching the story unfold about the blog post that appeared on Digg that was dugg over 15,000 times and appeared on page one of Digg.  The Digg Effect as it has become known is a phrase given when this phenomena occurs.  Many times if a story becomes popular enough it will appear on page 1 of Digg and the result is traffic soaring to the point of bringing most servers to their knees and crashing many sites.  This Digg Effect has taken on new meaning for me since seeing the resulting revolution that unfolded.

For me, the "New Digg Effect" is the power of social networks and communities.  This can be used for good or for bad actually.  In my opinion, posting something on a site that breaks the law or goes against a terms of service rules can be a very bad thing.  Mob rule takes over in this new action.  This is not necessarily unique in the instance of Digg, but its popularity was shown and the number of people that can influence an outcome was apparent here.  As I read a comment by Paul Montgomery at Tech Crunch it came clear to me that this could be a New Digg Effect:

I agree with the users on this one. They win. I just wish they could turn their power on some issue that actually mattered. (emphasis added)

That made me think of the power that social networks and communities could wield in other areas. The viral effect of this new medium.  It made me think of things like the Amber Alert System, and then I began to think of the power a mob could have on a Presidential election in online communities.  I’m not sure if the New Digg Effect has me running scared at this point or in awe how quickly something can travel from shore to shore and continent to continent when a group wants something accomplished.   Social Media and the online communities carry a new torch at this point.  Like Paul Montgomery said, let’s use this New Digg Effect for something that really matters.

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The Brogan “Extended Conversation” Manifesto – Web 2.0 Delivers Our Message

April 26, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Chris Brogan has written a great blog post today about extending the conversation.  He says that he believes that all of these web 2.0 tools that are available are for helping to extend the conversation.  I have to agree with Chris.  He touches on something that I think is the gist of Shel Israel’s new book about Global Neighborhoods.  Web 2.0 has allowed us to reach out and communicate like never before.  I have experienced it on a personal and business level myself. 

He makes a great point about how we are merely just a somewhat big cocktail party all talking to each other without reaching out to a broader audience.  We reside in a bowl or a bubble and we can only hear ourselves.

We’re all just talking to each other, which is swell, but if we want to be relevant, we’ve gotta climb the slippery, shiny, invisible sides of this big bowl we’re all standing in, and we’ve gotta get out there into the crowd. If I had this graphic, I’d post it. The graphic would be a guy throwing a bowl of shiny goldfish into a busy crowd. Think about that a moment. We’re all just goldfish in a bowl until we get there, into the people’s world.

I love this analogy because some days I feel like I myself am trying to climb the sides of the bowl to get to the outside to get the message to those that I can see through the bowl but they can’t seem to hear me.  I shout and shout and they walk on by like that zoo exhibit of the penguins underwater in Happy Feet (yes, my life is all about animated movies).  If I could only get through the protective glass and grab them and shake them.  Make them hear me.

I have begun to leave the virtual life and the echo chamber to get out into the real world and speak to people about Web 2.0 and the social media.  They have heard about blogs now which is different from this time last year.  The MSM has helped deliver the term and the message.  Of course, they have done this kicking and screaming, as is still shown by Jeff Jarvis as Chris mentions with NBC not allowing the Presidential debates online.  What happened to equal access? The funny thing is, NBC will broadcast it and it will be reported and written about by bloggers long before the MSM can possible publish their thoughts.

Controlling how you reach people is an illusion.  With the new Web 2.0 applications and uses being employed, they will find you whether you intend them to or not.  As Jeremiah Owyang was presenting at his panel at the ad:Tech conference in San Francisco, it became apparent that we as web 2.0 experts cannot agree on this issue.  I agreed with some on the panel and others not.  My style and message was even different than the people involved in Jeremiah’s chat.  It became clear then that we are not all singing from the same song sheet.  This in my opinion is a great thing.  It brings variety and diversity to the message. 

Finally, Chris Brogan asks the questions, "Should we even try to reach out?"  My response is a resounding YES.  Our problem is we are not sure ourselves what message we are reaching out with to be able to sing the chorus as Chris so aptly put it.  I think as we increase the integrity of the Web 2.0 foundation, we will begin to see our message take shape and it will allow us to break free of our "Bubble".  The chorus will get louder and the harmony will be great music.

[Photo taken from Chris Brogan]

Tags: , , Global Neighbourhoods, , ,: , , ,

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Why Blogging is the next “News Channel”

April 20, 2007 By 2 Comments

While reading Brad Linder’s blog post about What Local News is Missing, and his review of Rio Pesino of Podtech.net’s interview of local people on the street, it became apparent to me that my news source is Blogging.  Blogging provides me with as much coverage of local, national and even global news that I need.  Blogs even provide me with information about local weather, sports, and business news.  I can find all of what I need to get me the information to satisfy my query.

