Can individuals make money on the web

I recently added a widget to my blog that offers to pay me every time someone clicks on the ad. I think in the last 2 weeks, I have earned less than a first class postage stamp. In addition, I have embedded Google Adsense and yet to know what revenue I may have earned. Am I trying to get rich by these methods, no; I am simply trying to determine its longevity and value.

Today, Blinkx, a video search engine, has announced its willingness to share ad revenue with users that post their videos and allow them to include advertising, everytime the ad is clicked. Rightly so, the CEO, Suranga Chandratillake, realistically set the expectations according to the article, "Mr. Chandratillake cautioned that any income derived by bloggers and others agreeing to take the ads would not be much. 'Maybe enough to pay your Internet bill at best,' he said."

So why do it. For Blinkx, aggregating all the videos helps them gain revenue, but for the individual blogger or vlogger, the return is far far less. New companies that are looking to better monetize their video web business may seek Blinkx help, but may have more success building ad revenue themselves or working with another partner that offers a more generous split.

Content vs Technology

In the linked article, the blogger argues that main stream media (MSM) is looking to blame technology for its lost audience share and to not realize that the cure is content. As he constantly notes, "It’s The Content, Stupid". And while I have continually argued that content is king, I believe that his argument is misplaced.

The reason that the MSM share has declined is not because of technology alone, it is due to the fact that the audience embraces content that is convenient and readily available. Technology has simply enabled content to reach its audience faster and in a form that best suits the users' need. The NY Times example, that subscription is declining, as argued in the blog, because the content is not relevant, that because their stance on Iraq was not accurate, readership left.

I disagree. Regardless of the NY Times stance, readers left because they could receive similar content faster and more efficiently through other technology means. Breaking news is more relevant on the web, business news changes in moments and the web and mobile can deliver that news directly. The NY Times may see a declining readership, not because they may have gotten the story wrong, but because the content is being better served elsewhere. Yes, it is the content, but it is also how it is made available. And that is the value that technology brings to content. It lowers the barriers and expands the reach. The NY Times needs to change to reflect a changing environment. It's content needs to be more relevant in a print mode than a web mode.

His argument regarding Rosie O'Donnell and her departure from The View is also nonsensical How did MSM banish Rosie? And how can he argue that audience has eroded as a result. It is just not true. And In that particular example, it's not about content, it was simply about bad manners.

Facebook, My Space, Linked in - fad or future

Are My Space and Facebook an in the moment fad soon to go the way of the ham radio, or will the user base continue to grow as more and more users are "linked in". I have had the opportunity to join and use these various social networking forums and find myself enjoying them, but each for very different reasons.

For My Space, I find it offers more personal creativity in creating a web page, yet in that disjointed manner, find various pages too busy and hard to read. At the same time, most requests for friends come from strangers with sleazy offers.

For Linked in, I see it as a great business relationship tool to share your CV and learn more about other people's business skills and possible shared professional relationships. As a business networking tool, it is very impressive and has the potential for more business applications.

For Facebook, I enjoy its social networking strengths and its ability to passively share info, thoughts, common interests, and passions. Unlike Linked in which does not need to be updated often, except to add contacts, Facebook requires an increased level of interaction to keep the information relevant and useful. It begs the question, how often are you willing to keep involved, or will one find something better and just as quickly shift allegiances. Facebook seems to be to have the better staying power as it opens itself as a key "home" page for the user to start from in their launch of the web. That means that it needs to add additional features to be regarded as that key portal.

Open Internet Coalition Opens New Network-Neutrality Front

The internet has become a vast playground of words, music, video, personal thought, and sharing. And until recently, most people assumed that anything goes. But when last week, Verizon made a business decision to block a text message because of content, it opened up a Pandora's box once again. And not just about blocking, but also about determining which piece of content gets priority.

Should the company providing the pipeline be allowed to decide what it allows and thus charge perhaps for premium access, or should the consumer expect that every piece of data, no matter in what form, gets the same level of access and flow across the pipeline?

