Entries Tagged 'Industry News' ↓

It seems like Yahoo! has a thing for hiring my former bosses and Knight Ridder leaders. At first, I thought they were just trying to get away from me, but I left Knight Ridder before Hilary so I’m not so sure any longer. First, it was Dan Finnigan, who left Knight Ridder Digital to to run Yahoo! Hotjobs. Then my boss Tim Lambert followed Dan to HotJobs, later to run their local search sales effort.

Hilary Schneider, former Knight Ridder Exec and new Yahoo! Senior Vice President of Yahoo! Marketplaces

Now, Hilary Schneider, the rising star of Knight Ridder Digital, and then Knight Ridder, who many thought would succeed Tony Ridder as CEO, is off to run Yahoo! Marketplaces. I don’t know if there is one person who got more screwed, or was made more fortunate than Hilary, by the recent McClatchy purchase of Knight Ridder. I honestly think she would have taken over Knight Ridder (the screwed part) but I don’t think print, or the legacy burdened Knight Ridder was ever the best place for her (the more fortunate part).

Although Hilary has deep roots in the newspaper space, having worked at Tribune before Knight Ridder, she was always a progressive Internet expert and leader. At Yahoo!, especially working for a grounded and intelligent manager like Susan Decker, Yahoo! is a lot more likely to let her expertise and intuition run unbridled in a place where legacy is something no more than a decade old - not 100. Watch out Google.

Congratulations Hilary - we wish you all the best.

Update September 14, 2006

I hasten to add that I am wondering what all this news about Hilary means to Dan Finnigan - Executive VP and General Manager of HotJobs?  The information I’ve read so far indicates that Hilary has overall responsibility for all classifieds products, including HotJobs.  I have not been able to verify this yet with Yahoo!.  Is Dan still going to run HotJobs but report to Hilary?  What does Dan’s recent move from NYC based HotJobs headquarters, back to Yahoo! headquarters in Sunnyvale mean - if anything?  It was Hilary who took over at Knight Ridder Digital after Dan left for HotJobs, and prior to these moves they worked together closely to put the whole CareerBuilder acquisition together when they represented Tribune and Knight Ridder at the time. As former peers, I would suspect things would get a little uncomfortable if Dan was reporting to Hilary now. But, that’s nothing more than speculation - I’m just intrigued by the moves and what hasn’t been said yet at Yahoo! and what this will mean to us who follow the online recruitment and local space.

Technorati Tags: Hilary Schneider, Yahoo! Marketplaces, Dan Finnigan, Knight Ridder Digital, Knight Ridder, HotJobs, Local, online Classifieds, Tribune, CareerBuilder

A whole different kind of evolution

A lot of you have heard about the trouble Facebook is having with its new feed and mini-feed functionality. I’ve been meaning to pick up the thread I introduced about social media Darwinism in my recent post about Digg.com and Newsvine, two other social media communities, and then Amitai got me off my rear by forwarding this related link to me on Facebook.

According to a Wall Street Journal article “New Facebook Features Have Members in an Uproar” written by Jamin Warrn and Vauhini Vara, published September, 7, 2006

“Facebook.com, the popular social-networking Web site for students, is suddenly getting the cold shoulder on campus. On Tuesday, in an effort to make it easier for users to keep track of their friends, the fast-growing site rolled out two new features, dubbed News Feed and Mini-Feed. They track users’ actions on the site and then keep all of their friends apprised of those developments..”

Over 300,000 Facebook users have responded to these changes in a most unhappy manner. In my post I made the point that both Kevin Rose and Mike Davidson, respective CEO’s for Digg and Newsvine, are doing a great job of practicing poised social media skills. Like responding quickly and openly to criticism while avoiding any hint of defensiveness. How was I to know that just as I was writing this post Wednesday about Rose and Davidson, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO for Facebook was providing a living, breathing example of what not to do.

As the story started to blow up in the blogosphere and main stream media, the first thing I did was locate Zuckerberg’s blog. I expected to find the same kind of skillful interaction on Zuckerberg’s blog that I have seen exhibited by Rose. As I sat there Wednesday evening looking at the headline of his post I have to admit I was more than a little surprised.

“Calm down. Breathe. We hear you.”

I thought that it was a pretty patronizing way to start a conversation. Apparently, Facebook users felt the same way. Of course, that’s one of the dynamics with this one dimensional world of online social media. It can really fail to communicate your true intent, and in others, it exposes your real feelings in ways that you didn’t intend.

Here’s the big difference between Zuckerberg’s post and Kevin Rose’s. Zuckerberg explained everything away (don’t be concerned, it’s all the same information you’ve already been sharing). Rose, acknowledged his detractors, admitted that part of what they were complaining about was still going to take place, but then went on to say that they were changing their system to address many of the very concerns being voiced by Digg users. In other words, Rose was fessing up, and he was taking action. When it comes to interpreting true meaning whilst it is leaving someone’s lips or fingers, it is what they do, not what they say, that has the most impact. Zuckerberg, was saying he was listening but he wasn’t showing it.