On the other hand, I paused to think about the woman that could not afford a computer and did not have access to the Internet.  This is a big problem.  She is not a small fraction of the cross section of people out there.  They still rely on the free news they get.  She gets her news from a newspaper, or the local news station.  The problem with that scenario is she only gets one point of view.  She reads the same columnist each day, gets the same view from the news anchor on her local television station.  Where is the diversity in that?  How is she able to interact with them by comments, and chat and IM and other forms of communication.  Roosevelt promised a chicken in every pot, perhaps now is the time to have someone step up and promise a computer in every home and free Internet service to whoever wants it. 

Tags: Brad Linder, Rio Pesino, Podtech, , , ,

Filed Under: Blog Tools, Bloggers and Blogs, Blogging News, Blogs and Politics, Findability, Marketing, Media, Services

New Business Card “Just Google My Name” – Are you A Google Celebrity?

April 19, 2007 By 10 Comments

As I was watching live streaming via the Ustream.tv site of Robert Scoble, Chris Pirillo and Jeremiah Owyang, I saw a pattern of responses to the question, "Do you have a business card?"  Many of the responses were the same, "just Google my name and you will find me."  I heard this not only from the above named, but also in the background from people that were being interviewed or people introducing themselves. 

A quick look at the names Googled indeed showed that "Chris" was the number one search result for Chris Pirillo, "Robert" showed that he too was the number one search result, and finally "Jeremiah" was not number one but was ranked on the first page of results.

How is this possible?  It is a matter of the power of SEO and the power of how search works.  The power of blogging has made them Google celebrities.  These are not uncommon names, and in fact are pretty benign as I’m sure each of you know a Chris or a Robert.  I myself checked my own name "Jim" and of course my campaign to be first on Google came up very short.  Then I Googled my full name "Jim Turner", and lo and behold, I’m on page one here at One By One Media.  I have not been blogging nearly as long as the bloggers I name above, but I’m well on my way to capturing the new way of passing out business cards.  How about you?  Do you rank high in your search engine of choice?

Tags: Ustream.tv, , , , , , , ,  One By One Media

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Google Announces Hidden Gem in San Francisco

April 17, 2007 By Leave a Comment

As Tris and I were chatting about business, he suddenly went silent and now I know why.  He was busy typing up something he heard on stage at the Web 2.0 Expo.  He writes up on the Blog World Expo Blog:

John Battelle talking to Eric Schmidt of Google (Eric Schmidt in Conversation with John Battelle) has just announced that Google is adding a presentation tool to Docs and Spreadsheets.  At this point the timeframe is next month, I believe.

It is this reason that some people love the idea of "Live Blogging" from conferences.  This will probably makes it way to the MSM in a week or two, but we get to hear it first.  Great job Tris and keep up the live reporting.

Tags: Web2.0Expo, W2E, , , , , , , , , , Tris Hussey

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The Evolution of Media Consumption

April 17, 2007 By 2 Comments

I was on a conference call with Eric Rice last night and reading feeds, and listening to Chris Pirillo’s live streaming and refreshing my Twitter page.  As you can tell, my media consumption is evolving into something that would make Orwell happy about “Big Brother”.  I have given “multitasking” a new definition, and my ADD has been fed like that flower in Little Shop Of Horrors.

Earlier in the day, I was meeting with my bookkeeper to go over the books for the last month and preparing for the next month, and I was listening to Jeremiah Owyang’s live feed through Ustream.tv, chatting with Robert Scoble, Jeremiah and others on the IRC chatroom under the stream, while talking on the phone with my mother, reading RSS feeds, chatting via Skype with my partner Tris about client issues, and emailing with my accountant as to how I would have to drive an hour North to sign my business tax return to get it on the mail.  The television I just had to have when we bought our new home, was sitting silent and cold in the other room.  I had a new mistress now and had traded her in for a new model.  Again, to some in my industry, this is another day at the office, yet for others, this is the equivalent of information overload that would cause a stroke in most normal humans.

My consumption of the media is changing as fast as the technology that drives it.  I am watching, reading, hearing, and providing news in ways that 10 years ago that would have never crossed my mind.  I had watched a white Bronco on 3 different channels in an airport, had watched Bernie Shaw describe the events that unfolded in the Gulf War, and other media hyped news events, but nothing like this.  I wonder as I sit and gather information about the shootings at Virginia Tech, how I will see the news in another 10 years.  The evolution of my media consumption might even have a new look in 6 months.

