How to monetize your website

Many of us are here because we want to create a new product, from a new cell phone application to a new website. Last Monday class gave us an idea how to find a viable financial strategy. A financial strategy can be totally different from one website to another. For instance, Josh Spector from comedy.com said that advertising was not the right path for them. That was very insightful to me, because when we think about making money with content, a lot of people (myself included) believe that advertising is the best support. Similarly, Mycypher.com does not carry ads in its website and from what I took from Curtis T. Jewell, they organize events as a way to generate revenue. On the other hand, Where'smytaco.com and 5-second films don't have a business model or are not making any money yet. An observation: I think those are two really good ideas and both websites have excellent content. However, making money with them is a whole different challenge. So, I guess, it comes down to this: when we have the "next" million dollar idea we need to ask ourselves, how is this going to make any money? And no, the answer should not always be, "advertising".

An Uneducated Look at the I-Pad

I haven't read a lot about the I-pad, but I think it's a waste of money. Of course, like the title says, I'm no expert, so don't pay too much attention. Anyway, one of the comments that I hear about the formerly known "Tablet" is that's similar to an I-phone, but bigger. And that's my first critique, why would anyone buy something bigger that doesn't do as much as the smaller alternative? When most people want to consolidate their technology (i.e. phones that can multi task instead of an digital organizer and a phone!), Apple believes that the I-pad will be a huge hit. But you can read books in it, people will say. We already have other products that can do that, and they're not as expensive (the I-pad cost about $500). Another problem: no multitasking. If I could send e-mails, browse the web, or even use it as a word processor and the same time listen to music, I may give it a try. It doesn't even have a camera to share pictures or send them to a cell phone or a computer...my Blackberry can do more! How about the fact that it doesn't have a removable battery? Disappointing, to say the least. So, if there is a problem with the I-pad battery, you will need to take it to Apple! The list goes on... but let me share this picture... it will give you an idea why I'm not sold on it ... not yet.

Day Laborers Using Cell Phones to Report Abuses

Not too long ago, thanks to Karen North, I found this story about an organization that provided free cell phones to day laborers in Los Angeles. The idea is that the laborers can tell their own stories without trying to rely on the conventional media. Their website is http://vozmob.net/ if you want to check it out. I also did a story (now is the time to practice some Spanish!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTG-c62VZ3U.

What I Expect from Our Class

It has been very intensive week. Just like you, I have been reading all of those tech blogs that, to be honest, I didn't know they even existed. I appreciate last week presentation about RSS readers. I'm currently using Googler reader and it has made my job a lot of easier. I wasn't clear about RSS feeds and I hope I wasn't the only one.

At this point, I need a better understanding of how we can use this class (and the technologies for online community class) to accomplish our goals. Right now, it feels a little confusing. That may be because some of us are behind the available web technologies. From that point of view, I want to see how social networking websites will affect the future of broadcast news. As we've seen in, "Here Comes Every Body" by Clay Shirky, Flickr was, "first at the scene" in the London Transport bombing in 2005. The structure of how people know about breaking news event has changed, by the gathering and sharing information of regular people, non professionals. This is already producing a change in how broadcast news companies operate, but it could also dismantle how those companies make a profit.

In the last six months I have seen a lot of people, from reporters to news directors, retiring. Of course, some of it is the result of the financial crisis we're facing, but others are doing it because they see this "revolution" coming and don't want (or care) to adjust. Jeff Cole mentioned in class that some people in the media know that the current model will give them enough (3-5 years) to retire. In my case I will need more time and I better understand how I can, not only adapt, but succeed in the next phase. Hopefully, I will get some directions in this class.

Health Care Reform

After the election in Massachusetts, it seems that HCR may be over. I find it contradictory that the same state that already had an overhaul of its health care system, may be the deciding factor for the rest of the nation. The Republican won because the people were rejecting Obama's health care reform. That's how the media was creating the narrative after Scott Brown won late Senator Kennedy's seat. However, an analysis at Pollster.com indicates that it was not that clear cut. Most exit polls show that Brown's voters were mixed to what was relevant to them. The economy, the way the government handled the bank's crisis, the candidate personality were all top tier issues for Brown's voters. On the other hand, most people who voted for the losing candidate, Democrat Martha Coakley, chose her because they were supporting the President's health care plan. So this time, the media may have it backwards.

Reading for Free

How do you become a best-seller on the Kindle? Give the book away, says an article on the New York Times. It's unbelievable how new technology is change the business model of old businesses. The article explains how new writers are becoming popular by giving a book for free on the Kindle. It also discusses why publishing companies are uneasy about giving their merchandise at no cost. "Free is not a business model", says the chief executive of Harper Collins, but others suggest that by letting people download one free book, they will eventually buy from the same writer if they like it. Could the publishing industry be going through the same process that has changed music? If so, who will pay for the new books? Advertisers? I don't know. It seems to me that a downloading a book for free is a powerful incentive for readers and advertisers could tap into that market. On the other hand, I don't think advertising will solve all the problems and we in the media must look at an alternative source of income.

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Mr. Jeff Cole

An eye-opening first day of class, at least for me. There were many things that I didn't know about the current state of the "old media" (which I'm part of) and current trends in the new media. Did you know that older people are more loyal and is the fastest group of new users of online social networks? It's hard to imagine that this group will embrace technology quickly, but when one thinks about what's important in life one realizes that people (of any age) are looking for connections. At work, school or at bar, we all want some type of connection, to be part of a group. Perhaps this is the reason why elderly people are finding the necessity to keep in touch with their loved ones - if not in person - with the second best option: online.