YouTube - no business model
Flickr - no business model
Facebook/MySpace/LinkedIn - no business model
5000 other contenders - no business model
Advertising is not a business model for the power of the web. It discounts it.
How can I be helped? - that's the root impetus. Help! Who can? How about Facebook's 100million? How about they help show me all the things I want to know. I'll pay. Tonight, I want someone, maybe from Mexico, to show me how to make real tortillas, my-non-tortilla-making-self doesn't know how to make. For this lesson I'm willing to pay. Isn't someone out there ready, right this second, to earn that fee and teach me? (By the way, when I finish making tortillas, I'd like someone out there to teach me how to fix my vacuum and debate the classics with me. I'm willing to pay.?.) Let's use those Web2.0 tools together to enrich our experience: Youtube for videos I'll need, Flickr for pics I'll need, and you descending from the Facebook and using the ever-handy Web 2.0 tool, chat, to interact with me in real time.
The business model for Web 2.0 is not within the applications, but from without, when they're used as tools.
Pieces of a chess board. How those pieces are arranged around a product or service is the business model.
Rob
Web3Solutions
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Social Media - Time to Rethink Your Life
I feel sorry for the mass media journalist, 46, married, two kids, mortgage, whose life is unraveling because of Social Media. I generally feel sorry for anyone else whose job was based upon their opinion: Judges, Politicians, Doctors, Stockbrokers. Their opinions are the standards of the Old World, the pre-Social Media days. Their professions brought with them the distinction of a fairly secured life, almost in repayment for the careful dedication they burdened in divining opinions on which others could rely.
The old school foundations supporting, and supported by, these once-honored opinions are eroding in the seemingly infinite sandstorm of the Internet as the group-opinion becomes more sought than the opinion of a single professional.
Take the mass-media journalist above, for example. Let's say, he writes an article that gets published in both the hard copy and online versions of his journal with the online version accepting instant comments from readers, dynamically more effective than letters-to-the-editor of the paper version. The variety of opinions provides depth and perspective to the subject of the article, the comments provide the reader with information about the website he's visiting, about the writer and about his fellow visitors, and, all the 'Green' reasons are supported, paper, emissions, etc. There are probably more reasons than this short list.
With comments/opinions way out in front as the greatest value-added of the online version, the question gets begged, "Is the original article or are reader comments more valuable?" The comments! That's why we're no longer reading newspaper.
This professional's opinion is no longer valuable. It has been replaced by the opinion of the masses. What does he have left?
This has got to terrify him. This professional dedicated his life to learning how most to succeed by refining and marketing a respected professional opinion. The old school that established the standards, his adherence to which was honorably certified, is too far behind. He'll likely die before it catches up.
Our journalist must be brave here. He is now free. Free from the well-trodden, secure path to the horizon promised by the paradigm to which his life is/was mortgaged. Thinking now becomes his razor-sharp saber, in exchange for the dull knife of his old school opinion.
Is Social Media making you rethink your life?
You must be brave.
The old school foundations supporting, and supported by, these once-honored opinions are eroding in the seemingly infinite sandstorm of the Internet as the group-opinion becomes more sought than the opinion of a single professional.
Take the mass-media journalist above, for example. Let's say, he writes an article that gets published in both the hard copy and online versions of his journal with the online version accepting instant comments from readers, dynamically more effective than letters-to-the-editor of the paper version. The variety of opinions provides depth and perspective to the subject of the article, the comments provide the reader with information about the website he's visiting, about the writer and about his fellow visitors, and, all the 'Green' reasons are supported, paper, emissions, etc. There are probably more reasons than this short list.
With comments/opinions way out in front as the greatest value-added of the online version, the question gets begged, "Is the original article or are reader comments more valuable?" The comments! That's why we're no longer reading newspaper.
This professional's opinion is no longer valuable. It has been replaced by the opinion of the masses. What does he have left?
