PR Thoughts

Secrets behind MySpace's success

I was seeking for some informations on successful social network when I found this post from Robert Scoble relating part of a discussion he had with Aber Whitcomb, CTO of MySpace.

Some of the reasons which have made the success of MySpace are:

1) They made sure influentials in Hollywood (stars, bands) were among the first users.
2) They listen to their users and add features frequently (usually noticeable new features every week).
3) They let the users tell them what to do. He mentioned that other services, like Friendster, tried to tell their users what not to do.
4) When MySpace visitors first log on they already had a friend: the founder Tom. That was in contrast to other services where you had to work to find your first friend. His page also gave you a template to get started.

Definitely arguments to bare in mind if you're willing to launch your "MySpace"....

Technorati Tags: myspace

French "Stratégies" launches a new web

Stratégies, our french Advertising Age or PR Week, a mix of both as we don't have exactly the same here, launched it's new website few weeks ago.
I've been one out of several french bloggers to be invited to a pre-launch, we attend a short presentation of this new web and the main improvement have been underlined to us.

The far most interesting new feature is the opened archives search engines: you can get all articles having been published since the grounding of the magazine which can provide some interesting inputs on a brand marcom campaigns history. I had a look on a search based on Edelman and got 124 results/articles.

Except that good idea to open the archives (as soon as they are older than one month...) I have to say that the new site is quite disappointing... No RSS feed, nothing really new in the way to structure and share information, and perhaps the worth: a "daily blog" section without any daily update... This section has been announced to us at the magazine's welcome to the blogosphere, dedicated to announce each day a new blog about marcoms and media. Ok, since 3 weeks, 5 blogs are announced, one of thouse 5 is handled by a french PR pro...
An email contact is available but it seems like no one is taking care of it, we've been several to use it to propose our blogs, none of us got any answer...

What surprises me the most is that I know who is behind this refresh of Stratégies ' web, they are definitely up to date with the blogosphere, but it seems like their client doesn't listen or doesn't understand what is is all about, as I can't imagine them willing to be associated to such old mistakes...
So come on guys, let's make it happen...;o)
Tags: strategies

Hahn's beer film

Have you seen Hahn's beer last video ? Just a wink to launch the week...;o)

See the video

Thanks Marie for the link !

iTunes 6 and the new iPod are now available

Apple released iTunes 6 with several terrific new features. Music Videos is one but also very interesting the ability to buy and send music as gift or to post personal reviews and ratings. I wonder how many video clips are available right now, the list I saw today was already quite impressive...

Apple offers a specific entry for Pixar's films and I couldn't resist jumping through this open gate to get "For the birds", a short film that made me laugh as never the first time I saw it few years ago... I fully recommend to invest the 2,49 EUR required to get it !

With the new iPod also released those last days (who did get a Nano....?), Apple is now inviting us to "Watch your music" as the campaign says. Who could have imagine that we would once write such things and more over that it will make any sense...?!? Nothing else than Apple's genius ! That's terrific marcom !
The advert is really a success too. Well, I wonder what might be Apple's next step on the big consumer market...

Technorati Tags: apple, ipod nano, ipod, pixar

Is Steve Jobs playing with the cell phone industry ?

If you're interested by this question, you should have a look at Bill Palmer's last piece on Ipod Garage, he's got a terrific vision of what's happening up there...

It would seem that there just can't be a method to all this sadness regarding the iTunes phone, this Motorola / Cingular / Apple three-headed monster of a phone of whose head Apple is seemingly attached by a lone tendon. Did things go horribly wrong between Apple and Motorola behind the scenes? Has Apple been trying to make this project fail from the start? Or did Steve Jobs sit this one out and put the whole cell phone "vision thing" in the hands of the Dell Dude?

More than 65 comments at that time, jump in !

Thanks Teebo for the link.

Technorati Tags: apple, iTunes, stevejobs

MyDensity displays your social map

Do you know MyDensity, a free online service that displays the first- and second-degree social map of any URL that you can use to find out who is linking to you.

Via Corporate PR

Technorati Tags: Social map

Ogilvy PR published an "Executive Blogger's Guide..."

Ogilvy PR's Asia Pacific President, Christopher Graves has published the "Executive Blogger's Guide to building a nest of Blogs, Wikis & RSS ".

You can download the full study here.

Thanks to Tom Murphy for the link.

Reminder: Edelman and Intelliseek published a guide to the blogosphere several month ago, see there.

PS: sorry for this lack of post those last days, some holidays have taken me out of here...

Welcome in the blogosphere Rob !

I just wanted to welcome an old friend of mine, recently arrived in the blogosphere at the time of the launch of his new company, Directional Marketing.
I wish you all the best Rob and I won't miss to keep an eye on your blog !

Technorati Tags: corporate blogging

A new white paper on blogging

Mark Rogers, CEO of Market Sentinel just told me about the white paper they have published recently with Weboptimiser.
"It looks at the whole area of how blogging is impacting brands and suggest some simple suggestions", say Mark.

Thank you Mark for letting me know, I've just printed it and I am going to have a deep look on it !

"Search is brand" - Market Sentinel - Weboptimiser

Technorati Tags: corporate blogging, blogging survey

Future Tense is live !

A new blogzine is being launched at Corante, Future Tense, that "explores how the modern work “place” is evolving and adapting to new trends, technologies, and economic factors."

Elizabeth is the editor, congratulation my friend and alliance partner !

Whish you the best for this new endeavour ! Hope you'll have a lot of readers ! ;o)

Contributors are Dave Deforges, Jim McGee, Regina Miller and Jim Ware