You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know

2007-08-07T17:58:00.000-04:00

I've Moved To a NEW Home....

This place has been good to me, but it is time to move to a new location.

Please adjust your bookmarks to my new page. Link below.

It is HERE.

The site is:

www.andymonfried.com

Hope to see you over there.......

Rock on,

Andy

2007-07-24T09:07:00.000-04:00

Congrats are in Order....

To our friends at Tacoda.

Dave Morgan, who I have tremendous respect for - had a vision for better ad targeting, and he executed on it during ups and downs, peaks and valleys.

A blurb on the acquisition of Tacoda is HERE.

Big smiles, and a hearty congrats to all involved......

2007-07-16T16:44:00.000-04:00

Increased Value for BOTH publishers and Advertisers in "User Generated Content."

Video blogging, from ME.

The core message is HOW TO INCREASE VALUE, and make the media more effective.

2007-07-15T18:20:00.000-04:00

Images of a July Weekend in Bermuda.....
(click on any image to enlarge)
Good food, sun and great friends - I&T Rosey's.....
Rock on.

2007-07-12T11:16:00.001-04:00

Snapshot of Lotame Reporting.....

I thought it was time to give a glimpse of our reporting interface.

Below you will see a "snapshot" (the actual resolution is 1000X better)of what our base reports looks like.

Click on image below to enlarge, but a key takeway is how to, EXTEND the most valuable inventory or profile, beyond the CORE, displayed action? (pinpointing a user who likes sports, but also spend alot of time consuming other media)

If you look closely below, you will see CORE behavior, and then take a look at how many pages are consumed, OUTSIDE of the core initial behavior.....(doing other things in the community)

In User Generated Media, the opportunity is more prevalent than other forms of online content, to capture a user when they are spending time on so called, "remnant or less valued inventory." Tailoring creatives that fit a consumers passion, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE IN A COMMUNITY.

What does this all mean? It means that Web 2.0 may be the most cost effective, and also the most optimal way to have a dialogue with relevant consumers......who consume media in a particular way --- and then, judge ad response rates against that consumption metric.

It also means that when BRAND ADVERTISERS in mass, understand that Social Media "holds the key" to advanced targeting, by being both more efficient, as well as with clear objectives around creative messaging.......we are at the beginning of a, ADVERTISING REVOLUTION.

Lotame is helping to lead the dialogue.

(click on image below to enlarge)

2007-07-10T17:02:00.000-04:00

A Short Commentary.....

From Andrew Weissman, a short 20 second clip on:

"Why is Lotame Different?"

2007-07-10T08:20:00.000-04:00

A Study That Supports The Lotame Vision.....

The basic premise for Lotame is that Web 2.0, or Social Media, (or whatever you want to call it) is chock full of valuable data points that are not being utilized properly, to drive forward the advertising industry.

We believe at Lotame, that in order to create value from "user generated content" - a publisher (and a advertiser) needs to really understand how a consumer, interacts, and engages the media.

"“the research indicates that not only does consumer engagement with media and advertising drive sales, but it also can drive sales more than media spending levels. That suggests even a relatively small media outlay could work wonders should the ads draw keen attention from consumers within media they also find engaging, said Mike Hess, director of global research and consumer insights for OMD.”

The study is really interesting for a variety of reasons.....but mostly, it helps brands understand that in order to "participate" in social media --- it is the DIALOGUE, that creates the impression.

Actions that a user takes, FAR OUTWEIGH their navigational history.

Creating Audiences based on "consumption/engagement metrics" FAR OUTWEIGH demographic targeting.

A great piece was written by a gentleman named Matthew Chamberlin, and this quote really struck me.

"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." That might be fine for some, but for those of you who are really looking to grow your bottom line and get ahead of the media curve, there are some exciting tools out to take the guesswork out of behavioral marketing."

Matthew continues much more elegantly than I can:

"It is now possible, no, CRITICAL to customize segments for each advertiser. In our new era of user generated content or social media, people express their opinions and interests as well as talk about themselves."

I'm excited as we see marketers and brands moving in a new direction, that we are helping to drive.....

It provides for many sleepless nights, and continued challenges of the "just exactly perfect" way, of helping publishers and advertisers in a "disjointed and imperfect environment -- callled social media.

A press release of the study is here, and thank you OMD for publishing it.

Rock on, and remember in this evolving world.....

"People should be defined by what THEY DO online, and not only by what they read......" (JG)

Andy

2007-07-06T09:57:00.000-04:00

The Evolution of Facebook.....

Recently, I joined Facebook.

I must admit, I'm more than impressed by the functionality, features - and most of all, "compelling data" that can be extracted from the FB network.

I'm convinced more than ever of a fundamental TRUEISM.

Facebook (or a community like it) will become the primary communication tool over the next 5 years. Our usage of the internet will evolve, and it will evolve into a "thing" like Facebook.

If you are a reader of this blog, I implore you to join.

It takes all of 5 minutes, and if there is a question that you do not feel is pertinent to you, (during the sign up process) -- then skip it.

If you do join, search my name -- and I will add you as a "friend." (since you are a reader of this blog, and I appreciate it.)

I'm going to start importing my blog, and posts into Facebook shortly, so that "You Aint Gonna Learn" will be a part of that community.

Here is FACEBOOK, go join.... It's 100000% worth it.

2007-07-05T09:32:00.000-04:00

Nostalgia, and Troubling Winds a Blowin'.....

July 5th 2007.

The last few days, and more specifically YEARS....I have been very troubled and perplexed by events transpiring against the United States, and by extension, concerned about peoples and countries, who share our values.

Our values (as a country) are not perfect, but they are cleary BETTER and more pleasant than nearly any ARAB state.

A major issue for me is laid out succinctly by Pamela, of the website Atlasshrugs.

Pamela writes about the Doctors in the UK, who were invloved in the plotting, strategy and execution of the recent bombings, in London and Glasgow.

I encourage you to read her take (and links) to what she sees as, MORE THAN simply a bunch of physicians who were fantatics.....

The article is HERE. (click here to read).

2007-06-30T09:05:00.000-04:00

Saturday Morning Pictures in the Hamptons, NY - June 2007.
Click on any image to enlarge......

2007-06-27T10:51:00.000-04:00

A Forgotten Hurdle …..

I was in Los Angeles last night, and I had dinner with a good friend, and previous co-worker from my former company, Advertising.com. We got into an animated discussion on a wide array of topics, one was centered around the single concept of, “CREATING VALUE.”

Why does one company succeed and another fail? (2 companies that look, act, smell, and compete in the marketplace)

Is it luck?
Hard work?
Strategy and Execution?
A combination of the three?

As Andrew Weissman says, “value creation comes from a strong sense of mission, as well as copious amounts of caffeine.”

Well, I’ve added one (or two) major element/reasons why some companies SUCCEED, where others fail, or simply never realize their potential.

(I must admit that I had completely forgotten just how important this particular aspect of WHY certain companies succeed, where others fail, until my dinner last night – and my friend from across the table said three letters to me……..)

“CTO.”

Not the term that is familiar to most, Chief Technology Officer -- but, rather......

CTO stands for – “Conversion Tracking and Optimization” – and before I lose you, let me tell you this will NOT be a post about technology – but rather a key undervalued ingredient, of why I believe some companies succeed, where others don’t.

CTO! Damn CTO. As soon as he said it, in between bites of his Cobb Salad, Calamari, and Popcorn Shrimp……..I started to sweat.

“What did you say?” I asked him, as I almost spit out my Pale Ale on the table.

He replied casually, "CTO."

Those letters struck me like my 3rd grade teacher disciplining me on multiplication tables – it immediately invokes emotions, coupled with a “strong momentary pit in the stomach.”

CTO was the single term in my existence that made me a better communicator.

WHY?

Because, CTO was about one thing for me. OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS.

In 1999 we developed(Advertising.com) a model that delivered results to advertisers. Leads, Sales, Clicks, Downloads, Sign ups, Views, email addresses, surveys……..they were all sold to advertisers in a manner that meant the following.

“An advertiser only paid us when we delivered a result, thus, each of our marketing partners had ZERO risk in our fundamental business equation…..we delivered sales, leads – and they paid us on what we delivered.”

But, without accountability (specific counts of how many sales we drove on our advertisers websites) there was NO WAY to measure our performance and effectiveness. We were at the mercy of our clients to tell us how many sales we drove to them? With delays? With trust factors? It was NO way to build a scalable business platform……..

CTO meant we needed to put our technology (code) on a advertisers website.

(we also had to optimize the placements, of what MEDIA website drove the sale, so our technology could pinpoint sources of web inventory that would drive more results)

CTO.

Friggin CTO.

Here is what CTO taught me in a nutshell.

A clients conversation with me, in 1999…went something like this:

“Andy, I like your business model, but we cant put your CTO pixels on our website – there is ZERO chance, it will NEVER EVER HAPPEN. I’m not going to allow you, to put any coding or tags on our website – even if it makes you more effective. You will just have to trust our counts, and rely that we are going to partner with you -- but your CTO pixels on our site are a non – starter.”

I replied……”I understand…..but”

Client gets louder, and interrupts me – “I’m going to go with Flycast, or Phase 2 Media, or another network that does not want to put their CTO tags on our site. Bye Andy”

I’m cringing as I type this……remembering these conversations.

But then….I got good at responding.

I got really good – at explaining precisely why “Conversion Tracking and Optimization” benefits the advertisers more than they could imagine. I got really good at OVERCOMING OBJECTIONS – in a changing fluid, and evolving market……

We got good at educating our employees, and sharing knowledge on best practices – thus, helping to “institutionalize” the focus of, overcoming real client objections, to CTO.
Our culture at Advertising.com enabled people across all departments to share information, and engage challenges DAILY…..through a morning all hands on deck, war room meeting.

