by nick on November 23, 2008
Jason Calacanis shares a number of attributes, along with the initials, of Jeremy Clarkson. Both are tall, gregarious and outrageously outspoken in their quest for PR. (According to .net magazine, Calacanis called SEO ‘bullshit’ and a ‘wasted industry’ while speaking at a search engine conference, and said anyone from PayPerPost should kill themselves.)
But, unlike Clarkson, Calacanis is more than a one-dimensional critic: he’s a creator. This is the chap who started Silicon Alley Reporter and brought us Weblogs, Inc before selling up to AOL. His latest project is the human powered search engine, Mahalo.
Paid humans review the Wikipedia pages Mahalo includes (opposed to volunteers) and humans also scrutinise the Google results to reduce the risk of gaming. The two results are mashed up to provide what Calacanis reckons is the ultimate in search accuracy with a massive dose of trust thrown in.
It’s just out of beta having reached 100,000 search terms and attracted 4.6 million uniques in August – no alternative search engine has broken the 1 million barrier. But like so many ‘new’ web projects (think Twitter) they aren’t even trying to make money yet as Calacanis’ profile has secured the project five years of funding.
It’s about building a useful service that people want, but Calacanis is also very ambitious. He wants to create the next Wikipedia or Yahoo and carve a 10% market share out of search. It’s early days but keep an eye on this guy; he’s far more that just a mouth.
by nick on November 19, 2008
Apple’s frustrations have been well documented over the summer: the MobileMe fiasco, the debacle over the iPhone launch/sign up, patches for freezing MacBook Airs and several other dents in the pristine name of all things Jobs.
But they really do come up with some gems. Charlie Anzman points us to Apple’s Corporate Gifting and Rewards Program.
This will make your company’s pen, mouse mat and umbrella trio look like impulse buys at Aldi. Yes it’s your logo on a lovely gift (who wouldn’t like an iPhone as a thank you) but when you can add your ‘training talks, product overviews, CEO speeches, promotional videos, or other custom content’ it becomes an even more powerful and relevant message.
by nick on November 15, 2008
I’m sure you’ve heard the world economy is broken. With so much reporting of the negative it’s easy to obliterate the positives. Here’s a couple of diamonds in the rough for you though:
- Apple finished their fiscal fourth quarter (to 27th Sept) with sales up 35%. All the numbers have gone north which is amazing for a hardware business. 3G iPhone sales are astonishing at 6.9 million for the quarter (more than the first gen did in a year!).
There’s an even bigger cherry on the Jobs’ cake with $24.5 billion in the bank (up nearly 60% on last year) and no debt. When staring at a more-than-possible downturn their rivals must feel it’s an unfair advantage.
- The world’s largest retail park opened this month in, of course, Dubai. With almost 600 retailers trading, the ‘Mall’ is operating at just half capacity.
by nick on November 2, 2008
As a Formula One fan I’m sometimes asked, “Don’t you find it all a bit boring?”
How can you find the pinnacle of racing, boring? Okay, it can be a little repetitive because they ARE doing laps after all, but it’s where sport and engineering meet at their finest point. A combination of supreme teamwork, athletics, marketing and more than a sprinkle of show business all provide a wonderfully inspirational sporting event. If NASA decided to field a race team, they’d do so in F1.
And this season has been electrifying with seven different winners. Last year’s world champion lost his mojo and raced like a castrated stallion. Both McLaren and Ferrari teams and drivers made several errors that helped take the world championship down to the nail-biting wire. Alonso regained some credibility – certainly more than the sport’s stewards managed to withhold. And we waved goodbye to a great British driver in D.C., whose character will certainly be missed.
The best man won in the most exciting finale anyone can remember. Congratulations Lewis Hamilton; an eight-time world champ in the making…
by nick on October 26, 2008
A good while ago I heard website editor of the Telegraph.co.uk, Marcus Warren, being interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s The Message. He was quoting figures that showed 5 million new users for his site month on month.
I’m sure Mr Warren is no different from hundreds of other managers and directors responsible for websites in that he’s focused on talking about one of the most raw stats available (granted, it’s factual and very impressive). Business numbers in the black and not the red are generally regarded in the positive, but web traffic demands more examination than a cursory look at one or two sets of statistics.
I’m willing to bet that a massive percentage of these uniques, perhaps between 70 and 90%, land deeply i.e. not on the home page or submenu pages (possibly from Digg or Stumbleupon as much as from the big search engines). Of course this is an excellent example of “if you build it, they will come”.