This has got to terrify him. This professional dedicated his life to learning how most to succeed by refining and marketing a respected professional opinion. The old school that established the standards, his adherence to which was honorably certified, is too far behind. He'll likely die before it catches up.
Our journalist must be brave here. He is now free. Free from the well-trodden, secure path to the horizon promised by the paradigm to which his life is/was mortgaged. Thinking now becomes his razor-sharp saber, in exchange for the dull knife of his old school opinion.
Is Social Media making you rethink your life?
You must be brave.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Why Working on the Internet Is Going to Happen...#1 Reason #1
Just to get a gripe off my chest, I start my first reason for working online by citing a group I detest so much that I'm dedicating myself to fixing them and getting them the hell out of my way. More than a gripe, however, they are the main reason I push so hard for people to work on the Internet. I say 'detest' because the group I cite here is non-conformist, negative, counter-productive, burdensome, dependent, lazy, and dumb, but they are not stupid - they can be respected for that - and they are willing to work. They do, however, lack the imagination to do ANYTHING on their own, so to justify painful, fearful lives lived doing, working, being what they don't want to do, work or be, they take on similar traits, universally.
Allow me to introduce the 'Sloth' and the 'Bitch.'
Everyone has seen these two working in modern cultures. Examples later. One doesn't need to work with them to see them. In fact, they are most visible when one in need approaches them for help or assistance thus releasing their essence. It is in that essence, however, that a glimpse of a speck of their own true passion and creativity can be seen. And, if that creativity can remain the longterm target of this project, then at least I will have uncaged the sloth and the bitch, two relatively harmless beings, and I might even leverage that creativity as a business model.
Without monikers, the group to which I'm specifically referring can most easily be described as: Those workers who are simply in a job for the paycheck.
I don't know where to find the statistics, but in just the sheer numbers of these people I see when I'm out every day or so makes me believe that businesses must spend billions, maybe trillions, employing those who don't want to be there doing jobs they don't want to do. I remember an airline ticket agent who consumed with great relish the impact the push of her finger would have on others and me as a cancellation was announced. She didn't need to be in that job. Her empathy had perverted because she no longer cared for her job which brought her in touch with these people. Still, she knew she always needed a job so she might as well keep this one: Unimaginative, undreaming, unfree.
Yet, in her perversion of enjoying the pain of others can be glimpsed someone who greatly wants to enjoy something.
The Sloth works as little as possible to minimize his effort in order to increase the value of his hourly wage or meager salary;
The Bitch whose approval must be granted in order to speak to someone who really matters;
Other examples are kids working behind the counter who only attempt to assist customers when supervisors are present, or, a government worker arriving at 9:01, lunchbreaking at 11:59, returning at 1:01 leaving for home at 4:59...on her best day.
(By the way, if you're in this group, smile...I'm trying to rescue you!)
All of these and countless others belong to the group that only wants to collect a paycheck. They do not want to work for you, or me, or anyone; they have not enough imagination to work for themselves; but, they yearn to live freely: Getting up when they want, wearing what they want, leaving the house if they want, thinking what they want to think(and not being forced to think as someone else wishes), being where they want to be(and not where they are assigned), working as much or as little as they want to work, and, in some cases, repairing their misanthropic attitudes caused by the disdain of working jobs they loathed.
Without ever understanding or admitting it, this group has completely surrendered to socialist employment. The terminally unambitious in this group would quite happily live a minimalist lifestyle working only to meet their basic needs; then, working more if necessary, or less when possible.
The Sloth and the Bitch could never have arrived at their current disdain for life without the soul-crushing burden of being shackled to lives they did not want to lead. I contend that Employment is the weak link in that shackle that now can be broken with the Internet.
The life they want to lead is freer. It's time to give it to them.
Allow me to introduce the 'Sloth' and the 'Bitch.'
Everyone has seen these two working in modern cultures. Examples later. One doesn't need to work with them to see them. In fact, they are most visible when one in need approaches them for help or assistance thus releasing their essence. It is in that essence, however, that a glimpse of a speck of their own true passion and creativity can be seen. And, if that creativity can remain the longterm target of this project, then at least I will have uncaged the sloth and the bitch, two relatively harmless beings, and I might even leverage that creativity as a business model.