Our culture created an atmosphere where sales people did not compete for commissions, recognition, or territory – but rather for something more important…..the ever crucial fundamental motivator, of knowing that you, personally --- were helping to CREATE VALUE, where none previously existed.

Empowering each employee with a fundamental guideline of the business. DAILY.

And, that my friends is a simple yet often overlooked element of what helps differentiate successful companies from their competitors.

Let me summarize:

1) Sharing common client objections, WITH EVERY EMPLOYEE. Making the "client concerns" -- EMPLOYEE KNOWLEDGE BASES. Learning that if your clients have questions, objection and concerns about your business, SO DO YOUR EMPLOYEES.

2) Understanding precisely, WHY clients have objections to your business concept - may consist of:
a) your message and technology suck. (which I know our's at the time did not)
b) your business model/technology is AHEAD of the market, which requires you to sell at a COMPLETELY different level)

Advertising.com was (is) AHEAD of the marketplace in ideas, technology, and most of all - execution and strategy.

A great piece on the company, AND CREATING VALUE - written by our Financial Guru, Mike Woosley is HERE.

We also (as a company) excelled at a little known commodity, called "overcoming objections" -- and specifically CTO -- was the concern that required the most attention.

CTO was a forgotten hurdle in my past life.

A "forgotten hurdle" (objections to a concept/technology/idea) that is overcome, and conquered successfully, certainly helps shape us individually -- and makes us better people.

But, can that translate to making ENTIRE COMPANIES more effective and productive?

I think so, because we are living it again.

Social Media, and USER GENERATED content, present so many unique opportunities to CREATE VALUE, and move the market forward -- that some of the same "objections and concerns" are present once again......

The concerns are different, and more advanced, but they are still present, in this evolving landscape of internet media, and monetization.

And, that single hurdle of INSTITUTIONALIZING objections and concerns -- ACROSS THE ENTIRE COMPANY, helped us to yield, and deliver tremendous results.

I believe that it was a core element, (and little noticed) to what made us successful, where our competititors with similiar models, FAILED.

Value Creation comes in many forms......

CTO, and all of it's baggage that it presented to me at the time, made me a better communicator, and most of all - instilled my belief that CLIENT CONCERNS on your business practice need to be -- company opportunities to BOND.

That is what we are doing.....and I'm proud to say --- it is working.

Rock on.

2007-06-25T09:32:00.000-04:00

Monday June 25, 2007.

C & D's First Camp of Camp.

(click on any image to enlarge)

First Day of Camp 2007....

2007-06-22T15:49:00.000-04:00

I'm Probably in the MINORITY.....

I must admit. I've never watched American Idol, or any other type show label, "Idol or Talent."

I was sent this clip by my father -- and I opened it not knowing what to expect.

The guy is a wireless phone salesman. He participated in a show called, "Britain's Got Talent."

His name is Paul Potts. He is from South Wales.

This gave me CHILLS.

2007-06-22T06:54:00.000-04:00

Part Two - Thoughts of a Intern....

In my previous post, I explained how we have summer interns working at Lotame.
Recently, I asked them to do a summary on their learning experiences thus far. (4 weeks into their summer project with us.)
This post comes to us from Marshall Massey. Marshall is going into his senior year at Lafayette College, in Easton PA. I've been thoroughly impressed with Marshall's calm, cool, demeanor -- and I really enjoy his perspective on issues, as well as his sense of humor.

Below I bring you, thoughts from Marshall Massey, uncensored, unfiltered, raw -- and fantastic.......

**************************************

At first I didn’t realize why Lotame was my choice for a summer internship. I had originally seen it as merely a way to make some money for the summer. However, I now know why.

As a 21 year old senior to be Lafayette College student, I find myself at the type of school I always imagined myself attending. A small liberal arts solely undergrad college with about 2300 total students; located in the city-town of Easton Pennsylvania. Knowing that comfort and familiarity would be important elements of existence for the four years of college, I envisioned a small campus comprised of buildings built with heterogeneous, yet alike architecture, along with trees (I’m not the city type). Lafayette is exactly that. Although many Lafayette students are comparable, I can confidently say that I have managed my Lafayette experience to be 100% unique.

In March of this year, as a 21 year old experience seeking intern to be, I found myself searching for that ideal summer. In my mind it consisted of a small working environment, that facilitated both comfort and familiarity, intelligent people whose interests were heterogeneous, yet they all contributed differently. It also had to be somewhere with trees (I’m not the city type). Lotame is exactly that. Although many intern seeking 21 year olds find themselves in the described setting, the Lotame experience is 100% unique.

Bass Drum Player for the pep band, Fraternity President, Government and Law minor, Economics and Business Major. Out of 2300 plus there is only one.

Maryland office, Summer internship, Business/Marketing structure, Lotame. Out of Millions there is only one (actually there are two of us).

In fourth grade I quit the percussion section; the drums were too heavy to carry home every day. At Lafayette there are 6 football games and 4 basketball games a year where the bass drum must be carried from the Williams Arts Center to Fisher football field or the Kirby Sports’ Center gym. I accept the transporting now (plus the drum to person ratio has drastically changed).

Growing up in New Jersey and going to college only an hour away can lead to a sheltered comfort. Elkridge Maryland is an additional three hours away from that comfort. I have accepted the extended drive now (plus the experience is worth it).

They all call me Marmo, Mr. President sounds too professional and too serious.
But, being president of the Rho chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon is serious. My term ends in November with the initiation of a new class and our chapter anniversary (152nd) left as the major milestones remaining for my presidency. Every DKE president has had to lead their chapters through events such as these. I only hope my legacy is strong when looked back upon.

Some call me MnM (initials), some call me Mr. President: working for Lotame is a lot of fun. I have a co-intern roommate named Dan; I have funny easy going co-workers. But, work also needs to be productive. My internship ends in August with many assignments still to do on the task list. I only hope that I can contribute constructively (and maybe continue to work for Lotame in the future).

Psychology has interested me, but not the labs. Anthropology was inspiring, but one class was enough. Government and Law has been intriguing, but only portions of it, hence the minor. Economics and Business seemed like it was the only option left. Luckily, something clicked within the walls of the William E. Simon (DKE c/o 1952) Center. I liked Econ.

Taking the LSATs and law school was the goal, but that faded. Accounting was next on the list, but that hit a dead end. Luckily, something clicked in Professor Ruebeck’s Marketing Science class. The Lotame experience thus far, has been so beneficial in maturing that interest.

I enjoy the classes I have taken. There are no guidelines for the Lafayette Economics and Business major, only that one must take five required classes and five electives. My focus is on marketing with classes that include Marketing Science, Marketing Research and Industrial Organization.

I have enjoyed working on projects at Lotame. There are very light guidelines for the Lotame intern experience. Working on everything from company presentations to the basics of product support and learning from Account Managers and Business Analysts, Lotame has given me the ability to learn so much. That specialized education will help me at Lafayette and with the rest of my life.

Why am I interning at Lotame? That’s why.

-Marshall Massey: Marmo, MnM, Mr. President.

2007-06-20T18:05:00.000-04:00

Thoughts of a Lotame Intern -- Part One...

I asked one of our interns, Dan Reich, to write a piece that I could post here, about his experience thus far in being a part of Lotame. Dan is a talented intern, who has come to us from the University of Wisconsin.

I am especially interested in INTERNS, and their perception of working at Lotame. I cut and paste this post, unfiltered, uncensored --- and from the heart.

Thanks Dan....(his post on his summer thus far with Lotame is below -- 4 weeks into his internship.)

*************

To start this post, I will reiterate something Andy said in one of his earlier posts. Right now, I am exhausted, yet I have never been more excited to be where I am right now. When people ask me, “How’s your summer internship going? What are you doing there? What are you learning”, I take a deep breath, and simply say, “Everything”. And it couldn’t be better.

To date, I have worked on virtually every aspect of this business. I have worked on company presentations and presented them to the management team and investors. I have participated in creating a revenue model that will ultimately define the way this business makes money. I have even gone as far as to invent new words, metrics, and ways of measuring data that will one day be adopted by an entire industry. Besides playing ping pong in the office every once in a while; there are no limits and restraints on creativity or productivity. In this office, I am surrounded by a team comprised of some of the most driven and talented individuals I have ever met.

And what am I learning? Every single day I am learning how internet monetization works (and will work) and I am learning from the best in the industry. From the deadhead and a sales leader behind Advertising.com (Andy), to the cool and collected original sales force member at yahoo (Scott), I am being exposed to the minds of some guys who have, for a lack of a better word, “made it”. As an aspiring entrepreneur, this is truly invaluable.

And what about the tech guys? As an undergrad electrical engineer at the University of Wisconsin, I am also exposed to some brilliant minds that are developing our technology. How often does an engineer in any field, have the opportunity to walk over to the CTO’s desk (Jeremy) and watch him write the algorithms and platforms that will be used by an entire industry? Being able to have even 2 cents worth of input to this is also truly remarkable.

This really is an adventure and an experience. Everything I do throughout the day will in one way or another effect the company’s growth and development. Every day, I am presented with new and difficult challenges and unsolved problems, and its awesome. You could be sure that I’ll be back here after I’m finished with Wisconsin.

Being that this is Andy’s blog, I will end in saying…

“Turning nothing into something is G-d work, and you get nothing without struggle and hard work.” – Nas

PEACE

D$ - Dan Reich

2007-06-19T18:25:00.000-04:00

A Member of My Family Enters the Blogging World.....

