Business week had an interesting story last week about figuring out who your customers are and finding the best way to reach them. Linked along with that post was a very interesting chart that showed the web usage of different age groups… creators, critics, collectors, joiners, spectators & inactives.
The Youth (18-21) seem to be the most active web users in all sectors. Click here to see the details.
Akismet Spam (725). Unread RSS posts (1537). Technorati, Alexa, and Adsense stats (not a clue). This isn’t a Mastercard commercial. This is an idea of what happens if you stop doing what you normally do for a week.
Adbusters has their TV Turnoff Week; I had a Habit Turnoff Week. Which is why you haven’t seen many, if any, posts from me this past week in the blog or forum. And also why hundreds of blogger’s subscriber counters dropped by one. Oh, the madness.
I was in New York City last week for the Future of Online Advertising conference. The attendees came from all sides of the internet business, Creative Agency Executives, Ad Networks, Designers & Creatives, Publishers, etc… One thing we all had in common: We seemed to all have the same stylist.
|
Converse. Designer Jeans. T-shirt. Coat Jacket. It was quite comical to see all of us creative internet types in the same great hall. While we all had our own twist on the style thing, (my converse are white with pin-stripes) we all pretty much looked like we shopped from the same catalogs. I think this particular style is chosen because it is a mix of “I’m young” - implication of youth and creativity. “I’m nerdy” so I get technology. “I’m Stylish” and in the know with what is hot and new. “I’m a Businessman” and I can talk shop when I need to. However you shake it down, this style seems to be the current defining style for the creative, internet using generation… Do you disagree or does this fit for you too? |
|
For those interested in venture capital, check out Is Venture Capital an Efficient and Transparent Market at A VC. Thanks for the education Fred.
If you don’t already subscribe to A VC, I highly recommend it. It’s always interesting. Well, except when he’s bashing Journey.
————-
Side note
Whether you loved or loathed the Sopranos series finale (yes I’m still talking about it), there’s no denying that the lyrics from Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing were perfect for the close of that show.
Working hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Paying anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win, some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on
Nice inspirational post on Seth’s blog - That Moment. Will you blink?
Engadget provided some great play-by-play coverage on the Apple WWDC. It wasn’t the most exciting event from Jobs, hence the Sopranos reference, but Apple did manage to launch an almost entirely new website in the background.
It takes quite a bit of getting used to with its enormous usage of AJAX, but give it a try and see what you think:
Oh, and for all the web devs out there…….Apple has just solidified 1024×768 as the standard resolution to start with. Bon voyage 800×600! Clear your desk for a new 19″ or 23″. You’ll need it.
According to The WSJ, live television ads might make a comeback. Tuesday’s broadcast of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” is going to air a live skit promoting Garmin GPS. NBC says the Garmin deal “obviously is a reaction to the DVR issue and a reaction to commercial ratings”.
So how is this TiVo proof? You can skip it just like anything else, but apparently Jay Leno’s announcer will play a part in the live skit as well. That make’s it a bit more difficult to differentiate between the actual show and the commercial. Nevertheless, I’m sure the FFW button will get mashed as soon as it becomes clear that it’s an advertisement. Hardly a breakthrough idea.
The truth is most commercials suck. They don’t benefit the viewer at all. Advertisers tend to take, take, take and never give. The ads that are successful are the ones that give back, at least a chuckle or a tear. I still stop my TiVo for new Mac ads because they make me laugh, and movie trailers because they give me a glimpse. But Ford, Zales, Quicken Loans, Lowe’s - forget it.
The only way to become TiVo proof is to make remarkable ads, ads clever enough to make people stop fast forwarding just to watch it. Everything else will get skipped.
Note: If the live skit is going to feature scenes like the pic above, chances are a lot of people men will stay tuned.
The recording at the local emissions office sounds like this…
“Our hours are Monday through Friday, 9AM - 5PM, Saturday from 9AM - 1PM. If you don’t want to wait in line, avoid coming between the hours of 11AM and Noon and do not come at the end of the month”
This is because everyone delays getting their cars tested for tab renewals. It’s such a widespread problem that they have to address it on their recording, simply stating “do not come” at the last minute. Why do people feel the monkey around until it becomes an urgency? There are convenient opportunities all month long to take care of it, but people wait until it’s at critical mass and must be done “right away”. Pity.
That being said, I’ve got to run. If I hurry I can make it before 11AM. My tabs expired May 22nd :)
After a recent debate about free music, there’s a great post by Fred at A VC today about the fear of change that’s worth a read.
I loathe the boring look of Gmail. While pillaging the internet for a solution I stumbled across a Firefox extension called Better Gmail. I’m pretty sure it’s a collection of Gmail enhancements wrapped up in one easily manageable extension, one of which being Skins (one of which you see above).
Ahhh…that’s better. If you don’t already have it, Check it out.
Update: It just asked me to update to 0.7 and the above links point to 0.6.1. If it doesn’t do it automatically, check for updates and install ‘em.
RSS