Without monikers, the group to which I'm specifically referring can most easily be described as: Those workers who are simply in a job for the paycheck.
I don't know where to find the statistics, but in just the sheer numbers of these people I see when I'm out every day or so makes me believe that businesses must spend billions, maybe trillions, employing those who don't want to be there doing jobs they don't want to do. I remember an airline ticket agent who consumed with great relish the impact the push of her finger would have on others and me as a cancellation was announced. She didn't need to be in that job. Her empathy had perverted because she no longer cared for her job which brought her in touch with these people. Still, she knew she always needed a job so she might as well keep this one: Unimaginative, undreaming, unfree.
Yet, in her perversion of enjoying the pain of others can be glimpsed someone who greatly wants to enjoy something.
The Sloth works as little as possible to minimize his effort in order to increase the value of his hourly wage or meager salary;
The Bitch whose approval must be granted in order to speak to someone who really matters;
Other examples are kids working behind the counter who only attempt to assist customers when supervisors are present, or, a government worker arriving at 9:01, lunchbreaking at 11:59, returning at 1:01 leaving for home at 4:59...on her best day.
(By the way, if you're in this group, smile...I'm trying to rescue you!)
All of these and countless others belong to the group that only wants to collect a paycheck. They do not want to work for you, or me, or anyone; they have not enough imagination to work for themselves; but, they yearn to live freely: Getting up when they want, wearing what they want, leaving the house if they want, thinking what they want to think(and not being forced to think as someone else wishes), being where they want to be(and not where they are assigned), working as much or as little as they want to work, and, in some cases, repairing their misanthropic attitudes caused by the disdain of working jobs they loathed.
Without ever understanding or admitting it, this group has completely surrendered to socialist employment. The terminally unambitious in this group would quite happily live a minimalist lifestyle working only to meet their basic needs; then, working more if necessary, or less when possible.
The Sloth and the Bitch could never have arrived at their current disdain for life without the soul-crushing burden of being shackled to lives they did not want to lead. I contend that Employment is the weak link in that shackle that now can be broken with the Internet.
The life they want to lead is freer. It's time to give it to them.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
What's going to happen...
As I've professed in my earlier posts, the future of e-commerce will rely on the engagement of a site's customers with a site's social network.
But, what happens if a site doesn't have a social network?
That question gives rise to an enormous opportunity - Providing a social network of employees to which any business can come, plug-in to pipe their product/service to the network, then plugin their visitor interaction granting permission for the network to engage the site's customers leading each customer to the specific product they want. It makes sense. Eventually, the network will settle into separate demographics which will, of course, match similar demographics of customers. 'Birds of a feather flocking together' means that the 20-year-old male who's into cars and bikes will serve as the social network 'assistant' for car and bike businesses and will have all the interest and vernacular to best serve the business' 20-year-old male visitors. I can make more examples.
Sites like Mahalo are great, but they're not connected to specific businesses...they're connected to Search. Arriving at a site with a need to buy focuses the customer's interest on the purchase which can be piqued by an engaging, live, customer service agent...a member of the social network. If the customer goes on to purchase as a result of the live, interactive assistant, the assistant(social network member) gets paid - AS IF THEY WERE A SALESPERSON WORKING ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR!!! Screw that part up and you'll get barred internally by the network...it is social, you know?
Wanna see how close this is? Check out this option for businesses: EmbeddedChat.com. This is terrific product that currently allows an e-business to interact with its customers. GreyGooseMedia.com is now working to allow an infinite number of 'assistants' to start interacting with any number of visitors.
Stay Tuned!
But, what happens if a site doesn't have a social network?