And, I could not be more happy.

You see, Jessica is my 1st cousin. She is quite a unique person.

Her blog is about her brother, Brian.(click here to read)

I encourage you to read it. It's VERY VERY insightful.

Jessica is unique in every way. Well traveled, intelligent, and a downright good person.

Jessica, welcome to the world of writing for everyone, and NO ONE. (except yourself)

Give her blog a read. It is excellent.

Just like her.

2007-06-15T13:24:00.000-04:00

Wallstrip featuring Lotame.....

Many thanks to the incredible folks at Wallstrip for doing a piece on Lotame.

See video below.

2007-06-07T15:37:00.000-04:00

The Wheel of Evolution.....

Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia penned a few lines in one of their songs called, "The Wheel."

"The wheel is turning and you can't slow down,
you can't let go and you can't hold on,
you can't go back and you can't stand still,
if the thunder don't get ya then the lightning will."

My friend, Roger Ehrenberg has written a piece, that reminds me of the above quote.

Roger eloquently lays bare, the fundamental problem facing "Mainstream Media." (Or, as he calls it in his piece, MSM)

I fundamentally agree with 99% of what Roger has written, but the primary area of focus for me is -- ADVERTISERS.

Advertisers and Brands often DRIVE change. Consumers do as well, but the implict trust a major brand must undertake when approving or executing against a media plan, is of primary concern to me.

How to make a Brand Manager comfortable outside of the MAINSTREAM, safe, secure environment that MSM offers?

Major marketing budgets (dollars) are flowin' away from MSM, and towards a more "shared, communal" arena. Roger explains how value creation plays a part in this:

"The creation of original content, that
Is mixed and presented with other relevant content, which
Excites, interests and stimulates users, and
Provides them the ability to share, comment and collaborate about the aggregated content, be it the content itself or comments about the content, which
Can be tagged and labeled for future use."

Is it happening quickly?

Yes.

Spending on search engine marketing (as a percentage of total online dollars) is beginning to level off. Display advertising (banners, video, rich media) are showing growth of, 17% quarter over quarter - this signals a fundamental shift in the way Advertisers want to REACH their target consumers.

They (large brands) are infact, starting to see the payoff in communicating inside of Media 2.0.

We believe that effective, and relevant data collection, on both users interaction in a community, coupled with a strong and compelling reason as to, WHY A MAJOR BRAND WOULD WIN BY PLAYING OUTSIDE OF MSM is key.

That is the void that Lotame fills.

"Who can deny? Who can deny?
it's not just a change in style
One step done and another begun
in I wonder how many miles?

Spent a little time on the mountain
Spent a little time on the hill
Things went down we don't understand
but I think in time we will"

* New Speedway Boogie, Garcia/Hunter.

Roger, good on ya brother -- for a GREAT POST, coupled with insightful recommendations.

Rock on.

2007-05-30T08:34:00.000-04:00

Lotame Team Dinner 5-29-07

We had a team dinner last night....

Lotame is growing, and I could not be more honored and excited to be working with a more dynamic group of people......(click on pic to enlarge)

Our team is comprised of developers, analysts, interns and most of all, good energy.

2007-05-23T08:30:00.000-04:00

Our Team on the Floor .....

We are hitting many milestones, and crossing numerous hurdles, as we enter a new phase of building the company.

New hires, client wins, and RESULTS. We now have 6 Media properties using Crowd Control. (our technology)

We closed on our financing last week, and I'm happy to report that we have chosen EXCELLENT partners, and business strategists, to help us move our "Web 2.0 Monetization" Model forward....

We have also moved into the "multiple billions of transactions" per month that we at Lotame are identifying, and helping to further extract value for our partners, and their advertisers.

Picture of Scott Hoffman, Jeremy Pinkham, and myself below -- smiling on a Wednesday morning in May......

2007-05-22T08:29:00.000-04:00

Major Kudos are in Order.....

Today, CBS announced that they have acquired Wallstrip. (GigaOm piece here)

I'm thrilled for Howard, Adam, Jeff - and Lindsay.

The concept of the Wallstrip show, is the creative genius of Howard Lindzon, who came up with the idea of putting out a daily video (of stocks at all time highs) and, allowing consumers to watch it anywhere, or on any site, they desire.

The production, editing, and "packaging" was Adam and Jeff's responsibility, who busted their humps every day to put out a quality product. It is so evident, so much so that - each day Wallstrip became part of my morning, with coffee, reading my feeds, and launching my day....

Lindsay Campbell really does a fantastic job of bringing forth her wonderful personality, energy, and "improvisational skill" on camera. (she has been in the last 2 Sopranos episodes) It has been a treat to watch this amazing actress, feature her talent on a daily basis.......

I met Howard Lindzon late last year after being introduced to him through a mutual friend, Fred Wilson. Howard told me about his concept for Wallstrip, and after meeting him - and speaking on the phone numerous times -- I knew his passion, and love of the "unknown" would drive his success.

I invested, and was asked to be an advisor to Wallstrip, as well as a board member, along with Roger Ehrenberg.

Getting to know Roger Ehrenberg has been nothing short of amazing. He is smart, articulate, and a "well-planned" executive. His company, and his execution skills, are a pleasure to watch evolve from afar. Roger is the COO of Monitor110. I know his company will be enormously successful, because he is so intelligent.

I've told Howard numerous times that I believe Wallstrip, and specifically his idea for building a online video, IN THE WAY HE WENT ABOUT IT.....made him a pioneer, and more than a pioneer -- qualified him as a ARCHITECT. (as I explain it.)

Howard took a unique approach to business, and it paid off. One of the reasons CBS purchased Wallstrip, is because of the following.......(putting aside his creative genuis)

"In the six months since it launched, the Wallstrip team secured
syndication for its daily content through properties such as YouTube, Veoh, iTunes, Yahoo! Podcasts, Google Finance, Yahoo! Finance, The Street, CBS Radio
Affiliates, iTunes, AOL Uncut. Through these and other distribution
outlets Wallstrip has built a sizable online audience"

Imagine how our content creators, like CBS -- are moving towards allowing their productions to be consumed, and viewed anywhere? Think about it, CBS historically produced TV programs, and forced consumers to VIEW IT ON THEIR STATIONS...

No more....as you can imagine -- the media world has evolved, and CBS gets it.

CBS understands that "content and media" are no longer a asset to be viewed on THEIR PROPERTIES, but rather -- WHERE AND WHEN CONSUMER WANT IT.

They validate it (CBS) with their acquistion of Wallstrip.

I'm sure I forgot to thank someone along the way - so my apologies.

Let me end here, and thank Howard Lindzon for allowing me to invest in his company, and watch his greatness, DAILY. (through Wallstrip.)

I want to thank Jeff Marks, Adam Eland and Lindsay Campbell for putting out a quality production every day -- and making Wallstrip, VISIONARY.

Lastly, I'm thrilled to tell you that Howard Lindzon is a trusted advisor to Lotame, and I'm hoping to reciprocate in some small way the success he has had.......

Today's production is funny, self effacing, and just plain "Wallstrippy." (you can watch it below)

Kudos to my friends who built value, while creating quality.

2007-05-14T15:21:00.000-04:00

When I Read a Great Post....

I have to share it.

You see, this post by John Borthwick, CEO of Fotolog explains very clearly why social media websites, are valued the way they are.

I recommend you read John Borthwicks recent piece titled:

"The Photobucket Sale and Fotolog."

Great job John.

Rock on.

2007-05-06T16:33:00.000-04:00

May 2007, and my girls first t-ball game....

It was a monumental, memorable weekend. I got to coach Camryn and Dylan in their first t-ball game, and it was awesome. See pictures below, and click on any image to enlarge.

Who won? EVERYONE.

2007-05-03T08:29:00.000-04:00

Joy and Dissapointment.....

We will be announcing some great news at Lotame soon, as we have chosen our partners, who are investing in Lotame as part of our continued growth.

I'm also thrilled that our primary message of "monetization of Social Media inventory for publishers, and enhanced targeting for advertisers...." -- is reasonating, and our clients are using Crowd Control (our tool) to:

* win more business by using a new application to show agencies and brands how to target inside of UGC

* improved results and lift on campaigns, that are being targeted more in line with the "usage patterns" of the community - which proves our concept, our mission and our focus

Some of the aspects of running a business that, "dissapoint" me, and drives me nuts are:

Expecting too much of people. This is MY FAULT.

People that "fool me twice". This is MY FAULT.

Sharing too much information about what we are working on, because I'm so excited at what we are building. This is MY FAULT.

One key learning?

More often than not, dissapointment ends up being OUR (MY) FAULT, and not someone else's, or something else's........it sits with me.

It is a tough concept, and I'm not communicating it very well in this post, but I can tell you that it has been a central theme for me --- maintain high expectations -- but deal with being let down...BETTER.

Here is a picture of LIFE. I took this picture, and it is my wallpaper on my desktop.

It motivates me, because the man is ME.

The water is LIFE.

Go for a swim. I am.

2007-05-01T07:24:00.000-04:00

Lotame Featured at the Grand Prix.....

This past weekend, Lotame made it's debut on Rob Finlay's Lexus Race Car.
The race was the Grand Am VIR 400 Rolex Series.
I'm excited that Lotame was prominently featured on National Television, and I want to thank Rob for the, "unique and different" branding of Lotame.

Thanks to Jake Spain, (our resident intern) for bringing his camera, and Brian O'Connor (our Acct Management Guru) for offering to help out the racing technicians apply internet concepts and ideas, on how the car could go faster......

See pics below.

2007-04-20T16:27:00.000-04:00

Lotame's New Look Website......

It is a work in progress.

