Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Paraguayan President Turns Down Meeting WIth Palin
Delcious post over at the Washington Note. Click it here.
And quite frankly, who can blame him?
Not to diminish the importance of the people of Paraguay, but there is something pretty telling about President Fernando Lugo turning down access to a person who might well get behind that desk in the Oval.
"I can see Paraguay from my house!"
And quite frankly, who can blame him?
Not to diminish the importance of the people of Paraguay, but there is something pretty telling about President Fernando Lugo turning down access to a person who might well get behind that desk in the Oval.
"I can see Paraguay from my house!"
Friday, September 26, 2008
OH. MY. GOD. Palin is All Dingbat!
This is what would be one heartbeat away from the Oval Office if McCain wins.
Oh my God! It's like listening to Sally Field in Sybil. Oh My God! In her next interview I expect her to talk about the buttonhook.
Look at Katie Couric trying not to burst out laughing. What? Or maybe she's trying not to cry.
Caribou Sybil.
Oh my God! It's like listening to Sally Field in Sybil. Oh My God! In her next interview I expect her to talk about the buttonhook.
Look at Katie Couric trying not to burst out laughing. What? Or maybe she's trying not to cry.
Caribou Sybil.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Inside and Outside the Box: An Interview With Box.net Community Manager Sean Lindo
Well, it's Interview Thursday here at Oldest Living. this week, we're hearing from Sean Lindo, Community Manager for Box.net.
Q1: For the benefit of people who may not have heard of you, can you give me an elevator pitch of Box.net? What you do and the need you meet?
Box.net is a service for people to store, access, and share files online and, more importantly, collaborate on them with family, friends, and colleagues. Whether those files are productivity documents, like Word docs, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations or digital photos, audio and video, Box.net provides individual and enterprise customers with a simple and secure service for storing and sharing the files that matter to them.
Q2: Lots of companies begin with a story. A catalyzing moment that made the founders know they had a real need to meet. What is Box.net’s story?
While he was a student at USC, Aaron Levie, Box.net’s CEO and co-founder, wanted to figure out a way he could access and share any file he had, wherever he was. He wanted to do it in a way that was easier than how most people accessed and shared files then - and, as a matter of fact, how many people still do today.
As Aaron says, Box.net wasn’t established to be a leader in online file storage and collaboration. He and his co-founders just wanted to solve a problem they experienced themselves. 2 million users later, it turns out a lot of people shared their sentiments.
Q3: There are several companies offering file sharing services right now. What’s unique about your offering? Are there new services we should be aware of?
Box.net puts an emphasis on collaboration. It isn’t enough that we provide a simple way to store files online. For us, the magic is in how people get to use, share and collaborate with their files. We make it really easy for Box customers let others, whether they’re a Box user or not, to view and edit files, contribute and track changes in a centralized place.
The cool thing is that a lot of people are noticing what we bring to the table. As you know, Dell recently announced a partnership with us, providing users of the new Inspiron Mini 9 netbook with free online storage and collaboration services from Box.net. The fact that one of the most respected leaders in the industry picked Box speaks volumes about what we offer.
We are also working on a Box.net application for the iPhone. I’m an iPhone user myself, so I’m especially excited about being able to access and share files on my beloved phone. We’ve already gotten rave reviews on our iPhone browser-based application. Users can expect an easier, more robust experience when the native app comes out. And in general, we update Box.net on a weekly basis to optimize performance and security and address customer requests.
The key takeaway in all of this is that Box.net provides customers with a user-centric experience - not a closed, application-centric one. We want to provide an open experience that lets customers use files with the applications, operating systems and devices they prefer, all in a way that’s fun, simple, secure and reliable.
Q4: Your site touts how OpenBox is integrated with some service platforms like Picnik. How does that work and what does that mean for the user?
We are especially proud of what the OpenBox platform brings to customers. Box was the first online storage service to provide an open API for third party developers to write applications that work seamlessly with files stored in a Box.net account.
For example, if you use Picnik to edit digital photos, Zoho to edit documents or Facebook to post files on your profile page, you can access files stored on Box.net right inside these applications. When you create or make edits to files using these apps, you can store them on Box.net and share them easily. Customers can do this with tons of other services and applications from iPaper, Zazzle, eFax, Wordpress and even Autodesk.
Q5: Ultimately, this is a blog about marketing, and your background is in marketing. What have you found are the biggest challenges of promoting an online service in this constantly changing marketing environment?
The web has given consumers an almost infinite amount of ways to learn about anything. In researching and evaluating a product, people put a premium on learning about something from a credible and trustworthy source. The challenge is knowing what those sources are and how to get your word out on them at the right time and in the right way, whether it’s an established site like TechCrunch and Engadget, or the blog that has a few dozen dedicated, but really vocal readers. While it is a changing environment, it poses the same marketing challenges that have been around forever. The web just multiplies them many times over. At the same time, you have so many more options and things you can try out, but it’s definitely a challenge.
