Twitter - Facebook Users

There is an interesting balance of "escapism" and "learning" happening here - I feel that Twitter is becoming a valuable business service (both to promote your brand and also to learn about the industries you compete in). Of course, if you follow the right people, you'll get solid content. No matter what, it always comes back to quality and relevance of content. We are still a nation of seekers - seeking out ways to distract, grow, learn, entertain, etc. It's all there - and Twitter certainly makes it easier than ever to find what you're looking for. The fact that Twitter delivers content in a "short attention span theater" format makes even that much more valuable for today's bite-sized content hungry consumer.

However, just as MySpace should only focus on music, I see Twitter gravitating towards more of a business/communications usage focus. I still struggle with Facebook in many ways - seems to me that there is more bored people hanging out there than the ones on Twitter who seemingly are looking for answers. All of us posting what we feel is clever/smart/important/funny blurbs.

Either way, it's fascinating to watch consumer behavior change in real-time. I, for one, am keeping my eyes wide open. Of course it probably won't mean in a thing in a hundred years, but for now it's relevant.

The "Yellow Pages of the 21st Century"

Yelp. You've probably heard of it and used it. A long-winded article about it here: http://www.inc.com/magazine/20100201/youve-been-yelped.html

Ironically, the founders called it the "Yellow Pages of the 21st Century" during their pitches for investment. Ironic because just like Yellow Pages, Yelp must now find ways to innovate beyond their current business model. Keep in mind Yellow Pages was actually a very innovative idea at the time - and to this day they quite literally have been printing money. But, as consumer lifestyles have changed Yellow Pages has not kept up with their customer base or users. Revenues will continue to fall and users will move on to services like Yelp. But, Yellow Pages should have beaten Yelp to the punch and even Google for that matter. They had the "directory" market share first but they also had their blinders on and were not agile enough to see the opportunities online.

I'm watching Yelp closely to see if they continue to innovate. If they don't, turning down that reported offer of $500 million was a huge mistake. And, someday someone will say in a pitch for money "we're like the Yelp of the future."

The Mobile Gold Rush

As we work on launching the MeNetwork (http://www.themenetwork.net), it is interesting to follow the development of mobile "apps." Most of these are being created for iPhone users and other smart phones - without regard to the 80+ percent of the population who don't own smart phones. This is precisely why we're starting with a MeNetwork product that makes use of SMS. In fact, our first product is a real-time commerce-driven text based mobile search engine. That might seem like a mouthful, but if you break down that sentence and try the service, you'll understand why all those words apply. The MeNetwork returns not only directory type information but also real offers that users can act upon. And, it works on almost any phone.

Most mobile start-up companies prefer to develop apps because they are run by people who travel in small circles and only communicate with people just like them. Heck, everyone they know has an iPhone, so that's got to be where the market is, right? Wrong. Just like creative directors at advertising agencies that want to create ads for themselves (you know the ones - the funny, edgy, tacky TV spots that don't actually sell products but win piles of awards), mobile developers/inventors get caught in the trap of using their friends and co-workers as a focus group. We call this syndrome "talking to your belly-button" (think of being in the fetal position and you'll get the reference).

The gold rush is on - even though it is high time for mobile products that solve real business problems, most firms will create products that will only reach a very small percentage of cell phone owners - soon enough we'll see who strikes real gold and who only chases fools gold...

For more on this subject, follow me on twitter: @irishboy9

AOL Makes Me LOL

AOL revealed a new “branding position” recently. It’s “Aol.” Lower case letters. The brightest and best minds in the business came up with this - so it has to be good, right? Once again, a big brand is finding out that the big companies (e.g. big ad agencies) are no longer the “safe choice.” Makes me almost want to give up this business or at least puke a little bit.

AOL (sorry, I mean Aol.) better launch some new marketing efforts that strive to better connect their customers to themselves and to one another. It’s telling that they have really have bet the farm on the fact that they will have to attract new advertisers. What’s going to change there that will finally be of interest to advertisers? “Content” they say. Man, that train has left the station. Come on Timmy (Armstrong) try another one and please don’t use the word “engagement” on us. AOL has been holding their customers back for years.

Aol should be looking at implementing ideas/services/products that finally liberate and modernize them. Dear Tim; Don’t try and grow your customer base just yet - first, help your current customers grow. Lead them forward and retain their business. Only then will those golden advertisers follow. Represent your customers well and advertisers will follow - not the other way around.

Kisses.