Not nearly completed, but merely the rough (first iteration) of an ongoing dialogue with the world.....we got video's, mashables, and playdough like creatives to tool around with.

Our new site is up, come have a look.

www.lotame.com

Rock on.

2007-04-19T22:54:00.000-04:00

Images of a Few Days in Seattle, in April of 2007.
Family, fun, baseball......and a picturesque city that I tried to capture.....people, places, and "things."

(click on any image to enlarge) -- more over at my flickr page.

2007-04-18T16:27:00.000-04:00

Learnings and Takeaways from the Web 2.0 Expo.......
This past week I spent time at the Web2.0 Expo in San Francisco, at the Moscone Center. The event attracted a few thousand people, from 59 countries -- all hoping to learn new aspects of the ever changing media landscape we are a part of. My goal was to be educated on new technologies, and seek to understand how these new concepts and applications impact Media 2.0, for consumers, publishers, and advertisers. Another goal was to meet key industry people, and form a few good relationships, with individuals who I feel could be excellent customers for my company, and potentially benefit from our technology..
Before I dive too deep into my learnings of the expo, I want to preface my words with the following:
"I attended over 10 panels and discussions on many different topics over a 3 day period....much of what I learned I will be sharing over the next few posts......but, I apologize upfront to any of the panelists or speakers who ideas I'm sharing, words I may use - and most importantly - concepts that I'm creatively plagurizing...."
I'm sitting on a plane at 30,000 feet trying to resurrect a head full of ideas.....
First off, the portal is dying a slow death.
Portals like Yahoo, AOL, MSN, will always exist - but over the next 2-6 years you will see the audience numbers for the major portals begin to decline.....
Why will portals die?
They will slowly fade into a mass of media because portals were built on 3 basic assumptions:
1) Content creation is hard
2)Content aggregation is difficult
3)Bandwith is expensive
The above 3 points are no longer true......
Content creation is easy, as we have millions of people blogging - and sharing ideas
Content aggregation is easy, now that users can assemble their feeds, and data sources in a format that is most accessible and relevant to them. (Newspapers are dying too)
Bandwith costs are decreasing, and we have much richer forms of media (video, audio, etc) that can be shared quickly......
So, (I believe we can agree) that major changes are underway in the creation, distribution, and consumption of media.
Portals will fade. The " Horse and Buggys" manufacturers business slowed as the auto approached....
Electricity illuminated dark places.....changing the lantern manufacturers, and their destiny.....
The same fundamental shift is taking place today on a daily basis, and I'm afraid it will have major, and sometimes negative implications for slow adopters......
My question is:
"Where is the concept of Advertising 2.0?"
I heard a lot of data at the conference......most of it was excellent, but very little if any talked about how, MARKETERS AND BRANDS CAN EMBRACE AND WIN IN THIS MEDIA 2.0 world....
Here goes my most important learning, (of the event) and much of it validated why I founded, and creating my company --Lotame.
"There is a fundamental need for advertisers to plan and execute massively different and unique strategies in this new Web 2.0 world. Many marketers and brands are slow, or afraid to try and learn how their consumers are using, sharing, and interacting with - THE FUTURE.
Advertisers need to test buying media from online properties (publishers) IN THE SAME PRECISE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS (USERS) CONSUME AND INTERACT WITH IT. It means that CPM's are out......and "verb targeting is in". It means agencies need to push publishers to sell them BEHAVIORS of their community based on "consumption metrics" and not fixed placement......"
It means that ADVERTISERS need to:
A) plan for this evolutionary change immediately, be willing to extend their brand....
B)design new creatives and new media concepts around USERS controlling who and what they interact with - not traditional media planning tools or metrics.
C) create a new dynamic with brand managers and agencies to PUSH them, and make them uncomfortable - as they learn and explore new ways of reaching consumers who are relevant to a marketers future success.
D) promote the heck out of a new concept, and share the companies willingness, to be a market and industry pioneer.....
E) distribute it widely, and let your consumers tell you the story.....don't tell them how and when - or why......let them dictate it to you - and be willing to listen.
F) measure consumption metrics across properties in order to refine future media placements, and optimize message.
G)let DATA dictate success.
H) repeat and improve, because the ride for a major brand is JUST STARTING.
A recent example of the last five years was how keyword buying, for brand marketers on sites like Google and Yahoo drove results, and sales, and visits to a company site.
Yet, these companies (Google and Yahoo) run keyword buying marketplace - and 2 things that you cannot control when buying keywords are:
+ the amount of searches for a particular term
+ the price to purchase your best term.
I sat with a CEO recently who said to me,
"We love Google, but 2 things we have noticed is that we want more volume from them, and that our best converting (sales) terms are becoming too costly because our competitors are bidding up the price......."
I told him that is why it is critical that your agency presents you with a plan, focused on ADVERTISER and CONSUMER 2.0.
He said, "we've been told that Web 2.0 is hype, and that we should continue our ideas and follow them through."
I replied - "when did you agency start buying these keywords from Google for you, that you love so much?."
He smiled, "18 months ago."
I ended our conversation, as I took out my business card -- "your agency was slow to react, Google was selling terms that you like 5 years ago --and all the keywords WERE MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE then - they were slow to embrace search engine media for you, and I have no doubt that they will be slow when it comes to planning out your strategy for Media 2.0"
I made my point.
His realized his agency cost him money (or let consumers who looking for his company go to his competitors who "got it" before his ad agency did 3 years 4 years and 5 years ago) - because they were SLOW TO EMBRACE change, and plan for it.
This CEO realized that he may have, "left money on the table" by not testing Google 5 yrs ago.
Where do you think those potential customers went before his agency started buying keywords on his companies behalf?
His competitiors......his ad agencies "slowness to embrace change" may have cost him a lot.
Change and Evolution are in the air, and I'm excited that we at Lotame, can help both publishers and advertisers create winning strategies -- to plan for the.......death of the web portal.
More to come on other, key takeways from Web 2.0.

Rock on.
Andy

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld.

2007-04-16T13:37:00.000-04:00

New Insights from Web 2.0 Expo.......

Spent the last 3 days in Seatlle, with family - and now, I'm blogging from the Web 2.0 expo in San Francisco.

I'm sitting in a conference on:

"How Web 2.0 is Transforming Traditional Media.".

Very interesting discussion about innovation in a changing landscape. I'm sitting next to a large Brand Manager who is taking copious notes, and hanging on every word......he has not stopped scribiling in his notebook......

My question sitting here (in my head) is:
"Doesn't everyone in the online media/internet business, (especially large brands) understand how the landscape has evolved, and what those implications are, and may be as it relates to their brand?"

I've realized that there is a huge opportunity around, EDUCATING big companies on Web 2.0.

+Not from a ad agency Point of view
+Not from a big media (publisher) POV

But, from teaching and showing top companies how to embrace Media 2.0, become part of the communication flow - and enriching their brand.

That is becoming our primary focus when we talk to advertisers at Lotame. Its a learning that was not in my original business plan, but it is part of my process now.

More to come from SF.....

Andy
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld.

2007-04-10T09:24:00.000-04:00

Opening Day (April 9, 2007) at Camden Yards in Baltimore.....

I've posted more of the pictures over at my FLICKR page.
Click on any image to enlarge.

2007-04-04T12:01:00.000-04:00

Wallstrip Brillance....

2 reasons why you must watch this video.

1 - It is great, funny, and brillant.
2 - You can see how online video (widget) monetization, with a brand advertiser works. (Lifelock)

I love Wallstrip, and if you watch this, so will you......

My favorite quote -- "I have the largest collection of porn in the Southwest...."

Howard, Adam, Jeff and Lindsay -- YOU ROCK.
Watch video below...

2007-03-29T15:20:00.000-04:00

Press Day at Lotame....

Today was Lotame day for the cameras...

Here is a picture of me being interviewed, which I thought I'd share.

The topic is, "how is Lotame impacting Media 2.0?"

"Nobody puts baby in the corner....."

2007-03-28T07:18:00.000-04:00

Underhyped Media.....

When Rupert Murdoch's News Corp made the decision to purchase MySpace, many thought he overpaid at the time for website with little revenue.

At the time of the purchase, estimates were that MySpace was generating $30 Million Dollars per year in gross revenue.

Today, MySpace (according to Barron's) is generating $30 Million PER MONTH.

"Greenfield writes that MySpace is now generating “in excess of $30 million” a month in revenue, with about $24 million in domestic revenue and $6 million internationally. He adds that monthly revenues should more than double over the next 12 months, and “at very high incremental revenue margins.” So in 12 months, he’s saying, MySpace should be doing more than $60 million a month in revenue, for an annual run rate in the neighborhood of $750 million a year. Not too shabby."

Hats of to the folks at MySpace, for a few very important reasons:

* continued growth of consumers using MySpace
* growing sales through innovative packaging to both performance advertisers, as well as branded marketers.
* 20% of revenues coming from INTERNATIONAL media channels ($6 MM)
* the forward thinking purchase of an optimization company (SDC) to handle the "blocking and tackling" of inventory optimization
* understanding and setting proper expectations with advertisers (specifically, that they are buying Media 2.0 -- this is NOT Google keyword placement, therefore, agencies should NOT compare MySpace's media with other online....it is unique, different -- and should be measured differently)

MySpace has excelled, with both consumers and advertisers.

I'm thrilled for our industry, and what it means for the future of MEDIA 2.0.

Other MEDIA 2.0 sites, that have alot of traffic, have loyal consumers, and are thinking about monetization should know that MySpace has paved the way -- and properly laid the strategy for revenue success.

It should not be ignored.....

What should Media 2.0 properties do to build their businesses?

