Getmooh: Excuse 2.0

I once went on a set up date, and it was comically bad. I cannot imagine a worse match. But me, I think there's always something to talk about. You go through with the dinner, even laugh about the match, or jointly plot the demise of the responsible "friend" who matched you.

Not so my date. All of a sudden, the phone rang. Here was the dialogue (I have good hearing)

Caller: Well it's 8:30. Still need the call?
Date: Oh hey, what's wrong, you sound worried.
Caller: Oh I get it. Um, Chicago is on fire. Something about a cow and a lantern.
Date: An accident? Oh gosh. I'll be right there. Where are you?
Caller: 23 Shangrila Street, Oz.
Date: On my way.

So that was the end of that.

I would love to tell you I was angry and got even with a voodoo doll and to this day someone in SF walks with a fierce limp. But alas, I found the whole thing kinda funny. Their loss, anyway.

So you can imagine my reaction to Getmooh, the site that automates the process of getting interrupted during something you don't want to do.

It's easy. You request a call on your celly, and at the appointed hour, the call is made. You of course can decide whether you need it at that particular moment. If you do, you just pretend to be worried or whatnot.

The calls are actually recordings, mostly comical, presumably to take a bit of the shame out of the deception.

The calls are free. You register and ask for your call. Throughout the site there are Adsense ads, so presumably that's the revenue model.

It's a funny product, and you may find it rather useful if you are someone who likes to avoid confrontation.

And have you figured out the name? Get Me Out Of Here!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.

Ad Network Reach - Growing By Leaps and Bounds

Well 2007 and 2008 were certainly the years of ad networks. But some erroneously believe that the growth in networks is in number rather than size. Not so. Yes there are 300+ networks out there now, but the leading networks have also continued to grow their reach, as this chart of Comscore data clearly shows:



Bigger generally does mean better in the network biz, at least on the "horizontal" side. Verticals play by slightly different rules, though in their case as well, size generally provides enormous business advantages.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.

MapMe: Map Your World, Budding Amerigo Vespuccis!

I love maps, current and historical. And may I take a moment to point out that, while I am not a fan of Google, Google Maps has it down six ways to Sunday. When you compare it to that piece of poo that Yahoo pitches as a mapping application (that characterization, I remind you, from someone with a bizarre dedication to Yahoo) there's just no way to feel anything but awe for Google Maps.

And the beauty of Google Maps, as has been widely reported, has been Google's willingness to let developers make Google maps their own.

But that's not what MapMe is about. It's about making Google Maps YOUR OWN -- enabling you to create custom maps that identify the places that you and others identify as important, fun, exciting, whatever.

You join, you begin with a Google Map, and add your layer of recommendations and commentary to your chunk of the world. Now that chunk can be a continent, a country, a city, a neighborhood, or even a street.

For example, you could make a map pointing out attractions and accommodations for a trip to Rome. Or create an interactive guide to Washington University in St. Louis. Or create a guide for would be bar crawlers in the Temple Bar.

Or how about this little piece of critical mapping -- the 100 most violent pubs of NSW Australia!



Manhattan raves. Gay friendly accommodations in Amsterdam. Places to bird watch blue herons. The limits are only those in your own imagination.

But the beauty of map making is only partly in the making. It is also in the sharing, and MapMe lets you share on whatever level you feel is appropriate. Share with a few friends, a club, or everyone on earth. You can also, if you choose, allow others to add or comment on your maps so as to improve them with the wisdom of the masses.

You're not just able to put pins on them -- you can add commentary, photos, videos, descriptions, and allow others to comment on the destination you highlight.



It's a really powerful set of tools for travelers and map lovers, and a great way to find people who share your interests. And you don't just have to enjoy your maps on their site -- you can export them in three different sizes and embed them into your own site. Like this:


Download: KML RSS Maps of the World on MapMe.com

Great stuff, indeed. Even greater is that it was built by just 5 people in 6 months. Now, here's my old refrain..."I am not sure how they are going to make money..." But wait, with a small staff and that fact that some of their pages do indeed bear ads, this site does have the potnetial to make some cash. Theoretically, the maps could also support some forms of precise ad targeting by location or context. We'll see how it all shakes out over time.

In the meantime, get mapping. Who knows, your creation might make you as famous as Amerigo!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.

Zipiko: Always Know Who's Doing What

What's Up, Doc?

What's Up, Speedy?

What's Up, Elmer?

