BusinessWeek said it first, indicating the VC model is broken. Then we got reports of far fewer VC firms than in 2000. But the newly minted ex-Google guys want to start a VC fund. Why?

1. Well they have the money, so they can.
2. There is real opportunity in the next generation of search – because we are tired of the old way apparently.
3. Its still the best gig in the business.

pic: from gapingvoid.com Hugh.

A few months ago everyone predicted the end of newspapers. Well they are all wrong. Its changing the industry, but newspapers are not dying (yet). New York Times reported stellar earningsyesterday and stock’s up 8%.

The New York Times Co (NYT.N: Quote, Profile, Research)
reported a 6.7 percent rise in profit on Tuesday because of higher
national advertising sales and a price increase for its flagship
newspaper, sending its shares up as much as 8 percent.

Most of the other newspapers are struggling no doubt, but dead! Yeah Right!

Apple reported strong earnings today. They just blew past most optimistic estimates. Interesting notes:

1. More small businesses are using iPhone. I understand if you are a lawyer or a small design firm or consulting outfit that makes sense, but restaurants, donut shop owners? Dont count on it yet.

2. Deferred revenue: iPhone revenue is recognized monthly over 24 months. Might be in the future JUST like your phone service you will start to rent your iPhone instead of buying it. Remember the GM Electric car?

3. Getting started on BestBuy relationship. I think this is very interesting. The biggest draw for the Apple stores is the “cool” experience they provide and the “geniuses” that provide you on hand support.

Nate‘s posting very frequently on Twitter on the San Diego fires. If you have a loved one or relatives in that part of the country, follow him there.

Since Google changed the business model on Microsoft the only way Facebook is going to change the rules is adopt a totally new business model. I think social networks like Facebook will make incremental moves if they try to “out-Google” Google.

Instead, Facebook should start to offer services that “friends” should jointly get value from. The inherent power of many on facebook. Here’s a couple that make sense:

1. Remember IEEE would offer all members a joint insurance (I think it was life insurance) but why cant facebook offer that for groups?

2. How about aggregate buying? If my friends and I all like the new Powerbook how about getting us all combined to buy one at a discount someplace? Update: BusinessWeek calls these purchasing co-ops

I am sure there are many more, but this would be the best use of the “social graph” that’s on my list of friends on Facebook.

#	Question	Example Responses
1	Company name	Adobe Systems Incorporated
2	Name of community	Adobe Developer Connection
3	Community type	Developer
4	# of total members	NA
5	Community Manager / Evangelist (Name)	Jonathan Wall
6	Community moderators	NA
7	Date community was started	September/October 2007
8	Average # of daily posts	NA
9	Key purpose of community	An enhanced version of the Adobe Developer Community, the Developer Connection was launched very recently (late September 2007). The key purpose is to facilitate support and training for developers and to connect with other Adobe developers worldwide. Its users are made aware of current trends and advanced techniques via blogs, forums, exchanges, and events.
10	Platform components for community	1.    User Forums 2.    Exchange for sharing applications and code 3.    Adobe Developers’ Blogs 4.    Blog Aggregator (Feeds/News Aggregator) 5.    Documentation Resource Center 6.    Flex  Cookbook – resource for sharing code and solutions 7.    User Groups 8.    Adobe Labs – information on pre-released products and technology 9.    Technical support for products 10.  Trial downloads 11. Developer Center Article Archive 12.  CSS Advisor – resource for queries on cross-browser compatibility and CSS 13.  Edge Newsletter – free newsletter with videos, ADC Update Newsletter for Developers 14.  Flex bug base – source for reporting and reviewing bugs related to Adobe Flex builder & Flex SDK 15.  Information on Product SDKs 16.  Certification & Training resources 17.  Developer Events 18.  Support Plans for customers and developers by product 19.  Search user groups, community experts and developers/designers by technology/expertise (ADC introNetwork) 20.  The ADC Developer Desktop – provides desktop notifications about changes in status of bugs
11	Vendor for community	In-house (developed by a team of Adobe employees led by Jonathan Wall, Group Manager for developer relations in the Platform Business Unit at Adobe Systems)
12	Top 3 great features / things about this community	Ease of navigation and extensive content – Access to all features and components of the ADC website are provided on the homepage itself, ensuring easy navigation. The page layout and information architecture is user-friendly. The community also incorporates a broad range of developer-centric features and content into its website.  It focuses on the most important component of any developer community – technical content on core developer issues. This is done by means of articles, tutorials, videos, newsletters, forums, information exchange platforms and streamlined search features. ADC introNetwork – A social network for developers, the ADC introNetwork provides users with a search engine to for finding developers and/or designers by technology and Adobe product expertise. Users can search based on professional attributes, skills, professional background and even personality traits. One can also use the introNetwork as a job portal or for engaging certified developers close to their location.   Developer Spotlight – The community, as recognition of the efforts of developers worldwide, has created a Developer Spotlight program which features innovative developers every week. The developers are selected by other members of the community through online voting polls.
13	Top 3 items that need to improve for this community	A community as big as this could do with a separate listing of the key contact points prominently. Having a stat counter listing the number of active users and the total number of users, is conspicuous by its absence. It is a good indicator of how dynamic the community is.
14	Comprehensive community score