*focus on monetization
*uncover segements of value to advertisers - and look at advanced, easy to use technology
*sell better performance metrics
*differentiation of media (build USP's)
*selling media to marketers, in the manner that users consume it
*looking at media 2.0 and pulling out unique data points
*focus and lift from INTERNATIONAL users and inventory

Bottom line here, is that the market is advancing quickly -- and it is our believe that Media 2.0 is UNDERHYPED.

Our core belief at Lotame is 2 fold:

1) The CPM's that media 2.0 properties are charging, are WAY too low for the POTENTIAL value that they can provide to advertisers

2) Advertisers need an alternative to buying Media 2.0.

We understand the challenges that destination sites face....

The OVERHYPE, does not exist in User Generated Content, or Web 2.0 Media for one simple reason......

It's just starting to take off, and with enhanced segmentation as well as continued differentiation --- you will see that the sites (like MySpace) where, CONSUMERS SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME -- AND INTERACT THE MOST WITH MEDIA -- becomes the primary driver for advertisers -- and HUGE VALUE for Publishers.

Hats off to the folks at Myspace for their continued domination....

Media 2.0 is undervalued, if the proper tools are applied.

Rock on.

2007-03-26T08:24:00.001-04:00

Finding An Old Gem....

Last year, Keith Richards (around this time) fell, and hit his head. He was pretty seriously injured - and required immediate surgery.

His injury bummed me out pretty bad, and like many, I followed his progress closely.

I vowed that as soon as, The Stones resumed touring I would go, no matter where it was. I told my wife, "Wherever, whenever, they play their next show - I will be front row, watching one of my last remaining musical hero's, (Keith Richards) unleash his talent on my psyche...."

The shows were announced, and they were scheduled for -- Paris & Amsterdam in August of last summer - 2006.

My trip was fantastic. Traveling solo through France and Amsterdam is a experience, and was a soul piercing piece of history. (I'm a history enthusiast, so just walking on the cobblestones and taking in the "zeitgeist" for me was surreal)- I'm planning a post of many of my pictures, which I have yet to do.

If you like Guitar, and you like The Stones - then you will dig this cut. It's Ron Wood solo band (with Keith Richards) prior to his joining the Stones. The show is from 1974. His voice is not going to win any awards, but the raw, unparalled soul, and energy, coming from these 2 guys, more than 33 years ago - is worth a listen for any fan of rock n' roll. This will give you an idea of why Keith asked his buddy "Woodie", to join the Greatest Rock n' Roll band of all time.

"Am I Grooving You?"

2007-03-18T17:27:00.000-04:00

Momentum as a GUIDE.

Momentum drives an idea, from a brain to reality.

Passion lifts momentum.
Momentum is lifted by passion.

At Lotame, we recently crossed some pretty large milestones in our development, and I'm totally excited, thrilled, and engaged.

But, I can't sleep.

I stay up at night, focused on tomorrow -- focused on "how".....focused on making sure our roadmap, stays in line with our clients needs. Noodling on improvement.

At the end of the day, that is all that matters.

After I finally fall asleep at around 3:50am, one of the following points awaken me, and guide me, to my morning coffee:

* is our vision and plan working out well, and benefiting our customers?
* is working with us easy?
* is understanding HOW and WHY we help drive our clients business to new heights, understood?
* can I perform better?
* are we hiring the right people?
* can I provide better leadership and guidance?

I hope the answer is YES to all of the above questions....but as I've learned - paranoia sometimes fuels energy - and allows us to redouble our efforts to prove a mission.......

As a sales guy, I'm 100% confident what we are building and executing on, is NEEDED, for Social Destination sites, with a keen eye on, monetization. We have heard countless times, that our company positioning, our concept - and our technology, are ahead of the rest of the market.

Soon, we will translate this into real DATA, for public consumption.

I'm tired, but I've never in my life, been so energized.

The Momentum train has stopped to pick up our folks at LOTAME, and our company has jumped aboard for the ride......

Rock on.

2007-03-18T16:49:00.000-04:00

Feb. 15, 1987 - Garcia and Santana.

Jerry Garcia and Carlos Santana, with Babatunde Olatunji.
Mickey Hart and Bobby Vega.

This is "Fire on the Mountain" - and one of the most "energetic" Garcia videos you will ever witness. It's from the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

(the video and the sound are about one second off, but it is priceless nonetheless)

2007-03-17T09:05:00.000-04:00

West LA Fadeaway.....

I walked into MSG, one of many nights that the boys held court....

Jerry says, "Mick Taylor."

I say, whooooah. But, it was not until many years later that the full impact of Mick Taylor, and his contributions to The Rolling Stones would become evident to me.
I now own all of Mick Taylor's solo stuff.....and it's GREAT.
Here is Mick Taylor 19 years ago, with the Grateful Dead, on 9-24-88.

2007-03-06T11:54:00.000-05:00

Insightful Post....Outside IN.

When I come across a post that allows me to look at a problem I'm trying to solve, with a different twist.....well, I like to share it.

"Outside-In Services."

"Maybe we should start to call these things "Outside In Services" -- those services that begin their conception of value creation from outside the confines of what is traditionally considered areas where value, control and distribution lie. Services which create new ways of looking at data and people and content, using the actors (or customers, or users) involved with the data and content as the focal point, and not necessarily the distributor or publisher or even service provider. Such actors have generally been considered, at least by publishers, as passive recipients. Audiences, if you will. Similarly, value has traditionally been considered to lie with the content or services delivered to those actors."

Thanks to Andrew Weissman.

Rock on.

2007-03-06T09:23:00.000-05:00

Kudos to Clearspring....

Our friends over at Clearspring, just announced their round of funding, and a hearty congratulations is in order.

These guys, (led by Chris Marentis) have the built an excellent product, and with continued hard work, a little luck, and a few great partners/clients.....they will change the WEB 2.0, widget world for video content.

I love this quote:

"We're talking to anyone who needs to monetize content," he says. "We're saying, 'Let us help you let people steal you.'"

2007-03-05T17:10:00.000-05:00

ZERO 6-10-06

A great band.
If you like HORNS...(Martin Fierro) -- a great guitar player (Steve Kimock) and good all around music, then sit back and watch.

This will light you up. It's been stoking my musical fire for years.....
Click on the video, and TURN IT WAY UP.....

2007-03-01T11:20:00.000-05:00

The Lotame Office......

Pictures that I have taken, line the walls of the office....everything from nature, to social pics.....my art hangs proudly.

One of our developer workstations, where magic happens daily..........

The "Lotamizers" - Stacy, Jessica, and Jake - looking at data, in the format we have become accustom to.......DIFFERENTLY.

2007-02-28T18:38:00.001-05:00

This is cool, and ME.

2007-02-28T15:56:00.000-05:00

Another Brick (Account) in Review......

Career Builder puts their account in review (allows other agencies to vie for their business.....)
I work in the advertising world, and account reviews are more frequent than, snow in Colorado.

What is NOT frequent, however, is the head of an agency, responding to their client publically taking their business up for review. The LETTER IS HERE.

A excerpt from the letter....
"Overall, CareerBuilder's revenue shot up from $100 + million to $700 + million. Number one in share. Number one in visits. Number one in listings. C-K contributed enormously to that – all in less than 36 months. A week and a half ago they told us our performance report card would be at 100%! We were so friggin' happy!"

And, they were fired.

Interesting read, and more interesting to ponder the reaction, of client and agency.

A sociological conundrum.....in the advertising world.

Hat tip: Cheating on England.

2007-02-28T09:57:00.000-05:00

Women Are Smarter....

1989. A great summer. I attended this below (Buffalo, 7/4/89) show with some great friends.
One of my friends who drove with me to Foxboro, Buffalo - then back to Giants Stadium for The Who -- then on to Alpine Valley, WI - was Lenny Massa.

"We had a fraternity brother named Lenny Massa. He was killed at our college on Sept 29, 1989 - in a shooting at a party we had thrown, when a local from the town, got drunk, and brought a gun into one of our gatherings. (he was on parole, and had just been released from a multi year sentence, for I believe, assault with a deadly weapon, and he was out early).......He murdered Lenny.All these years later, I cannot help but think what he would be doing now.This guy (Lenny) had so much passion and energy for LIFE. He played bass in a band called "Social Convention." He came to DEAD shows with us, and drove from CT to Greensboro NC for one show -- and drove straight back after the show. (we all stayed for 3 nights) -- but he came for one, and then at 11:30pm got in his soft top blue Jeep, and drove back to Connecticut."

I remember during this song, looking over at Lenny with his crazy hat on, dancin' up a storm to this tune - -written by Harry Belafonte......

Turn up your speakers -- sit back, and enjoy......."Woman Are Smarter...." (July 4th, 1989)

Miss ya Lenny!

2007-02-27T19:12:00.000-05:00

Moonlight Mile....

A cool concept from our business, that I'm learning as we build......

A new employee who starts, comes in, learns a TINY BIT, (first 2 days onboard) about the new business concept, that he or she, is learning.

The new employee comes from another business online, and "broadly" understands, what you are trying to execute on, and build....

in the first 48 hours in their new position, along with some internal help ---- I came back from a flight to..........

A RADICAL WAY OF LOOKING AT -- and conquering a specific function that I've been (and our team) noodling on for months.

New blood and talent, equals -- value creation, as well as a unique perspective on our daily lives.

I'm so impressed and throughly jazzed by a person who has a "quick impact", on our business, and allows us to see something in a different light.......this is both incredibly valuable, and insightful. It energizes me, and words do not do justice to how excited I am.

Why do I write this?

Because we tend to, NOT celebrate it.