What's Up Wile E.?

Bugs might never have to ask his trademark question again, now that Zipiko has been created.

Zipiko is the vortex of your friends' planned activities. Members join and keep it abreast of what they plan to do when, or indeed are doing right at this very moment. Friends are kept aware of your plans and movements, and indeed receive SMS messages if you want to invite them to join the fun.



Watch the demo here. Sorry, no Warner Bros characters are in it, but it's definitely cool enough to be from Acme.



Don;t think your plans are being broadcast to the world, unless you want them to be. You get to decide who sees what you are up to, and whom you invite to join in. Zipiko explains their "code of etiquette thus:

The plans you can see, you can join.

Reply “yes” to an SMS invite if you want to go – no need to say no.

One hour before an event, you will get an SMS confirmation if anyone else is planning to come.

After receiving an SMS confirmation you can cancel within 15 minutes and your friends will be automatically notified. Just reply with a “no” SMS or cancel via the web.

Zipiko doesn't charge for all this, they may append an SMS with a short sponsor message. Additionally, if you send messages to others (which is the whole basis of the service, naturally) then those messages may also bear SMS ads. Seems like quite a fair price to pay for being completely in the know.

It's a pretty addictive service, lemme tell you. With Zipiko, you and your peeps will have a much easier time keeping track of one another. And with all that info, your life will be richer in fun and interesting activities.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.

Forecast for Robust UK Online Ad Growth

The UK is a lot smaller than the US in population, but they definitely REPRESENT in online ad spend. Check out this data reported by eMarketer:



In fact, over the next year or two, online ad spend may well exceed TV spend!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.

Awesome Viral From Tiger Woods 08

Recently, a purchaser of Tiger Woods 08 posted a vid of what he considered a bug in the software -- specifically that Tiger could walk on water, and indeed golf on water.

Well, apparently the people at EA saw this bug as a feature, and enlisted Tiger Woods to make this vid as a response.



The vid absolutely flew across the gaming community online, which could only serve to drive sales and build anticipation for Tiger Woods 09.

It just goes to show, opportunities to connect with consumers can come from anywhere, even in software mistakes!

Bravo to EA and Tiger Woods for seeing a lemon and making an Arnold Palmer.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.

CMyPitch: Does Your Business Need a Social Network?

Now, I bet my headline gave you a little misdirect. I am not asking if your business needs to create a soc net. No, rather my question is whether you need to join a soc network for business.

CMyPitch is just that. A community where business people can further their goals in a lot of different ways.

Business is of course a huge arena, and the needs of different kinds of business vary markedly. To capitalize on this, CMyPitch offers a variety of arenas. There is a specific zone for:

Start-Ups
Small and Medium Sized Businesses
Businesses for Sale
Franchise Opps
Entrepreneur TV
Amalgamated Business Directory

Each area offers a specific set of features and benefits geared to that community.

The name of the game here is video -- business people on film talking about what they are doing, selling, or needing. And with that in mind, let me show you CMyPitch's pitch.



So this is part TechCrunchj 60 second pitches, but also part bourse, part service pitches, and part networking party all rolled into one.

It's not all video pitching so don't stay away because you ain't photogenic. While video really is a differentiating factor for the site, there's a lot more to it than that.

The environment offers a way to publicize events, put a job out for bids, or even hear the ideas and tips of successful business people.

CMyPitch also offers ways to connect with that most elusive group of all -- potential investors in ideas. That alone should drive some significant traffic to the site.

CMyPitch is a London based business, and clearly its target is anyone with an entrepreneurial bent. Whether that means you want to start a whole smart business or change the world with the next Google, well, that's up to you. I like that focus on breadth.

Check them out. Find the area that's right for you and start watching. Or pitching!

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.

Remarkable Obama Viral Video

WW Video Ad Revs: Poised to Explode!

According to estimates from Bernstein Research (reported by eMarketer,) online video ad revenues worldwide are poised to grow to almost $10B by 2012. Billion with a B people.



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Rev Dobson's Focus on the Family Prays For Rain...As Does Michael Moore

...and gets it. Just in the wrong week. Or perhaps it's the right week in God's eyes.


In all seriousness, this is a video put out by Focus on the Family praying for rain on the night of Barack Obama's acceptance speech.

Oh, the nutty right is not the only set of persons aching for disasterous weather. So is the nutty left.



Sometimes I cannot believe I have to share a country with these chuds. Human suffering is funny?

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.