However, I’m also willing to bet their bounce rate (people who exit the site quickly after visiting only one page) is also between 70 and 90%. If I were responsible for targeting Mr Warren I’d want to see visitors staying on site longer and I’d want fewer bouncing – yes, even at the expense of total visitor numbers (presuming my previous guesswork is good). A million visitors leaving inside 3 seconds and returning to Google to improve their search term does nothing for your site. In fact it hinders because it confuses your analytics and success becomes more difficult to ascertain.
I’m in no doubt that the Telegraph’s web traffic is growing because of their increased content. More relevant content equals a larger web presence, which should lead to more search results pointing to you. Just think BBC, the mother of all sites.
Chasing such headline numbers as unique visitors is misguided but commonplace. It’s better to look at how engaged a site is with potential and current customers. How many pages are listed on the major search engines (and how many pages are published)? How often is content updated? How keyword rich is the copy? What does the site offer its audience other than ‘get into my shopping cart’?
Mr Warren and his ilk will tell you this is where the real work comes in: the writing, the images, the advice pages, the tips and FAQs, the alternative viewpoint, the video tutorials, the understanding of your market, the educating of your customer. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not recommending spamming the system with a load of useless link bait but sites do require deep and relevant content.
Of course, it’s all very time consuming and not directly attributable to today’s sales figure, but it’s absolutely invaluable. Just ask the chap from the Telegraph.
by nick on September 17, 2008
They’re valued in the ballpark of $233 billion (£117 billion). Annual sales of $60 million have grown around 18% for the last six years. Their operating software runs on 90% of the world’s computers. Internet Explorer (their own browser) is employed by three-quarters of Internet users. There are over 1 billion Windows Live ID authentifications per day. Bill Gates’ endowments to the Gates Foundation are over $29 billion. How is it Microsoft gets to be so unloved?
It’s not even a polarising love found often in sport where some people may love football, but hate golf and visa versa. I know plenty in industry who adore Apple, but none that rave on about Vista or Windows. Well Microsoft’s Steve Balmer (Mr Gates’ successor) plans to change that by handing a new $300 million consumer-branding campaign to the Crispin Porter and Bogusky agency.
[Although that’s large it’s significantly less than their last product push for the Windows Vista launch where they spent two years and $500 million - only to bomb.]
Balmer’s choice appears an edgy one, having ousted the incumbent, McCann Worldgroup agency. Bogusky have been creating ‘cool’ for the corporate world for over a decade: the stunts on the Mini Cooper and the ‘King’ of Burger King are just two. Their VW partnership didn’t fare so well with Bogusky resigning the contract (perhaps before being pushed?).
The team’s first video volley above sees Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates in a shoe shop. To state the obvious: Microsoft and jokes equals new. With a capital ‘N’.
What isn’t new is the mindset that Microsoft is trying to soften their edges and tell their side of the story instead of coming across as the nerdy, soulless, evil, license grabbing, behemoth.
Back in 2006 artist Hugh MacLeod (now one the blogosphere’s most infamous voices) was employed/contracted by Microsoft to soften them up and to better communicate their ideals. This is Microsoft’s Steve Clayton:
For too long, Microsoft has allowed other people- the media, the competition and their detractors, especially- to tell their story on their behalf, instead of doing a better job of it themselves.
We firmly believe that Microsoft must start articulating their story better- what they do, why they do it, and why it matters- if they’re to remain happy and prosperous long-term.
Personally, I’m more concerned about the client side of things rather than the agency side. Can Microsoft really let these guys in so they can draw out what’s true and great about the company and package it in a fresh, intelligent and humorous way? It’s a big ask to take this disliked goliath who wants to be a master of all things – from home computing expert, to cool gamer, to search champion, to business hero – into a young, cool thing.
Sure, ‘loved’ is a tall order and the brand is never going to be edgy, niche or underground, but a persona that’s a little bit cooler and cuddlier should be possible. After all, it couldn’t really get much worse could it? If Bogusky and his team (I’m betting on when, not if) come close to that objective their fee will have been well earned.
by nick on September 9, 2008
Think back to your old TV and of the static between TV channels. Well, three-quarters of those radio airwaves, or ‘white space’ spectrum, are completely unused. With the US switching off the analogue TV signal in Feb 2009 Google wants to blow open that wireless spectrum, effectively for a new and more powerful generation of WiFi. Other A-list backers with a dollar or two to spend with lobbyists include Intel, Microsoft and Motorola.