We tend to expect it.

I for one, am guilty of expecting results and creativity, daily. If I don't get it, I get bored easily. It's one of the reason I love listening to jazz, and improvisationsal artists, like Jerry Garcia, Steve Kimock, and Miles Davis. I need energy, passion -- and, the "edge of creation...."

I look at this as a father....it's all new to my kids, am I celebrating, their creativity enough?

Can I do better, as a Father in encouraging and expecting....... and CELEBRATING, creativity?

Can I do better, as a leader in my business of delivering the message that I want to reward a employee, who is creative, and makes ME SMARTER?

Yes to all.

"Inspiration, move me brightly."
Garcia/Hunter - Terrapin Station

Inspiration comes from someone who allows you to unlock your personal lense on a issue, on your product, and on your strategy.....(uncorking your bias)

My team unlocked some "kernels of creativity" today, that I'm not sure they grasp, how important it is to our company's future.

And, that is MY FAULT. It is my fault that they went home tonight, WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT A IMPORTANT BREAKTHROUGH TODAY WAS.

Because as I sit alone and type - I have the pangs of guilt that I did not celebrate or reward enough, the VERY CREATIVITY that has, moved me brightly.....

"Made a rag pile of my shiny clothes
Gonna warm my bones" -- Moonlight Mile, Jagger/Richards

My learning today was to be ready to get your shiny ideas, and ditch em -- be open to a new employees, FRESH LOOK at the business, and get ready to make a rag pile with some of your vision.....and give credit, QUICKLY.

And, warm your bones through continued, genuine celebration of CREATIVITY, and let people know that uniqueness, and a valued perspective, is what is often needed to move a business forward....

Celebration, rewards, and positive accolades are in order for some folks on my team.

I'm off to send a email to them now.

I've got some celebrating to do.......

2007-02-21T15:07:00.000-05:00

Stumbling into a Solution.....

One of the most interesting aspects I've learned over the years in working at -- and leading new companies is the following:

"The most unforseen solutions emerge from the most unlikely of places, that we never planned, and we never accounted for. Some of the solutions, many orginally thought of as simply problems, and not until years later - do you realize how beneficial they were to your success."

In my previous working life, (at Advertising.com) years later, I had the pleasure of speaking with someone I respect tremendously, and he asked me about what I believed to be the key aspects that differentiated the company from the rest of the, "lookalikes."

My response:
1) Amazingly effective leadership
2) Great Management
3) Genuinely Caring about Employees -- and taking interest in each person on a individual level
4) Getting Rid of non-performing employees in a timely manner (and realizing that this kept the most productive workers motivated - this was a direct result of good management)
5) Allowing the Sales Leaders to have a direct input, and a direct channel, to how products should be developed, packaged, and rolled out.....(sounds basic, but many companies do not do this -- they just SAY they do)

Here were the UNFORSEEN elements that transpired, that had a positive influence, looking back years later:

6) Dot.com BUST. In late 2000 the DOT COM market bubble burst. Many companies went out of business, advertising budgets directed toward online advertising disappeared, and the industry appeared to stagnate. Fear was in the air. My previous employer immediately shifted to what MARKETERS DESIRED -- a company based on performance and results. We mitigated and took 100% of the risk off our clients plates.....
The DOT COM bust, allowed us to focus on our core business. It made us better, during a time when our competitors panicked, changed their business models, and retooled their organizations. We hunkered down, and focused on addressing needs, and executed (again with great management and leadership) against the fundamental needs of the marketplace.
The Dot Com bust, and the pain it inflicted to our industry, turned out to be a problem for the web, but our company had the solution.......

7) Location. I thought that this was a HUGE problem. The location of the company was Baltimore MD. I'm a NY/NJ guy, and it perplexed me (even after I opened our NYC office) as to why, and what benefit, having a internet company based in Baltimore was? It turns out it was a HUGE benefit to the success, growth, and achievements of the organization. Being in Maryland allowed our employees NOT to be in the "winds of change." Our people were able to be focused, focused enough NOT, to be involved in the downward spiral of the companies in San Francisco and New York. It New York City, it was hard NOT to go to a happy hour and hear the stories of how, "so and so got laid off, this and this company closed their doors...., etc etc".
This was NOT the conversation in Baltimore. The economy is sufficiently different, in that the amount of dot coms (in Baltimore) were NOT as plentiful as, Silicon Alley, Silicon Valley, or 23rd street in NYC.
There was not as much employee turnover, as compared to other companies operating in major media markets. This is CRITICAL to building, (low turnover) and implementing technology -- and just as important when growing a company.
Turns out being in Baltimore was a unforseen benefit, and probably a BIG reason why the company was able to retain, and focus, hundreds of employees, FOR YEARS.

8) Our early employees (including me) did not have media backgrounds. Virtually non existent amongst the earliest employees was the notion of, "we must hire people with advertising and media experience." Many thought this as a mistake. Many people thought we should focus on new hires that, UNDERSTOOD ADVERTISING. Quite the contrary, it turned out to be critically important, and strategic, to the success of the company....
But why?
Here are a few of the reasons:
* diverse backgrounds bring unique persepectives
* blank canvasses of the brain, allow a NEW EMPLOYEE to learn about your company -- IN CONJUNCTION WITH LEARNING ABOUT A NEW INDUSTRY. A key ingredient, and read it again if you must...but it cannot be "emphasized" (thanks Jeff H.) enough.
* performers and excellent employees from other companies allow for a higher probablity of success in a newer environment
* the company was out to change the network model and blaze a new path. Frequently, people with experience would say, "Media planners won't do that." "Agencies wont commit budgets without a site list..." Turns out the media planners did. Because we were not afraid to change the language -- we did not know any better, we sold it - and it worked. Had there been someone internally, beating us over the head, with all their previous media experience, telling us NOT TO DO IT - we probably would not have.

Lastly, grabbing the proverbial opportunity, when it comes along.

A big campaign. A new product. A big pitch. A new idea.......

Understanding WHEN to dedicate resources to a chance, to a prayer, to a longshot - that can make or break a company. I call this the, "improvisational element" of reading a situation -- and creatively weaving the fabric of the company, and subtly redirected resources, that can change destiny.

Often times it will fail.

But, with good instinct - clear understanding of where the market "can" go, the fundamental problem of every company being, "resource constrained" and "we just can't undertake that now" - virtually NEVER HAPPENS...

Turns out, one of my biggest takeaways is that the:

"Challenges and Problems of Today - many times contain the ingredients that make up the, RECIPE of SOLUTIONS."

It is identifying precisely which challenges of today, are benefits - and having the forsight to understand, and maximize it........

I've outlayed,(from my background) Dot.com bust, location, and lack of employee experience - as issues many thought were roadblocks to success, (including me).......

Turn out they were directly beneficial and critical to creating value.

Rock on.

(PS. Any bloggers interested in testing Lotame Crowd Control reporting on their blog? Please contact me, as we are rolling out a beta program to Bloggers to give them new access to how their visitors consume their media - and how it can be used by Advertisers to create audiences and target against. If interested, please contact me on email. AM)

2007-02-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

Images from A Weekend in Vermont -- Febuary 2007.....
(click on any picture to enlarge)

Awesome Snowmobling Conditions in 2 feet of Snow .....

A Quiet Mount Snow at 5pm -- too good not to snap from our Snowmobile

4 Amigos Snowmobiling

Wilmington Rt 9 -- YOU ARE HERE. Love that brand.

Lady Walking Slow Uphill

Dots in Wilmington -- GREAT FOOD

2007-02-16T13:23:00.000-05:00

Addressing Monetization for Social Media Publishers & Advertisers........

My friend Rob Deichert has a post on his blog, about challenging the status quo, and coming up with different metrics by which to judge, and monetize, the fastest growing form of media in the world, Social Media.

Rob writes:

"People have asked me before where I see Internet advertising going and I've told everyone I think the traditional model of cost per impressions will be challenged, by CPMPT (cost per impression, per time). The user behavior on social networking sites can classified as high page view consumption - kids are clicking between pages."

I was reading Rob's insightful piece this morning, and immediately forwarded his blog post to my team to read.....I said,

"Arent we working on something similar to address this issue (of time) inside of Crowd Control?" (our technology)

Let me start off by saying that my team and I at Lotame, see the social media world differently, than most publishers and advertisers out there. We think that the Web 2.0 and User Generated Content world is filled with data points, actions and behaviors that are NOT being utilized at all. One of the most powerful differentiators for us is HOW GRANULAR, we get in, collecting both "behavior and action" data. "User Engagement" may be the buzz word for some, but for us, it is our business.

One of the most important factors is TIME SPENT, in this equation. Rob rightly addresses this in his piece....

"From a direct response perspective it's easy to know if the right people are getting the right length of exposure to an ad. If response rates are inline with cost, the advertiser keeps spending. Layer on branding advertiser demand and you'll get a quick picture of the market price for the inventory. Of course measuring the branding impact takes longer and more effort."

Lotame considers time spent an, ACTIONABLE BEHAVIOR...
*Length of time a consumer views a page
*Length of time a consumer views a ad
*Length of time a consumer engages the media -- (widget, upload, comment, links t0 -- from the beginning of the click to the completing of the action)

This leads to the ability for Advertisers to be able to truly target on words, that MEAN SOMETHING.

Recency and Frequency.
The recency of ACTIONS.
The recency of BEHAVIORS.
The recency of ENGAGEMENT.

The Frequency of ----THE SAME.

Use these components to create audiences. Allow advertisers to pick unique elements to target against, which are completely different and independent, based on the Social Media community .....

