Connecting the dots ...
Now matter how much ad-placement algorithms improve the inevitable mistake happens from time to time:
A story on news.com.au talks about how CIA prisons in Europe ‘closed’ and prisoners got relocated to somewhere in Afcrica in a rush prior to Secretary Rice’s visit to Europe. Check out the ad served up right of the article. Quite a gem.
Previously mentioned “gems”:
(updated)
Just minutes after I posted “ Rebates: the Business Process that will Never be Re-engineered “ I’ve discovered Resumercial, a completely reenginered approach to the process of getting hired – or not. Watch the video here. (originally found on digg)
Kudos for creativity. Too bad he applied for a Product Management position and failed to mention a single word of his qualification in that area. Oh, well, perhaps this was just the beta, and he’ll fix it by Rel 1.0. Actually, that might be smart when you apply to Google .. after all, most of their products are in permanent Beta…
Talk about releases… have you noticed how I use the term ReEnginered? That’s the web-version (albeit 1.0), using the form Re-enginered would have been sooooo 90’s 🙂
Update (12/8): I don’t know if Resumercial worked or not, but here’s another approach, that apparently works: Hire Me, Google.
Tags: Hiring, Job Market, Job Applications, Google, Re-engineering, Reenginering, Resumercial
(Updated)
Ad-supported content? Yes. Personal Productivity tools? Yes. Enterprise Software? No way. (IMHO)
There’s an interesting, Microsoft-induced debate at ZDNet re. the possibiliy of funding free On-Demand software via advertising:
It all started with Microsof app’s but from there it’s just a step to arrive to Gerge Colony of Forrester: “ I foresee a world in which even enterprise applications like financials, ERP (enterprise resource planning), and supply chain software will be advertising-funded.”
My take: that we have a lot of web-based content supported by ads is already a fact. Consumer software, personal productivity tools? Quite possible.
Enterprise Software is a different animal. Why? It is used by businesses, who have their own business processes and workflow. Clicking on ads would be a distraction from that business process, I can’t possibly see why companies would support it. True, there will be major changes in the delivery/ pricing model for enterprise software. When prices come down from the stratospheric heights set by Oracle, SAP et al and become more reasonable, a’la Salesforce, NetSuite, SugarCRM, 24SevenOffice, SmartCompany ..etc, my bet is companies would rather pay those prices then accept the productivity-loss caused by their employees clicking around the Net for hours a day…
Update (11/29) : SAP’s Jeff Nolan on Ad-supported Business Apps.
(ad from SFGate.com)
Update (11/20): Napster is using sex to sell, too. (hat tip: OM Malik)
Tags: Ads, Ad, Advertising, Commercial, Commercials
is now a proud co-patron of the Web 2.1 BrainJam along with Kron 4, D-BAM, and TechCrunch.
A BrainJam is a new type of event (inspired by BarCamp, Gnomedex, TechCrunch BBQ and WebZine2005) that brings people from diverse backgrounds together to focus on a few key questions, sharing knowledge, collaborating, solving problems, demonstrating cool tools, networking and hopefully making the world a better place while having fun. You only need to bring your mind, your past experience, some new Insytes and something for note taking. The event coordinators supply you with a general direction for the conversation, WiFi access, some collaboration tools and an opportunity to create magic.
It will take place this Friday, October 7th, and registration is open now at a hefty $2.80. That is not $2.80 per minute, but the full price 🙂 But should you not be able to afford it, Scholarships are available: all you need to do is write and explain why you are deserve a scholarship in 1,000 words or less, or under 2 minutes in audio/visual length. (You have to appreciate the Organizer’s humor…)
Talk about Organizer, he needs help, please check out the Wiki.
See You there!
