2. Because of Rule 1, you can’t force advertisers. Google’s buy of YouTube created this panic and rush to monetize and put stupid buyout and valuation numbers in the heads of video start-ups. Eventually, whether YouTube clones or even earlier adopters and content makers agree or not, we need like three steps back. The networks need to take those steps too. In the meantime, watch your freaking costs and don’t lie to yourself.
4. The networks (old and NEW would be wise to cull the talent in much better way than their typical stable of agents and other TV shows. They need to embrace the web as a deep broad talent pool (farm system) and utilize the tools available like Tubemogul (I am an investor) to discover talent. The faster they do this, the faster the $8 billion dished out in totum for online video gets put to better use.
5. Don’t be scared by the headlines proclaiming the end of web video because $8 (EIGHT) billion has been spent . In fact, do the opposite and just follow the rules above. Just Think about the following numbers for a moment before you call this a bubble:
Merrill Lynch wrote off $9 billion in bad mortgages in the first quarter of 2008 alone (and $29 billion since the meltdown began.)
F@#ck the bankers and f@#k the idiots telling you web video won’t be gigantic.
First of all, thanks so much to all the commenters and emails and new readers that keep flowing in…your comments are always read and appreciated and it’s fun to mix it up and goof off a little.
I am headed to Toronto for the Summer with the family and will be working from KBC’s Toronto headquarters which are SWEET.
It’s tough coordinating a Phoenix shutdown for a few months and so while I will continue to post very frequently I think the blog will take a more idea generating tone and be less focused on conversation, but maybe I am wrong. I will be reading less and surfing less so price and the bigger trends are all I will be focused on…as well as helping out portfolio companies and managing my hedge fund.
The good kharma continues to flow and after stupidly losing my Mac Air at my fave local hangout by walking out yesterday without it and not realizing until this morning, it was generously turned in by someone and now held by the owner, a buddy. That’s just lucky. I have been nasty agitated of late and the best way to get it out of my system is to share more and bang out positive ideas and trends for us to ride.
Obviously, I continue to believe Web Video is a grand daddy of trends and so I am happy to have TubeMogul’s David Burch aboard as a summer guest columnist on web video trends. TubeMogul’s data is being smartly organized into regular posts over at AlleyInsider as well.
Over here, David won’t be writing opinion posts, but serving up real data about real online video trends. The data they are collecting is just too wide and deep for me to cover and link, but I think you will appreciate the content and ideas that can be generated from what you will read here. At worst you will see the hottest, most viral videos on the web right here and frequently.
Here is a great post from Michael today at Alley Insider entitled ‘The New Lords of YouTube ‘ using TubeMogul’s data. Some new classics.
It’s hard to ignore this trend and a lot easier for American entrepreneurs than starting complex alternative energy companies or digging mines and building plants. Sure, the smartasses will say that there is no honor in it and it’s a snapshot of America’s bigger problem (like we have just one), but I say embrace it, lead it and the less friction the better.
America is all about exporting culture for the forseeable future ( I was on this for you back in 2006 ). You can fight it and complain, but you should also embrace it.
Posted on May 27th, 2008 | Category: Web 7.0, YouTube | Comments Off
I like the hate. Keeps all the really loose billionaires away so us small fry can build a stake for ourselves.
Tell me web video does not work in three years. In the meantime, hedge the bet by owning GoogTube.
Product placement will be much further evolved in three years…because it has too. If not, you own Google because they will be priniting money for buying YouTube as everyone else will be out of business.
Discovery, syndication (biased – investor in TubeMogul ), promotion/ community (biased – investor in vsocial.com ) and matchmaking for good video and ad dollars is embryonic.
While he hates and makes bad trades, there is opportunity.
Mike’s an ass (TechCrunch) and he and I have come to an understanding about that (he thinks I despise him..I don’t), but Covestor was Crunched today by their new writing honcho Erick Schonfeld, their east coast meanie, formerly of defunct Business 2.0.
At first I did not think that people who were actually good would want to spend the time doing this, but they are and I would too if not for conflicts.
Meghann and Rose in my office are ready to go though and should be live shortly with their accounts. Pressure is on as they are relying on Wallstrip stocks.
Not realy, just Meghann from Lindzonmerica putting both to the test. Meghann’s financial life is pretty simple but stressful like the rest of us. I asked her to start from scratch and set up at Mint.com and Wesabe.com for her personal financial stuff. She is thrilled so far.
Seeing that I think we are late in the Web 2.0 cycle of start-ups, feature sets are close. It will likely come down to good old fashioned marketing and execution. If you are in the MySpace facebook crowd, you may never have heard of Quicken so I would think Quicken could make a play for one of these very fast. No youngster wants to pay for software anymore.