These engagement based audience segments, (that Lotame helps build for our publishing clients to drive more value), make advertising and marketing, based on all, "user time" measurements, a reality in Web 2.0.

Once you combine, BEHAVIORAL ACTIONS, with BEHAVIORAL INTEREST -- and can build audiences that you can target against, you have built one the most important social profiles known to media.

Relevance.

And, it might be the most important one of all......when creating value for Social Media.

It's our mission to make the media RELEVANT.......it is what we are executing on, and building as we speak.

2007-02-15T19:58:00.000-05:00

Built to Last....

People, Relationships, Bonds, and Links are formed truly around.....

TRUST.

It is imperative that friends develop trust with each other, to stay friends.
It is more than important, (it is crucial) that a husband and wife, develop trust and common bonds, in order for their marriage to thrive, and survive.
It is critical for a parent to build true bonds of love and trust with a child, so that the child grows up confident, secure, and a quality member of society.

These are some personal "trust" links that are critical elements to a person's personal existence. A person does not have to have any of the above to survive, but I'd surmise the more they (love, trust and bonds) are given to a individual -- the higher the probability of living a moderately cheerful life, with a positive outlook.

These are personal trusting bonds established from friends and family, that carry over to the rest of one's life....

Growing up, I tried to look back and see where I received my personal, bonds of trust, and love, as well as -- WHERE I SPENT THE MOST TIME (receiving it).

1) Family
2) Peers
3) School
4) Religious Experience
5) Sports
6) Camps
7) Media Influences in my life -- TV, Radio.

I was born in the 60's, a kid in the 70's - and a teen in the 80's.

My influences were basic compared to what kids face today.

I listed "Media Influences" at the bottom of my list. Looking back, it was the Brady Bunch, Partridge Family, and the occassional Magilla Gorilla that made the afternoon list of ways to pass the time -- and probably had a impact on me.

The trusting bonds from #7, Media Influences (listed above) has moved, WAY UP THE TRUST CHAIN FOR A KID, OR TEEN IN 2007. The reason is, both in the amount of time teens today spend on social media, as compared to 25 years, or 10 years ago.

Today, teens are:

* teens are using the internet (media) more than watching TV
* teens are spending far more time on social networking websites (such as MySpace)
* teens are confronted with social issues ONLINE, that their parents have never experienced
* their is a HUGE knowledge gap between parents who did not grow up with a computer, (like me, because home computing did not exist for the masses) and teens of today, as it relates to social issues.
* social media is the avenue of media and communication for a ENTIRE generation (or 2) of teens.
* SOCIAL MEDIA IS CRITICALLY HIGH IN THE TEEN INFLUENCE, OF TRUST.

"There are times when I can help you out, And times when you must fall.There are times when you must live in doubt, And I cant help at all." (JGarcia, Built to Last)

In the 50's rock n' roll was the difference in a generation....
In the 60's it was "freedom" - and a newfound independence that became the hallmark.
In the 70's and 80's these differences morphed into technological advances, as well as the ending of a cold war -- and beginning of investment in the internet.

"This is the age of machinery, A mechanical nightmare, The wonderful world of technology, Napalm hydrogen bombs biological warfare....."(Ray Davies, 20th Century Man)

Then, bam.

The age of the internet confronts us, and brings great change.

Kids spend more time online......than watch TV.

Not just online, but on Social Networking/Social Media Sites.

And herein lies the problem.

Monetization.
Monetization.
Monetization.

How do these sites (which our teens are spending most of their time on) make money?

How do these websites (publishers) earn revenue to keep their communites alive?

How do we protect our children, and deal with social issues that arise from these complex changes in behavior?

You may ask.....

"Andy, why do I care how these sites make money?"

You do care. You should care.

You don't want the publishers NEED FOR REVENUE, and need for money -- to be at the expense of, a teenagers personal information.

You don't want unsavory marketers to be able to target your child in a way that promotes a "socially unresponsible" brand.....(like condoms, religious, porn) advertising -- inside of the arena of teens.

That is why I write this today.

Our teens are using media differently than ever before.
They are associating with brands, connecting with friends, listening to music -- and coming out to the world, VIRTUALLY.

Many publishers (website operators) still do not get it.
They try to "spin their media" in a traditional world of the Brady Bunch, Partridge Family, and Magilla Gorilla in 2007......IT NO LONGER EXISTS. You cannot sell media on the metrics of yesterday......

They talk in Run of Site CPM's to advertisers.
They talk of sponsorships to advertisers.
They talk of Behavioral Targeting to advertisers.

This is not the language of our youth.

The language of our youth is still the same values that held true generations ago.
Trust, respect -- and developing bonds.

Sadly, large Social Media Publishers are slow to embrace this evolutionary change in media consumption.

Change it up. Change the technique you use to drive revenue. Ask advertisers to buy you on a similar metric - that your, COMMUNITY CONSUMES MEDIA!!!!

Allow marketers and advertisers to target anonomously on social targets, that may be unique to your users.....DIFFERENTIATE YOUR USER BASE.

Allow marketers and advertisers to engage our teens in a respectful, trustful manner. (not through spam comments, repetetive advertisments, sponsorships, remnant banners, and inconsequential marketing techniques)

Change the tenor and relationship with the teens of today, Mr. Publisher and Mrs. Advertiser.

For parents.
For teens.
For advertisers.
For monetization.
And, for moving the market forward......

"Did you ever wake up to find A day that broke up your mind, Destroyed your notion of circular time?" (Jagger/Richards - Sway)

We can help.

We, at Lotame can help change the conversation, we can assist in bringing better brands (so that they can target more efficiently to Social Media consumers) -- as well as, monetize the media more efficiently, for publishers, (SOCIAL MEDIA THE PLACE WHERE OUR YOUTH IS SPENDING A PREDOMINANCE OF THEIR TIME), and that is so important to the future of our country.......

As Jerry Garcia sang in, Franklins Tower.....

"If you plant ice you're gonna harvest wind."

Planting proverbial ice in the ground, is what is happening in Social Media Circles today - and it is at the expense of our youth.....

We are committed to helping to FIX it -- and make User Generated Content, and Social Networking a viable medium, and as TRUSTING, as other forms of media that we all consume.

Rock on.

2007-02-14T12:51:00.000-05:00

My First Game Changing Deal.....

I will never forget the first significant deal I put together (sold), and how it changed my life.

Up until the point of this story, I had sold alot of products and services, and it was by no means my first sale, but it was the most impactful for me, for a variety of reasons.

I took a job with this company, (1994) as they opened up offices in NYC, (it was part of their plan of going national, after raising significant capital) -- the company was based in, Houston TX.

It was a legal document services company, catering to lawyers, paralegals, and copy center managers.

My primary job was sell to paralegals, and handle all of the legal copy work for large litigation cases. Our competition ranged from other copy companies, who charged 1/3 of what our rates were, as well as in the in-house copy center -- typically run by Pitney Bowes, Xerox, or the firm itself.

I wore a suit everyday, and hauled boxes in good clothes through the halls of some of the largest firms in the country. Our prices were naturally much higher than anyone in the industry -- because we sold on SERVICE, and superior PRODUCTION.

When I started this job, I was given a territory that was pretty, BEAT DOWN. The sales rep before me had too much on his plate, as the office opened, the production facility was not ready handle anything (let alone a big firms copy work) -- and my companies BRAND, amongst the large LAW firms, was negative.

My job was to "re-brand" - and "re-sell" three major law firms, on my new company --- and begin to repair the damaged relationships, and get revenue.

Now mind you, this rebranding effort that I was tasked with, was NOT something launched from damage done to the clients years before. The damage was done 2 months prior to my hire --- so the wounds (from the client perspective) from bad service, and missed deadlines, was only 60 days young --- I had to sell against errors that happened only 2 months prior......

The company had only been in NYC for 6 months total, before my first day. It was not like they had years to earn their stripes, and garner a positive reputation -- they were, BRAND NEW.

Other sales reps told me I got screwed by my manager for giving me such a bad territory.

"Andy, you will never get any orders from those firms in your territory -- our company screwed up so bad, it will take years before your firms in your territory, will even consider us again...."

"Start looking for another job."

"You better get your goal lowered, or you will make no money."

I was intimidated. I came home after my first week, and thought I had made a collosal mistake in taking this job.

Then I crafted a plan.

My plan was to identify the top ten partners in each law firm, based on their caseloads -- and public litigation documents, filed with the Southern District Court in Lower Manhattan.

I then made a list of the top 2 paralegals in each firm.

I shared a small office with 4 other sales representatives -- EVERYONE WAS BUSY, and doing better than I was -- the new guy (ME) in the absence of work, had to prove I was working hard, somehow.

I went out and bought large index cards. On each card, I wrote the name of the person at the top of the card, and taped it to the wall around my desk.

Other sales reps laughed and joked at my effort.....

These names on index cards taped around my desk, became my, visual world at work.

One name in particular I focused on, and I made it a point to get in front of her quickly.

Her name was, Karen.

Karen was described to me as a tough, no-nonsense, hard to please paralegal, she worked with the same "white-shoe" law firm of 20+ years. Karen was in her mid-40's, single -- and had a big reputation in the industry. Many said, "she is more powerful than some of the major partners at the firm, everything runs through her....."

"Andy, she hates us - the sales rep before you did a poor job, gave her bad service, and she swore she would NEVER use our company again. Do not waste your efforts on her." (this was from my manager)

My response was, "I only have 3 firms in my entire territory, if I follow your guidance and do not try to get business from her, 1/3 of my territory will be lost...."

I set out to win Karen over.

First off, this was before the acceptance of email as a primary communication tool. I had no computer in 1994.....so email as part of my job, was non-existent.