Private business will argue that they built the pipe and should have control over enabling its use. Consumers argue censorship or anti-consumer behavior for what was created to be an open pipe. And how much government regulation is needed when an open market would allow the consumer to economically decide which provider to use based on service, access, etc. It seems that one rule begets another and the FCC, through cable franchises, has limited competition in the marketplace. Open access to all communication outside government regulation. Stop treating it as a utility and let the consumer decide with their pocketbook which service best serves their need. Not happy with Verizon, switch to another provider. Open cable and wireless spectrum up and let the economy shape the landscape.

Turner Dips Toes Into Virtual Online World

I am a big fan of brand extension in new media. I believe that the synergies create advance the core value of the program or network brand and offers greater monetization opportunity. And while I frankly don't get Second Life as a stand alone social gateway, the Turner announcement intrigues me. And it was this quote in the article that made me think...“Through this opportunity, we hope to leverage the Kaneva platform to explore how users interact with our brands in a virtual world,” TBS vice president of new products Blake Lewin said, in a statement.

I can think of a number of interesting virtual worlds that a user might want to interact in; for TBS - walk in Seinfeld's apartment and Tom's Diner, hang out with the Ramones on Everybody Loves Raymond. For Cartoon Network, walk around Camp Lazlo, or for us old timers, hang out in Bedrock with the Flintstones. Applying a virtual world with social networking and popular entertainment is the key mash up approach to success. I look forward to what Turner and Kaneva have in store. It is these kinds of relationships that will make second life far more valuable in the new media space.

TiVo Launches Interactive Direct Response Ad Group

Always interested to read how TIVO, designed to speed through and ignore commercials, continues to find ways to embrace their commercials. I purposely use TIVO to make my TV viewing more efficient, to watch an hour show in 47 minutes. It seems to me that TIVO users are less likely to be impacted by a direct response message than most viewers.

Randy Pausch Last Lecture

An amazing story. His quote "Bricks are there for a reason: they let us know how badly we want things." So true, when things come too easy, we don't respect what we have. And regardless how good or bad things are, life is precious. His stories truly reflect the notion that one shouldn't sweat the small stuff. And when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! His honesty is real. An amazing man



His full lecture can be found on You Tube. Well worth watching.

CBS Creates 'EyeLab' To Woo Web Surfers

CBS splits from Viacom and it seems to be good news for that side of the company. CBS's efforts prove to me that they understand the space and are embracing the advantages that the web brings to compliment, rather than replace, their TV model. Additive programming built around shows, seem to me to be an ideal way to enhance the show's value, encourage more viewership of the TV show, and create synergistic revenue opportunities. Not clear in the article is how CBS plans to monetize the clips they have created, but I am confident that they have a business plan.

I also expect that they are not discounting the viewer interest in on-demand viewing of their long form programs. As the viewer has become more mobile and scattered, they may not have the time to come to the show. On demand and on line content enables the viewer to watch the programs and clips on their times and not per the whims of a network schedule.

The Growth of HD and its effect on viewing choices

Comcast has just announced that it is launching more Hi Def channels, including HGTV and Food HD simulcasts. Also today, Direct TV announced that they are launching 21 additional HD nets to bring their number of national HDTV channels to 31. Next month, an additional 18 HD nets are to be added. The distribution of a Hi Def signal is best served by cable and satellite and not yet by broadband. In addition, HD sets are flying off the shelf as more consumers seek a better viewing experience. The only thing that doesn't change is time. There is still only 24 hours in a day, and once you remove sleeping, and perhaps working, fewer hours remain for viewing.

My point is that the rise of Hi Def is a competitive tool to keep the viewer connected to the tv experience. The viewer must mull which matters most the convenience or mobility to watch a program away from the tv set, or the quality of the video and sound experience to watch on the HD set. And on a VOD basis, would you rather watch a SD or HD version of the program. Would you rather watch Heroes or 30 Rock on a 2" screen or on your 50" HD set with surround speakers. With sports and films, the choice is even more obvious. Circumstances may affect that decision, but in the end, I believe the experience of HD wins out. Networks need to embrace HD; consumers are preferring it. Add an interactive component to the HD set and we may just become couch potatoes for life.