Q6: Companies are ultimately about people. What made you choose to work at Box.net? What’s YOUR story?
It had long been a dream of mine to work for an exciting company in Silicon Valley. I worked for some great companies in Chicago, but I’m a tech fanatic. I read tons of books and watched a lot of documentaries on Apple, Steve Jobs, Microsoft and Google, which made me excited about working in a place where history is made and world-changing products are born. In Box.net, I came across a company that was young, playing in an exciting space and growing at a fast pace. It was just the kind of company I imagined joining once I was in California.
Just as importantly, I get to work with people who are fun, smart, hard-working and passionate about their work. It’s easy to get out of bed in the morning because I sincerely look forward to working with the people I get to work with at Box.
Q7: What is your role at Box.net? What does a Community Manager do?
I’m basically Box.net's main point of contact with the blogosphere. My job is to stay up-to-date on what’s being said about Box.net on tech news sites, journals, podcasts, blogs, Facebook, Twitter and so forth. We want to make sure we get our story out to the online community and effectively address the needs and concerns of current and potential users.
Q8: What excites you about working at Box.net?
I’m excited that Box.net gets to play a big role in this trend towards true cloud computing. I know a lot of people love to hate that term. But the move towards using files and applications that are web-based is undeniable. The market is looking for a simple, rich and secure experience in accessing information and content wherever, however and on any device, whether it‘s a PC on your desk or the phone in your pocket. I think Box.net is ideally positioned to deliver on a lot of what people want in this space.
Q9: Anything else you want to tell us?
If your readers haven‘t already, I would encourage them to visit www.Box.net to learn more, sign up and stay tuned! Oh, and pick up a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 - or two!
Q1: For the benefit of people who may not have heard of you, can you give me an elevator pitch of Box.net? What you do and the need you meet?
Box.net is a service for people to store, access, and share files online and, more importantly, collaborate on them with family, friends, and colleagues. Whether those files are productivity documents, like Word docs, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations or digital photos, audio and video, Box.net provides individual and enterprise customers with a simple and secure service for storing and sharing the files that matter to them.
Q2: Lots of companies begin with a story. A catalyzing moment that made the founders know they had a real need to meet. What is Box.net’s story?
While he was a student at USC, Aaron Levie, Box.net’s CEO and co-founder, wanted to figure out a way he could access and share any file he had, wherever he was. He wanted to do it in a way that was easier than how most people accessed and shared files then - and, as a matter of fact, how many people still do today.
As Aaron says, Box.net wasn’t established to be a leader in online file storage and collaboration. He and his co-founders just wanted to solve a problem they experienced themselves. 2 million users later, it turns out a lot of people shared their sentiments.
Q3: There are several companies offering file sharing services right now. What’s unique about your offering? Are there new services we should be aware of?
Box.net puts an emphasis on collaboration. It isn’t enough that we provide a simple way to store files online. For us, the magic is in how people get to use, share and collaborate with their files. We make it really easy for Box customers let others, whether they’re a Box user or not, to view and edit files, contribute and track changes in a centralized place.
The cool thing is that a lot of people are noticing what we bring to the table. As you know, Dell recently announced a partnership with us, providing users of the new Inspiron Mini 9 netbook with free online storage and collaboration services from Box.net. The fact that one of the most respected leaders in the industry picked Box speaks volumes about what we offer.
We are also working on a Box.net application for the iPhone. I’m an iPhone user myself, so I’m especially excited about being able to access and share files on my beloved phone. We’ve already gotten rave reviews on our iPhone browser-based application. Users can expect an easier, more robust experience when the native app comes out. And in general, we update Box.net on a weekly basis to optimize performance and security and address customer requests.
The key takeaway in all of this is that Box.net provides customers with a user-centric experience - not a closed, application-centric one. We want to provide an open experience that lets customers use files with the applications, operating systems and devices they prefer, all in a way that’s fun, simple, secure and reliable.
Q4: Your site touts how OpenBox is integrated with some service platforms like Picnik. How does that work and what does that mean for the user?
We are especially proud of what the OpenBox platform brings to customers. Box was the first online storage service to provide an open API for third party developers to write applications that work seamlessly with files stored in a Box.net account.
For example, if you use Picnik to edit digital photos, Zoho to edit documents or Facebook to post files on your profile page, you can access files stored on Box.net right inside these applications. When you create or make edits to files using these apps, you can store them on Box.net and share them easily. Customers can do this with tons of other services and applications from iPaper, Zazzle, eFax, Wordpress and even Autodesk.
