Two well-known people discussing the future of media, publishing, advertising, and blogging. One is former Microsoftie and corporate blog advocate Robert Scoble. The other is former editor of Wired Magagzine, The Industry Standard (trying for a comeback), and author of best-selling The Search
Here’s what I took away from watching this:
- AOL could provide an alternative to AdWords/AdSense in the online advertising space.
- High-quality content that stimulates conversation is a driver of attention and for advertising, that means more money.
- Being in business nowadays is like being a musician: both create content, both need services designed specially to meet their needs (recording company for musicians, Federated Media for online business).
- There are two kinds of media: mercenary and missionary. Mercenary is purely for profit and missionary is for passion or a cause. Guess which one is ultimately more powerful at attracting and keeping an audience community.
- The line between what is media and what is a service is blurring.
- Live video-streaming and podcasting via mobile devices will be a space to watch closely in 2008.
- High-quality content, an engaged community, and pageviews are what FM looks for when signing new blogs into its network.
- FM is working on some sort of Zeitgeist-like reporting overall for their network, somewhat like Google’s Zeitgeist.
- FM’s work is all done on a custom platform that handles everything.
- Developing a unique way of measuring success is a point of conversation and a differentiator. How do you track, measure, and report on attention, interaction, or community? Terms such as search equity, conversation equity.
- There is a gap in business-related content and services that needs to be filled.
- We’re getting to a point in blogging where we’re going to have reinvent the interface. (I see this already happening with the incredible surge in Magazine-style WordPress Themes.)
- There’s only two things that matter in video: one is technology, the other is quality content.
- You can start a company nowadays for practically nothing.
- Next big thing: social search?
7 Comments
Michael - thanks - what a great interview - I watched all 38+ minutes - it’s amazing to think about where we’ve been and where it’s all going. I like you idea of watching trends for forward thinking. Loved the video stream from Robert’s phone - do you know what he’s using - I’m very interested. thanks - Cyndee
@Cyndee: I think he’s using a service called Qik. And yes, I am all about thinking ahead and trends. I love that stuff, and it helps me position myself in the market.
Thank you I checked it out - looks like it’s for Nokia phones - I’m still learning - really loved seeing him do streaming video - you know I love learning about video options. Have you seen, written, thought much about mobile blogging - I’ve recently come across some friends that have 2nd blogs that are “mobile blogs” with photos from their camera’s posted from around town. Just digesting the idea right now - trying to understand it’s place in my real estate business. Your insights are always valued.
@Cyndee: Well, I think mobile blogging’s going to be what’s big in 2008. Can you imagine going to a house, shooting a video on your phone, and then sharing that with a client? or to the public? Mobile is finally going to start growing up. It needs to grow a lot faster here in Vermont, that’s for sure.
I agree - I do lots of video but it still takes WAY to long to upload it - that’s what actually caught my attention with Qik - I think that’s one of the things holding it back right now.
@Cyndee: Yeah just think, every person becomes a channel of one. Talk about reporting live on the scene!
I think 2008 will bring many improvements in advertising networks, and blogging will be looked upon as social networking more and more.
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