That question gives rise to an enormous opportunity - Providing a social network of employees to which any business can come, plug-in to pipe their product/service to the network, then plugin their visitor interaction granting permission for the network to engage the site's customers leading each customer to the specific product they want. It makes sense. Eventually, the network will settle into separate demographics which will, of course, match similar demographics of customers. 'Birds of a feather flocking together' means that the 20-year-old male who's into cars and bikes will serve as the social network 'assistant' for car and bike businesses and will have all the interest and vernacular to best serve the business' 20-year-old male visitors. I can make more examples.
Sites like Mahalo are great, but they're not connected to specific businesses...they're connected to Search. Arriving at a site with a need to buy focuses the customer's interest on the purchase which can be piqued by an engaging, live, customer service agent...a member of the social network. If the customer goes on to purchase as a result of the live, interactive assistant, the assistant(social network member) gets paid - AS IF THEY WERE A SALESPERSON WORKING ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR!!! Screw that part up and you'll get barred internally by the network...it is social, you know?
Wanna see how close this is? Check out this option for businesses: EmbeddedChat.com. This is terrific product that currently allows an e-business to interact with its customers. GreyGooseMedia.com is now working to allow an infinite number of 'assistants' to start interacting with any number of visitors.
Stay Tuned!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Now that you've got a social network, what to do with them...
I might have written this here before, so hang on if you've already heard it.
These and the other posts here are targeted to business owners who may have somehow managed to collect a decent number of members, people, users, subscribers...whatever. It's not really that hard to do. Go to Ning.com or KickApps.com and create, for instance, a network around around a product. Then, import every customer and contact into your newly created network and engage with interesting content.
Businesses are looking for ways to make money with their social networks. They might even be thinking of advertising to their network members. (Boo, hiss, bad, no...no...no.) And, as I may have also said before, if a business doesn't have an social network, it's time to get one...the sooner the better. It will make a complete difference in the near-future. If your social network is just a social network (like MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), you're screwed, but help is on the way. (BTW, read the post below on 'Who is your social network?')
Your social network is like a little bottle of divine spirit. It can be used in a billion different ways to make money other than holding an ad in its face. That bottled 'essence' of humankind is only limited by your imagination.
So...since everyone has read the post on how to create a social network and since now everyone has a social network, here's what to with them...Cut them in on your deal!!!
That's right...let's use the example of an online florist who separately started a social network for those who enjoy 'flower arranging.' While her flower business is successful and her social network are successful, the two do not intersect. She must make them.
Our florist, and any e-business, must look at the total number of visits its site is getting each day; then, look at the total number of conversions the site is getting. Some better, some worse, undoubtedly there are fewer conversions than visits.
What could improved the visit-to-conversion ratio?
How about 'personal engagement?'
In other words, instead of redesigning a website every year or two, why not leave it alone and create immediate personal interaction with visitors to show them how to get around your site, lead them to products, upsell them if the opportunity arises?
But a website staff is limitied...right?
What if there are hundreds of visitors on the site at the same time? Then, what?
You've already guessed what I'm going to say, right? Create a way for your social network to interact with your visitors...WoW...bright lights, right?
Next, how to use them to market your site...
These and the other posts here are targeted to business owners who may have somehow managed to collect a decent number of members, people, users, subscribers...whatever. It's not really that hard to do. Go to Ning.com or KickApps.com and create, for instance, a network around around a product. Then, import every customer and contact into your newly created network and engage with interesting content.
Businesses are looking for ways to make money with their social networks. They might even be thinking of advertising to their network members. (Boo, hiss, bad, no...no...no.) And, as I may have also said before, if a business doesn't have an social network, it's time to get one...the sooner the better. It will make a complete difference in the near-future. If your social network is just a social network (like MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), you're screwed, but help is on the way. (BTW, read the post below on 'Who is your social network?')
Your social network is like a little bottle of divine spirit. It can be used in a billion different ways to make money other than holding an ad in its face. That bottled 'essence' of humankind is only limited by your imagination.
So...since everyone has read the post on how to create a social network and since now everyone has a social network, here's what to with them...Cut them in on your deal!!!