Tags: Eric Rice, , , Twitter, , , , Ustream.tv, , , , , , , ,

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An Example of Web 2.0 at the Web 2.0 Conference

April 16, 2007 By Leave a Comment

This is very cool.  My partner Tris is live blogging this conference for the fine folks at Blog World Expo.  While I’m watching and keeping up with the event sessions as live blogged by Rick and Tris, I am able to watch it live streamed via Jeremiah Owyang’s Ustream.tv page.  In addition, I was able to talk to Rick Calvert the CEO of the Blog World Expo via a Skype chat.  I suppose if we wanted, he could actually have me on a Skype call and I could even participate and ask questions of the panel or of a speaker in a session.  Go over and watch the session.

Tags: , , Tris Hussey, , , Ustream.tv, Web 2.0 Conference, W2E,

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A Mashup of Applications Creates New Reporting Medium

April 13, 2007 By 4 Comments

As I sat looking at Twitter last night and reading through my RSS feed reader, I saw that Chris Pirillo was streaming a live broadcast on Ustream.tv.  As he was getting things set up for his live show, Robert Scoble sent out a message that Mexico City had an earthquake.  Immediately Chris saw the message typed in by Robert Scoble. At the time, Chris had about 20 viewers on his live streaming show.  He asked them if anyone knew of someone in Mexico City or if anyone was near there.  Chris set up a telephone conference using a free application, and we all began to discuss the situation.  A viewer came on named Eduardo, a resident of Mexico City and he used the phone conference and eventually Skype, to communicate with everyone about the happenings as they unfolded. 

There were four technological applications in play during the impromptu session.  It was very surreal, like being on the set of CNN but we were all participating in the news as it unfolded.  I was able to ask questions of Eduardo, and everyone in the group was able to not only here my participation but the responses as well.  It reminded me somewhat of what it was like to watch the first Iraq war when the reporters on the ground were reporting in real time, but in this case I was able to actually participate, ask questions, and comment on what was happening.

Afterward a session began discussing the event and how it was captured on this historic evening.  It was like participating in a barcamp.  A group of media and technology experts all contributed to a discussion and it was very rewarding.  We discussed how this could be a new form of reporting and a new medium for real time discussion and conferencing.  I myself participated until 4:30 a.m. when I finally ran out of adrenaline.  It will be interesting to see if something like this unfolds again, and perhaps not in a disaster situation but perhaps just the impromptu conference that allowed for participation.  Next time of course, I would ask if Chris would start the party a little earlier.  I’m whipped today.

You Tube capture of Part 1

You Tube capture of Part 2

Tags: , Twitter, Ustream.tv, , , , , ,

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PayPerPost says they have a great ROI, but is there a downside?

April 9, 2007 By 3 Comments

I’m sure this is going to get some play on Techmeme, but since I’m writing this offline at the moment and haven’t even read my reads today yet (gasp, the horror, I know), I have no idea what else is being said.  Jim zapped this link over this morning.  As a matter of disclosure is talking at PostieCon in June.

So PPP ROI.  Okay, look at the info below:

As of right now our media investment has delivered 6,876 visits for our $3,156.43 or $.45 per visit, not too shabby when you consider the average cost of keywords through search engines. If you decided to go the paid search route good luck getting anywhere near that sort of traffic for this particular keyword, there were only 83 searches in February for “blog award” according to Overture.

Given the fact that this launched over Easter weekend we expect the traffic to increase once people return to work today. The beauty of PayPerPost is that it will continue to deliver traffic over time so our cost per visit will go down as time goes on.

A key factor in the success of every PayPerPost campaign is the product, service or website you are promoting. The Bloggers Choice Awards site is compelling and we have built in features designed to make it grow virally. PayPerPost will drive the initial traffic and awareness, but BCA will take over from there by delivering value to the visitor. If your not getting the same type of results you should take a look at what you are promoting through our system and how it might be improved.

Source: PayPerPost: Delivering Great ROI

I won’t disagree that those are impressive results.  I have doubts about their assertion about continuing traffic, I think they will get a boost early in the week, but that’s it.  I also don’t think that an ad about their blog awards is a good example.  Look, blog awards are easy.  Very popular.  Finding new blogs, voting for your friends and favourites.  What about other folks?  What about other products and services?  What about the long-term boost? I’d like to see more info on how particular verticals do (software, services, etc).  Again, for me, I think PPP and ReviewMe are good stop gaps.  I think they can build interest and short-time traffic well, but to sustain it, you need to be providing information and content continually.  Yeah, I’m talking about blogs of course.  I’d start a blog to have people link to and from there connections to your download page or service.  Engage visitors.  Let them know you want to know what they think and you care about that.

Like all parts of business, there are no shortcuts, no silver bullets, no quick fixes.

 

Filed Under: Bloggers and Blogs, Findability, Marketing, Media, Professional Blogging, Search Engine Optimization
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