 

Just joined Gooruze. Dont know if its going to be YASN, (Yet Another Social Network) but we’ll find out soon. I’ll let you know if its worth checking out.

mmohan.gooruze.com

“Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.”—George Santayana

I worked at Ariba for a during 1998-99, followed by Asera (a Kleiner Perkins startup that raised over $175 Million in venture funding, but showed no traction). The big thing during those days was every industry wanted to build a “Vertical B2B Exchange”. Hundreds were funded – by companies like CMGI, ICG and other venture firms. Many more were funded by large industry consortiums – Covisint, E2Open.

There were 3 dominant themes:
1. Networks of B2B with multiple vertical industries – Chemdex, Vertical Net etc.
2. Small 3 guys and a dog companies – hundreds of which none remain
3. Large consortium funded companies – eSteel, elemica etc.

Of those, the ONLY ones that still are dead men walking are the #3. Others all failed or burned out or flamed.

So when I see a social network for Pharma or a social network for a building, I find that amusing and really history repeating itself.

Dont need it, never needed it, wont need it. Of course I am going to hear this time’s different. I actually used those words during that time.

Photo credit: Cartoon Stock.

There are many consulting companies and vendors that can help you with your community initiative or social network. But the more consulting companies that exist the more confusing your options are. There are basically 3 types of companies. Obviously the entire issue of partnering with a consulting company means you know what your social media objectives need to be in the first place. Lets assume (I know that’s a big assumption) you do know that.

1. The “Agency”: This company will provide an end-to-end service. They will manage your account, provide strategy, ongoing management and consulting for the initiative. This type of company believes its model is best suited for a client who believes the best work is done by experts. It is in their best interest to not mentor your internal resources (regardless of what they tell you). Use this option if you want to outsource your community or intend to get it going really quick or you believe you dont have time (maybe because your competition has beaten you to it) to do it yourself. Most PR agencies of yesterday now offer social media as an option in this list of services.

2. The “Specialists”: This type of company is good in one or more facets of community development. For example they are good at “developing your alpha members” or “viral marketing” of your community or “moderating” your user generated content. If you have one or more members of your team that have some experience with building a community and you only need additional “hands on deck” to complement a specific area of your exposure, this is the best type of company for you.

3. The boutique or “one woman bands”: These companies / individuals are best suited for very large companies who need deep expertise in an area or the very small (community is very small so we can have one person do it all). If you are a mid sized company, this is not the most suited option. This company is obviously risky since everything depends on one person.

Update: My friend Tac talks about Marketing vs. PR agencies.

Looking at all the various responses to Universal’s new take on ITunes. I actually love it. Competition is a good thing. I think Universals’ proposal this time might work. I love my Ipod, but competition should drive down prices, not up I think. If I were to put a perfect music consumption plan I would take the best of Apple iTunes, XM Satellite, Pandora and iTune.fm

1. Finding new music: XM is BEST for this. I keep listening to new music on some of their best channels. Only if I could get XM on my iPod, then I could record as soon as I want and delete the ones I really dislike.

2. Getting music collections of my existing CD’s – My iPod and iTunes (for CD Artwork) is best for this. No better way to get everything in one player than my iPod. Everthing – home stereo, car stereo and personal music system are driven with this.

3. Getting automatic music recommendations from friends and sharing with friends: I get a lot of recommendations on Facebook, on which iTune.fm is the best.

4. Getting “like” music – the best of “Get me more of this kind of music” is Pandora. Great service.

5. Keep me finding new and interesting artists – The proposed Morris plan (from Universal) sounds great for this.

What do you think?