Even though I’m not Facebook user, as I am of Digg and Newsvine, Zuckerberg’s follow up today got him right back on track. We’ll have to see if his damage control will do the trick. I do think he’s moving in the right direction again by taking action, based on the feedback his community is giving him.

I hope that I don’t sound superior in this post. I’ve made tons of mistakes in written communications before, er, I mean everywhere in my life, including my forays in social media. When I stuff things up, I feel badly, and I do my best to try and recover. Sometimes it is easy, other times I have to sulk first because I’m a stupid, overly sensitive man. Sometimes I don’t even do a good job of recovering and I have to chalk it up to doing better the next time (hoping there is one) just like real life. Of course, your online digital dirt doesn’t go away. So, in more ways than one, our very survival, from a professional and personal perspective, depends on how you handle yourself in your parallel online world. People will adapt, or perish, just as Darwin illustrated.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers as to how the proper online citizen should act. In the real world, especially in my personal life, I haven’t exactly found myself in alignment with typical societal values - in business I know how to play the game, I just opt out of that game a lot of the time. Unlike your personal life, I do think it’s much easier to give rules and guidelines for how businesses should handle this world of social media. I could give you a nice long list of social media tips. But then I’d have to charge you. No, but seriously, I would have to charge you a lot! OK, OK, I’ll admit it, I’m just too lazy to type anything up right now and I’m really in the mood for a broad brush, sweeping generalization kind of post, not a how-to guide. See - I can be honest. Now back to how businesses should handle this sort of thing. Two guiding words.
Intent.

Action.

I think that if you have a good intent, even when you blunder, that you’ll survive it. If you have the wrong intent, people will sniff it out and reject any manner of prose or impassioned speech on your part. I think it is key that you also act in a manner that is consistent with your intent. When you don’t - you’re not really hearing people, or you’re choosing to ignore them. And if you’re going to disagree, just come out and say it. I think Zuckerberg’s first post would have been a lot better if he had just said that he didn’t really think that users understood his actions yet and that they might be acting a little hysterical. They are after all, acting like someone had stolen their bank account number and broadcast is everywhere. At least, that’s what I took his piece to mean, because of how Zuckerberg acted. Give it to them with both barrels. The truth that is. Take action. Even if all you can say is that you’re forming a team to reevaluate your position and you end up coming back to the same position.

But enough about what I think. There are no true experts yet in the field of social media. We’re all beginners, with varying degrees of actual experience. What do you have to say about all this?

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

In closing, I want to say that in no way do I mean to make light of Mark Zuckerberg’s unpleasant experiences. This guy is running a highly successful effort. He must be very smart. I would guess that he’ll be just fine. I’m sure I have NO idea what he’s really like in ‘REAL’ life but I still have to constantly remind myself of that because the only data I have on him is his company and his blog. I recognize that there are aspects of his ‘real’ personality that come to light in places like his blog, but that they’re also limited by their singular dimension. This online world is a real world, but it’s not the most important one. Not yet anyway. Not until it can dive in front of a bullet for a friend or hold a baby girl in its arms and say everything that needs to be said, with just a touch and a look.

And I promise I’ll get back to further defining what I mean by social media Darwinism more in some pieces coming down the pike. I’m still mulling it over. Until then, go out and kick a dog (not really) or kiss a baby or something.

Technorati Tags: social media, social media Darwinism, social media optimization, digital dirt, online branding, word of mouth marketing, online communities, Facebook, Newsvine, Digg, Kevin Rose, Mike Davidson, Mark Zuckerberg

Over at Digg.com this afternoon there was some social unrest in the social media world. You’ve probably read stories about how a relatively small percentage of Digg.com users are responsible for the majority of the popular posts that people see on the first few pages. This is not news. What’s interesting about today is that users are heavily ‘Digging’ stories about the system not working - or being undemocratic.

As of 4:15PM EST today there were two of these stories on the front page of Digg.com. The second story, which has been dugg by over 1,400 users is about how the author’s story wouldn’t appear on the home page due to Digg.com moderators silencing his message. The author also published a story about a ‘flaw’ in Digg.com’s ’submission model.’

Meanwhile, over on the very top Digg.com story, user Taylor Hayward shows us how the top Diggers are consistently promoting each other on to the top of digg.com. HOW THE DIGG SYSTEM IS BEING GAMED BY A SMALL NUMBER OF USERS.

What’s all this mean? Is social media just showing us the undue influence of the long tail? Or, is this simply a newer rendition of Pareto’s principle at work?