It would be free to air (and unlicensed), like WiFi is now. Needless to say TV execs and wireless services providers are hell-bent on stopping the FCC from ruling in favour of such a free-spirited act.
Take 90 seconds for the pros:
The cons:
- Interference. That’s certainly what some cell phone companies argue.
- So far, the devices that supposedly work over white spaces keep failing [US] government tests.
This is a US only movement but I can’t help but cheer them on in the hope that a successful American model gets put into play in Europe. Unfortunately the FCC vote may well be delayed further than next month.
If you believe in the cause you can sign the petition here.
by nick on September 5, 2008
Michael Arrington says Google launching their Chrome web browser is yet further indication that our favourite search engine is going after Microsoft’s lunch.
If Mr A is right (I wouldn’t ever bet against he with the knowledge) in predicting Google’s strategy then it’s more than ironic that Microsoft themselves had a similar browser project called Chrome! Scoble says Google must have a sense of humour. I’m not sure they’re the ones who need it in order to laugh – Microsoft must be livid. How hardball can you get? Execs all over Redmond must be dusting off their copies of The Art of War.
But Microsoft have at least entered a fighter into this boxing tournament with their latest version of Internet Explorer, IE8.
Reality check: that’s a gross exaggeration. It’s worth remembering that IE has a 73% market share according to Net Applications. Three quarters of users touch websites via Microsoft! Then again, no one believes ‘the cloud’ won’t revolutionise the way operating systems are used/needed/bought. That means ousting not just IE but Microsoft from newly built machines. (And I’ll never forget the Netscape browser had a 90% market share in the 1990s, proving total implosion is always possible.)
Mozilla’s Firefox remains the popular outsider – certainly until Chrome is available for the Mac – with 19% of the market. Its got loads of plug ins that tech users love, is the de facto browser for the discerning user and has just released a new version. Apple’s Safari has a respectable 6%.
Most early adopters seem to be giving Chrome the thumbs up, but can the Google brand pull it off? Will they just be seen as the new Microsoft? Firefox is the poor cousin everyone loves to love. Google don’t have the cards to play it in quite the same way.
by nick on September 2, 2008
Is it me, or did an inordinate amount of the tech news from both sides of the pond seem to be about advertising last month? Not really surprising considering online is about the only area of advertising that’s going to grow this year. Here’s what I think are the more notable ones:
- The ever-innovative TiVo have paired up with Amazon to allow viewers to buy products they see in shows or adverts. This is new indeed and is pro-advertiser as opposed to TiVo’s previous innovation which allowed you to record programmes without the ads.
Evan Young their director of broadband services, said, “For example, if a guest on the Daily Show or Oprah has a new book, CD, or DVD out, you can purchase it on Amazon.com using your TiVo remote without missing a second of TV, whether the viewer is watching live or recorded.”
- ITV has been bigging up its ITV.com audience numbers but sales head, Rupert Howell, had some refreshing words about online cannibalising offline ads. “The growth of the internet as an advertising medium is taking business away from direct marketing, classified and local and regional press but doesn’t appear to be taking away from television. What matters is that we outgrow the growth in internet advertising – in the first half of this year, the internet grew as an advertising medium by 24% and we grew at 43%.”
- Google’s acquisition of Double click appears to have changed their mind on invasive cookies and privacy (DoubleClick plants cookies on users’ computers who see the ads it serves). Advertisers will be cock-a-hoop as they can limit the number of times a single user sees their ads and see how many different people have seen it. They can also track how many people saw an ad and then visited their website.
But what of internet users? Google promises a better experience, because “they will no longer see the same ad over and over again.” The message: cookies are good for you. Better get used to it.
- YouTube is now showing ads plus video, much to the dismay of the NY Times. But if you’d bought the company for $1.65 billion (as Google did) could you persuade the board not to sell, sell, sell?
- Yahoo! has pre-announced a new opt-out so that users of Yahoo services can request not to be on the receiving end of targeted advertising. Though it looks like they will still plant cookies and collect data, even if it doesn’t use the information for behavioural targeting purposes.
- Video search index Blinkx attempting to buy MIVA, the pay-per-click ad network. Blinkx reckons the acquisition would allow it to more quickly roll out the technologies it’s developed over the last year – like its own video advertising proposition, AdHoc.
It seems the eye(ball)s have it – yours, via your monitor. There are plenty out there spending big money to get to them.