Tags: Web2.1BrainJam, Web 2.1, BrainJam, Web 2.0, Web 2, SQLFusion
I was reading yet another article about the Oracle-Siebel deal, and clicked on the “CRM company” link in the second line:
“So here we are, in the midst of Salesforce.com’s Dreamforce event in San Francisco, where the hosted CRM company today announced news of the release of its AppExchange sharing service…”
Considering the context, common sense would dictate the link goes either the Salesforce.com or perhaps another relevant article. To my greatest surprise I found myself at the homepage of NetSuite a direct Salesforce.com competitor! Now, I happen to like NetSuite, but even I don’t expect this… so let’s investigate:
John Battelle discussed IntelliTXT’s unfavorable reception when they launched last year:
“Hypertext links that appear within the editorial content of a site, including those within graphics, should be at the discretion of the editors. If links are paid for by advertisers, that should be disclosed to users.
All online pages should clearly distinguish between editorial and advertising or sponsored content. If any content comes from a source other than the editors, it should be clearly labeled. “
Absolutely. And NEVER, EVER hijack a URL to a direct competitor’s page.
Update (9/12) Apparently I am not the only one disliking IntelliTXT.
Tags: Advertising, Ads, Marketing, Journalism, Publishing, IntelliTXT, Hijacking, Linking, Hypertext, URL
I don’t want to write a part 3., but this is getting ridiculous, please see updates at the bottom.
Seth Godin explains what he meant in his previous post that I cited here.
Well, that’s not the only unfortunate ad placement – how about this, from my yahoo home page:
No, I am not blaming Yahoo for being insensitive – this is just technology without human feelings after all.
Update (8/31). Check out Michael’s post about juxtaposed ads.
Update 2. (8/31) Stephen Baker at Blogspotting: “Feel-good ads feel weird on hurricane coverage”
Update 3. (9/5) Another example via Jeff Clavier:
Update 4. (9/7) I wanted to give these guys the benefit of doubt, and considered the above ad a simple case of carelessness, but, boy, was I wrong! This company sets a new record of intentionally tasteless, exploitative advertising. The proof is in the date (8/2, Friday AFTER Katrina) of this job post on craigslist. I don’t expect the link to last long, they will probably delete the ad soon, so here’s the full quote:
New Orleans Own – Southern Comfort – Needs Models
Reply to: job-88476604@craigslist.org
Date: 2005-08-02, 12:02PM CDT
Born in New Orleans, Southern Comfort is seeking spirited girls to promote the brand around town! Must be attractive, willing to mingle, 21+, and have reliable transportation to get to promotions.
This job is all about having fun and involves no shot serving. Promotions will take place at local bars, conventions, music venues, and events such as Voodoofest.
“Southern Comfort – Born In New Orleans Where Anything Can Happen”
Job location is New Orleans, LA
Compensation: $20-$25 depending on experience / leadership
Hat tip to Jeff Clavier and I am joining him in linking to the call to boycott of Southern Comfort’s products until they abandon this tasteless campaign.
Seth Godin captured what appears to be “The scary thing about blog ads” on Jeff Jarvis’s blog:
But this is the full picture from Jeff’s site:
Screen clipping taken: 8/30/2005, 7:31 PM
And clicking through reveals the “explicit” act:
“the former Baywatch star and longtime animal advocate’s latest project is “Kentucky Fried Cruelty,” an undercover expos
Unless it’s a very specialized pharmacy…
Originally uploaded by sennachan.
Update: I am told this one isn’t as bad as the next one:
What’s wrong with Logo Designers? Or is it just my dirty mind? Take the test.
Technorati Tags: Logo, Design, Logo Design
Due to low ad pages during late summer, Newsweek is trimming the number of issues it publishes by one, opting for a double issue dated Aug. 29-Sept. 5, Mediaweek reports.
Through July 19, Newsweek’s ad pages have fallen 15.6 percent this year, to 970. It’s not alone. A lack of spending in the technology and automotive sectors has hurt the whole newsweekly category with ad pages falling 10.5 percent, to 6,332 through July 19.
Source: MediaBuyerPlanner
Technorati Tags: Newsweek, Media, Ads, Advertising, Blogs, Blogging, Publishing
Publisher / Editor of CloudAve and Enterprise Irregulars.
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