That's right...let's use the example of an online florist who separately started a social network for those who enjoy 'flower arranging.' While her flower business is successful and her social network are successful, the two do not intersect. She must make them.
Our florist, and any e-business, must look at the total number of visits its site is getting each day; then, look at the total number of conversions the site is getting. Some better, some worse, undoubtedly there are fewer conversions than visits.
What could improved the visit-to-conversion ratio?
How about 'personal engagement?'
In other words, instead of redesigning a website every year or two, why not leave it alone and create immediate personal interaction with visitors to show them how to get around your site, lead them to products, upsell them if the opportunity arises?
But a website staff is limitied...right?
What if there are hundreds of visitors on the site at the same time? Then, what?
You've already guessed what I'm going to say, right? Create a way for your social network to interact with your visitors...WoW...bright lights, right?
Next, how to use them to market your site...
Who is your social network?
Who is your social network? You've probably already got the skeleton of one if you've had a web presence for any length of time.
If you don't yet have a social network or you're not somehow collecting people within your domain, you need to get busy. Do this...
1) Get every email address from every email, customer request, newsletter subscriber, blog poster, etc., etc., etc.
2) Organize them (need help, go to RentaCoder.com) with as much personal data as you've collected.
3) Go to KickApps.com, or Ning.com, or any of the others and create a social network around the interest all your email addressees have in common. (Be smart about this...for example, an online store specializing in holiday decorations would find little interest among its social network about the store itself, specifically; however, the store's social network may find great interest in the subject of 'Decorating for the Holidays.' Don't design your network around your business. Design your network around the interest.)
4) Load your email addresses into your social network. 5) Send out an announcement highlighting the interest that everyone shares and the new social network you've created to help share the interest.
Presto...a little maintenance once in awhile and there you go...your social network.
Next - What to do with them?
If you don't yet have a social network or you're not somehow collecting people within your domain, you need to get busy. Do this...
1) Get every email address from every email, customer request, newsletter subscriber, blog poster, etc., etc., etc.
2) Organize them (need help, go to RentaCoder.com) with as much personal data as you've collected.
3) Go to KickApps.com, or Ning.com, or any of the others and create a social network around the interest all your email addressees have in common. (Be smart about this...for example, an online store specializing in holiday decorations would find little interest among its social network about the store itself, specifically; however, the store's social network may find great interest in the subject of 'Decorating for the Holidays.' Don't design your network around your business. Design your network around the interest.)
4) Load your email addresses into your social network. 5) Send out an announcement highlighting the interest that everyone shares and the new social network you've created to help share the interest.
Presto...a little maintenance once in awhile and there you go...your social network.
Next - What to do with them?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
How to think about your social network...
If you've been lucky or smart enough to develop a social network around something, especially, a business, here's how to think of the entire organism in perspective.
Think of all your SN members as one single individual with all the imaginable creativity and potential any single individual might have.
Now...imagine that while that individual sits on your network happily uploading photos and videos and commenting, happily and not-so-happily, on blogs, that individual is also waiting for something. For what, you ask? I would say, in most cases, the next opportunity to make money. In other, more altruistic, cases, to help people. Give them some way to satisfy that wait.
If your Social Network sprang from your business, think of ways your SN persona individual (because he knows and loves your company or product so much he decided to become a SN member) can use his knowledge of your business to sell your products.
Call me for suggestions. 800-504-3606 - mention: Blog post
Think of all your SN members as one single individual with all the imaginable creativity and potential any single individual might have.
Now...imagine that while that individual sits on your network happily uploading photos and videos and commenting, happily and not-so-happily, on blogs, that individual is also waiting for something. For what, you ask? I would say, in most cases, the next opportunity to make money. In other, more altruistic, cases, to help people. Give them some way to satisfy that wait.
If your Social Network sprang from your business, think of ways your SN persona individual (because he knows and loves your company or product so much he decided to become a SN member) can use his knowledge of your business to sell your products.
Call me for suggestions. 800-504-3606 - mention: Blog post
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