Q5: Ultimately, this is a blog about marketing, and your background is in marketing. What have you found are the biggest challenges of promoting an online service in this constantly changing marketing environment?
The web has given consumers an almost infinite amount of ways to learn about anything. In researching and evaluating a product, people put a premium on learning about something from a credible and trustworthy source. The challenge is knowing what those sources are and how to get your word out on them at the right time and in the right way, whether it’s an established site like TechCrunch and Engadget, or the blog that has a few dozen dedicated, but really vocal readers. While it is a changing environment, it poses the same marketing challenges that have been around forever. The web just multiplies them many times over. At the same time, you have so many more options and things you can try out, but it’s definitely a challenge.
Q6: Companies are ultimately about people. What made you choose to work at Box.net? What’s YOUR story?
It had long been a dream of mine to work for an exciting company in Silicon Valley. I worked for some great companies in Chicago, but I’m a tech fanatic. I read tons of books and watched a lot of documentaries on Apple, Steve Jobs, Microsoft and Google, which made me excited about working in a place where history is made and world-changing products are born. In Box.net, I came across a company that was young, playing in an exciting space and growing at a fast pace. It was just the kind of company I imagined joining once I was in California.
Just as importantly, I get to work with people who are fun, smart, hard-working and passionate about their work. It’s easy to get out of bed in the morning because I sincerely look forward to working with the people I get to work with at Box.
Q7: What is your role at Box.net? What does a Community Manager do?
I’m basically Box.net's main point of contact with the blogosphere. My job is to stay up-to-date on what’s being said about Box.net on tech news sites, journals, podcasts, blogs, Facebook, Twitter and so forth. We want to make sure we get our story out to the online community and effectively address the needs and concerns of current and potential users.
Q8: What excites you about working at Box.net?
I’m excited that Box.net gets to play a big role in this trend towards true cloud computing. I know a lot of people love to hate that term. But the move towards using files and applications that are web-based is undeniable. The market is looking for a simple, rich and secure experience in accessing information and content wherever, however and on any device, whether it‘s a PC on your desk or the phone in your pocket. I think Box.net is ideally positioned to deliver on a lot of what people want in this space.
Q9: Anything else you want to tell us?
If your readers haven‘t already, I would encourage them to visit www.Box.net to learn more, sign up and stay tuned! Oh, and pick up a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 - or two!
White Paper Thursdays: The New Marketing Landscape
A nice deck outlining the changes in our marketing environment is available below. Worth a peruse or a download. It is authored by Dan Pankraz, Senior Planner at Clemenger BBDO, Sydney.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
White Paper Thursdays: Combating Gripe Sites
A good white paper about managing brand reputation -- particularly "gripe sites" (you know the drill <<>>SUCKS.com) is available here. Made available by Fairwinds Consulting.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
MTV Ad Network Takes a New Tack
Well, MTV, which already has a vertical network (natch) has reformatted that network into "tribes" built around their lead media properties. The idea is to get more revenue from exiting advertisers on their mainstay properties by selling those audiences across the web. It's a potent approach in that it will help grow their own revenue while giving sites access to advertisers that would frankly never ever ever get around to buying their ad space.
What I like about the approach is that it is demand rather than supply driven -- meaning that they can meet the needs of advertisers better through this approach. And in so doing, help suppliers. It's sort of a...dare I say it...marketing approach to selling marketing space. Is that an interesting innovation.
While the also ran networks struggle to get some traction -- any traction -- with certian advertisers, MTV can build on its existing relationships and snare a larger share of their total ad spend.
What are you saying, that this is just packaging...another name for channels? Why, YES, I agree with you. Packaging good.
Thanks for reading, and don;t forget to write.
WSJ: First They Go Color, Now It's Social Media!
ARS Technica is reporting that WSJ is introducing social media content and functionality to its much anticipated too long in coming redesign. This screen shows you what they're planning:
My friends, I'm guessing we will be seeing the first three digit CPM for social media. Maybe that's hyperbole, but I don't think so. The folks at the Journal are smart enough to know that to truly monetize these pages they are going to need to really integrate messages into the discussion.
Let's just hope News Corp doesn't bring the bling from MySpace pages on over. Cuz I would hate to see this sort of thing in the grand dame of financial news:
Holla Holla WSJ!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
My friends, I'm guessing we will be seeing the first three digit CPM for social media. Maybe that's hyperbole, but I don't think so. The folks at the Journal are smart enough to know that to truly monetize these pages they are going to need to really integrate messages into the discussion.
Let's just hope News Corp doesn't bring the bling from MySpace pages on over. Cuz I would hate to see this sort of thing in the grand dame of financial news:
Holla Holla WSJ!
Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.
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