Here is Meghann’s take. She is hooked by the way on her choice for now…Mint (sorry Fred):
Jumping into the assignment of finally appropriately organizing my personal finances seemed tough. Luckily, someone has finally thought of a way to synchronize an accountant, financial planner and bank into one accessible and easily used website. The product: Mint.com and Wesabe.com.
Both Mint and Wesabe are free and combine the organized and detailed approach of Quicken, with the automation and accessibility of the web. Lastly, both are completely secure, providing bank level data security and identity protection. Each site does put in their own two cents, no pun intended, into how to best plan and organize your money.
Mint is billed as the “freshest, most intelligent way” for members to manage their money online. Completely comprehensive, it is utilized with ease, providing visual displays and categories for easy organization and cross-referencing. Another added benefit of Mint is that they go beyond accessibility and high visibility by providing money-saving suggestions. Mint offers up an average of $1,000.00 in savings opportunities during a new user first session.
Based purely on aesthetics and ease in navigating, Mint has Wesabe beat. Setting up my Mint account took under 10 minutes; my checking and savings account, along with one credit card, were completely synched and uploaded, even showing me every transaction over the last 98 days. The graphics are hip and youthful, the text is well-explained and the attitude is spirited. Mint seems to be the truly modern way of managing your money.
Setting up my Wesabe account took a little more time. Initially, I had to download my bank statements to their website, but it supports very little file types. Seeing as though most banks send their statements in PDF form and Wesabe doesn’t recognize PDF’s…it was a process. Once I logged on, setting everything up was just as easy as as it was over at Mint, albeit the website isn’t as pretty, but it still works.
The most unique feature of Wesabe is the member community aspect. Wesabe members post tips and techniques to help you to save and manage your money more effectively. For example, if Wesabe registers that you bought a latte, two pairs of shoes and a bottle of shampoo, then you will have “tips” on top of your transaction listing, like “Skipping Your Latte and Saving for a Vacation” or “How to Shop Less”, all written by fellow Wesabe members. Sound advice. Unfortunately, I’m not really interested in what Dan in Delaware has to say about my morning latte routine. If you are compelled listen to Dan, then this feature may give Wesabe an edge. Wesabe also categorizes transactions, much like Mint, but also provides detailed spending and earnings summaries, with graphs, which makes it easy to detail your spending habits.
One definitive edge of Wesabe over Mint is their goals section. This forum provides a space for you to detail your own financial goals, such as “I will not overdraft my bank account” or “I will not throw money away on useless purchases”. You can garner support for your goal through discussions with other members as well.
Regardless of my preference for either Mint or Wesabe, this type of online financial planning is the future. Money management websites are visual, analytical, hands-on and most importantly, always accessible – and that is a fresh idea.
The focus of Buddy Media is to expand the AceBucks application and make it the primary virtual currency on Facebook. Acebucks will soon launch an API which enables developers to integrate the virtual currency into their own applications. For example if you are winning points on a poker application, you can convert those points into Acebucks.
Acebucks can be used to purchase both virtual and physical assets through the new Facebucks store which is about to be launched. Acebucks is being modeled after the AMEX rewards system. Buddy Media plans on launching some creative marketing campaigns via the Acebucks application.
The Acebucks application is going to be able to expand into a number of larger applications thanks to their powerhouse investment team and some pretty large partnerships that they are announcing in the coming days.
My buddy Mike Lazerow, who I met through my Buddy James Altucher , has closed an initial round of $1.5 million. My hedge fund is an investor as is James Altucher, Peter Thiel (PayPal founder, Clarium Capital and Facebook angel fame), my buddy Roger Ehrenberg , and my buddy Mark Pinkus (multiple startups, including Facebook angel).
Mike and his wife Cass were the founders of Golf.com and had a great exit to Time Warner. He has been a great help to us at Golfnow.com as well.
This one has been fun already as I have had my sleeves rolled up as well helping to get the investor team together. Of course there is major risk and the boobirds in nerdville are already out. That just makes it all the more fun when we execute.
We showed the short version, because that’s what “THEY” say people have attention for. Well, sometimes “LONG is more.” In Seth’s case, as in Fred’s interview last week, I need the long version. I will get them just to have and share. Enjoy the short version for now.
I love our short question burst each week that we give our guest. Web 7.0 will be cool for sure. better than my 4.48 .
I know what many stock bloggers will be saying – “Look at me, I can trade against the big guys! Seth is wrong about hedge funds” It really is not an easy answer in a short interview context. I still think he is right, VERY right. It is why I now rarely trade and focus on longerterm price trends. No matter how cheap they make the trades (even if they are free and rebate you at the end of the year), the massive majority will lose over time to an index fund.
If you don’t have the information, stick with the pure safe benefit of positive stock expectation that the markets have shown over it’s lifetime. The media can’t tell you that dirty secret. They won’t. When they do, you won’t notice it between the Scotttrade and Schwab commercials for active traders.
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