My question for you is this. How much do you feel this is already happening on similar sites like Newsvine? If it is happening, what can Newsvine or the communities of other social media sites do to stop it? Or, is there any reason to stop it at all - is this just Social Media Darwinism at work, and if so, should we just let the laws of natural selection play out without interfering? Be sure to let us know your thoughts on the subject.

Shortly after originally publishing this story on my Newsvine Column, Kevin Rose, the founder and chief architect of Digg.com, posted a reply on his blog to Digg.com’s detractors. You could find this blog post because it was right at the top of Digg’s home page, right next to the stories questioning Digg. As you might expect from a social media leader, Kevin’s calm reasoned tone and response was just what the doctor ordered (to the tune of 1,754 diggs as of right now). Not only did Kevin’s message explain Digg’s current practices and ranking algorithms, it also highlighted changes that are coming to Digg that will help quell user concerns like the ones being ‘dugg’ by so many readers. If you have a blog, a wiki, or even a traditional marketing and PR team, then you have probably already inferred that Kevin’s methods are ‘best practice’ for the social media space. Pay a lot of attention to conversations about you and your brand on the Internet so you don’t miss out on these conversational Tropical storms that if left ignored, end up Cat 5 Hurricanes in the back yard of your Trailer Park. React swiftly, acknowledge and be part of the community, defend your position without being defensive, contribute your ideas, and support what you’re saying with facts and reason. If you take this kind of action, you’ll likely end up OK, if not the better for it.

Another great example of this kind of social media optimization is Mike Davidson, CEO of Newsvine. Like, Kevin Rose, Mike is flat out like a lizard drinkin’ when it comes to responding to conversations on his brand and product on the Internet. When I posted a story on my personal blog about Newsvine being out of commission last Saturday, he quickly found my story and commented on it. Not exactly the kind of thing we’re used to from a CEO now is it? When I posted my story about Digg.com on Newsvine and asked Newsvine users if Newsvine would follow in similar foot steps to Digg.com, Mike D. was right there again - only an hour and a half after I posted my story. On that topic, NO, Newsvine community members do not think that Newsvine will experience the same kind of issues that Digg.com has seen.

Why do I say that? Because I asked them in a poll on my Newsvine story and the result is a 64%/36% vote in favor of Newsvine keeping out of user hot water…

Technorati Tags: Social Media Darwinism, digg.com, social software, newsvine, digg, social media, social media optimization, social unrest

We Support A Free Internet - We Are The Web

Anheuser-Busch, brand owner of the beloved U.S. consumer icon BUD and other frosty libations, has a new plan to get you to drink more of their golden suds.

According to the article published by Ad Age on August 21, 2006:

“Anheuser-Busch Moves Into Content-Creation Business”

“Launches In-House Film and TV Production Company

Net and cellphones
The country’s largest brewer is launching its own in-house film and TV production company that will make humorous shorts and sitcom-type programs to be broadcast over the Internet and to cellphones, according to four people familiar with the matter, and could branch into full-length films.

While A-B has dabbled in content before — particularly in sports TV, where its Bud Productions division recently produced National Football League preseason games for the St. Louis Rams — this initiative is believed to be the brewer’s most ambitious by far. Funding will likely be drawn from its $1.56 billion marketing budget.

Jim Schumacher moves
Earlier this summer, A-B pulled VP-Creative Development Jim Schumacher — its top in-house creative — out of the advertising department and into the new production group. “The fact that Schu is leading this means they’re serious about it,” said one person familiar with his new assignment. “They wouldn’t be wasting his time otherwise.”

So, just a day apart from the Ad Age story that we discussed here about not over-hyping new marketing vehicles like blogs, RSS and mobile phones we see one of the strongest marketing innovators (I’ll leave the taste of their beer out of it) moving in with a very strong Internet play. A-B has a $1.56 BILLION dollar marketing budget so I expect to see some great ideas flowing out of St. Louis.

What will they be experimenting with?

Likely the kind of famed humorous content we’ve seen over the years on their Superbowl commercials. Expect it to have a highly viral and edgy feel, going way beyond what they’d be comfortable doing on T.V., as A-B looks to become the Youtube darling of the month. And expect them to offer similarly viral mobile phone content, paired up with wireless coupons inducing the harried mobile consumer to try the latest A-B libation, while using the location technology in mobile phones to show the wireless user where their closest liquor store is.

What I DO NOT expect A-B to do is launch fictitious blogs supposedly hosted by rabid Bud guzzling consumers. No, A-B doesn’t make those kinds of mistakes, and the head-honcho Jim Schmacher, an elite ad guru, won’t likely botch the job.

What are we to make of news like this when faced with stats from companies like Keller Fay whose recent study (this link is a PDF download of the study) has been oft quoted (92% of conversations about brand occur offline)? What do you think think people are saying about your employer brand in those offline conversations? Do you think you’ll have a better chance of influencing those conversations with word of mouth marketing like A-B, or will an ad in your local newspaper have a better chance of nudging passive job seekers in your direction?