I hate voicemail. You will NEVER win a deal on voicemail. I made commitment to try to get Karen to spend time with me, face to face -- and NOT in her office.

Not lunch either.....

Something different.

I set out writing short, handwritten notes on white plain paper to Karen.

The notes centered around how sorry I was about her previous experience with my company, and how I was different, and through my unique approach, I would make it up to her.

I got no response from Karen.

My notes which had started off as apologies, morphed into something different. The letters to her became a tool for me to write - what I was learning about my new job, and the new company.

The notes to Karen took on a new tone. I went from apologizing in my earlier notes to, writing about how we were different. How I was different.

"Karen, did you know that yesterday our office turned around 39 jobs in less than 2 hours -- of priority rush jobs more than 2500 pages? All, went back to our clients with no ERRORS reported."

And, I closed with something funny.

"Last night I waited at work till 9pm, waiting for you to call me -- and shock me with a project, I left at a little after 9, and would'nt you know it -- on my way home, I think I saw Elvis eating a hot dog on 53rd and 6th. Staying late waiting for you to call me, was worth it after all."

The notes to her were sent twice a week. Mailed on Monday and Tuesday.

(Some of you may say that this is "stalker like" in my approach. I want to emphasize to you that in no time were any of my communications anything but an attempt to prove value and show her I could be a valuable asset to her daily working life.")

The communication was always short, light, and hopefully impactful.

My notes to Karen twice a week, went on for 3 months.

Friday evening in the spring. I will never forget it, because I was scheduled to leave for Philadelphia after work that night -- to see The Grateful Dead, playing The Spectrum in Philly, that weekend.

Over the intercom.....words I will never forget.

"call for Andy on 101 -- Karen C."

I picked up, and here is the conversation that ensued:

"Andy, this is Karen C."

My reply -- "Karen, thanks so much for calling me..."

"Andy, I have no idea who you are, and you are either crazy ,or insanely great....and anyone who is as dedicated to getting my attention with such intensity deserves a chance. Before you say a word, and I'm forced to change my mind, come over here right away....."

I ran out of the office, and into a life changing event.

As I walked into Karen's corner office on the 26th floor (mind you this is a paralegal, with a CORNER office) -- she stood up and shook my hand firmly, as she put out her cigarette in a ashtray full of Virginia Slims.

"Andy, a pleasure to meet you, let's get past the niceties."

My letters were in manilla folder on her desk....stacked neatly, saved -- with a SMILEY FACE ON THE FRONT.

She launched right into it,

"Follow me, I will give you your chance."

I walked with her to another floor and into one of the largest litigations in the history of the US. She took me to a room, filled with hundreds of boxes that needed to have multiple copies, bates labeled, and FEDEXED to opposing counsels around the country. (The actual case will give away the firm, and I'd like to keep this anonomous.)

"Can you handle this, Mr. Note Man? I mean, I could give this project to anyone, and frankly I have VERY little confidence in your organization -- but I'm giving YOU this chance to prove to me, you are as good as your short notes......and it's your opportunity."

I could not breathe.

That weekend, I worked from the time of that phone call (afternoon Fri) until midnight Saturday, without stopping....taking inventory of boxes, cataloging bates labels -- and anxiously, changing my life.

I coordinated a immediate meeting with the production managers, to inform them of the scope and importance of this project. I stayed at the office for 24 hours to work -- but more importantly I remained to give a speech to 3 different production shifts. I implored and explained to every single employee on the production floor, how I had managed to come into this project, and I explained, "IF WE DO THIS RIGHT TOGETHER - WE WILL ALL BENEFIT THROUGH MORE HOURS AND MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR A LONG TIME TO COME."

I catered lunch for all three shifts from, The Stage Deli. The production workers loved and appreciated it. I knew as hard as I sold Karen (the paralegal) on giving me this huge litigation case-- my next task was to SELL my internal folks on HOW VALUABLE THEY WERE. I had to feed them with food, but more importantly I had to feed their egos, and show them love....SINCERE LOVE.

Let's just say, I rose up at the company to become one of the top sales representatives nationwide. For 5 straight years, I attended every national award event (for highest producing reps) from the Carribean, to Vegas, to Arizona.....

My other 2 firms eventually started working with me as well, and soon I hired 2 full time assistants to help me cover my SMALL territory, that my colleagues told me when I started, would amount to a hill of beans.

One of my assistants, I forced to follow his dream of being a sportscaster while we were hauling boxes for Karen one rainy day.....he is HERE, and I'm damn proud of him. (I listen to him every day on the radio here in NYC)...I told him to follow his dream -- and he did.

Karen and I became friendly, never friends. If she is reading this, on behalf of me, my family, and my future, I want to thank you for the trust and confidence, you placed in my 13 years ago.

It was a life changer.

The experience taught me so much, but looking back - here is what I realized, as we pass our 10th employee at MY COMPANY.

Stay commited.
Focus on Changing the Game.
Be Sincere.
Be Different.
Risk being laughed at.
Risk FAILURE every day.
Write handwritten notes.
And, most of all positive karma -- or leave what you are doing.

As soon as the job with the copy company got boring I walked away..... walked away from money, and stability, to go to a startup. Leaving the production workers who I came to love, hurt me more than anything in my professional career. They helped make me who I am, as much, if not more than, Karen did.

I went to help 2 brothers build a internet company.
You know why I left the copy business to go to a startup? --- The brothers had EVERY ATTRIBUTE I listed above, and ONE MORE that I'm trying to achieve, as we speak.

Entreprenurial Improvisation.

It is priceless, a rare commodity -- and requires all of the ingredients above.

I've been extremely lucky to surround myself professionally with people like Karen, and production workers, co-workers, and leaders, that have made me a better person.

The mistakes I've made along the way have helped me grow.

But, look for your GAME CHANGING deal in your life, identify it when it comes along -- and then seize it.

It makes for a game changing, LIFE.

2007-02-12T22:15:00.000-05:00

Snow Picture -- Side of our House.....

2007-02-12T21:29:00.000-05:00

This Sickens Me, Beyond Words.....

Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel speaks about being attacked by the Jew hater;

"Until today they used words; now they have switched to violence," Wiesel told Milan-based daily Corriere della Sera. "Their numbers are growing by the day."

The 78-year-old Holocaust survivor said the incident shook him and that, for the first time since World War II, he felt he was being personally targeted.

"I feared for my life in a way that hadn't happened to me since 1945, before the end of the war," he told Corriere.

"My incident shows a global trend; if society doesn't act immediately against these individuals it will end up encouraging others to do the same," he said. "Every time I make a speech somewhere in the world there is a group of deniers in that place waiting for me." hat tp Jon via FOX News

I felt a pit in my heart when I read this.

I've had the pleasure of meeting this powerful man, and being in his presence, and hearing him talk, had a VERY POWERFUL impact on me.

Not a good omen......

HAT TIP: ATLAS SHRUGS.

2007-02-12T17:38:00.000-05:00

Sun Through the Trees....

On a Monday evening before a big storm here on the East Coast....

2007-02-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

During the Reagan Presidency.....

I was lucky enough to see The Police live in concert,(Shea Stadium) with some high school friends. It was the summer of commercial free music in NY -- WAPP.

They put on a great show, and I truly believe that coming out of the "punk era" of the late 1970's -- the Police had owned the transition period of the late 70's into the early 80's.

I never got into Sting's solo work. I never purchased one of his CD's -- and the music he made on his own, just did not move me in the way that The Police did.

In later years, Sting opened up for the Grateful Dead on a summer tour, (I believe 92' but I might be off) -- it was the summer of openers for the Dead, with Steve Miller and Sting. He was good, and I actually got into stadiums early to see him play...he had good energy.

Fast forward to 2007.

I NEVER EVER WATCH an awards TV program. I have never watched the Oscars, never sat through the Grammy's -- and I'm into music, BIG TIME.

The shows dont matter to me. They are a bunch of over-hyped, ego driven, industry executives telling us what good music is.

But tomorrow night (Sunday Feb 11th) I will be tuned in to the Grammy's -- and the DVR will be programmed, to catch THE POLICE open the Grammy's.

I'm psyched to see THEM PLAY. I pray they don't do a medley introspective. I will see them when they come around this summer to NY -- but, please no stadiums -- make it a arena tour. Shea Stadium was TOO BIG for a 3 man band.

This is actually a HUGE opportunity for the music industry in general.
Live TV audience, a major 70's and 80's act -- I hope they play their hearts out.

As we see Van Halen, Genesis coming back to tour (and make wads of cash) -- and I've heard rumblings of Led Zeppelin reuniting -- it is more than simple expectations, and a thirst for creativity, from a big swath of music consumers...

I talk of QUALITY and UNIQUENESS.

The Police had it at one time.

Do they still have the magic?

"Walked out this morning
Don't believe what I saw
A hundred billion bottles
Washed up on the shore
Seems I'm not alone at being alone
A hundred billion casatways
Looking for a home"

Those numerous bottles for me is the lack of quality in music.

I want to believe that THE POLICE still have the "Magic in a Bottle."

"Turn on the radio
The static hurts my ears
Tell me where would I go
I ain't been out in years
Turn on the stereo
It's played for years and years
An Otis Redding song
It's all I own"

The Police tomorrow night carry a HUGE WEIGHT on their shoulders.

The weight of expectations -- and the yearning of a music business that needs some GOOD BUZZ, and positive energy.

Rock on.

PS. Saw a unreal show last night -- Kimock, Porter, Worrell and Kimock (John) 2/9/07
Here is the setlist which was a mind blowing combination of funk, a deep pocket of drumming from a 15 yr old (Steve son John) -- mixed in with amazing Kimock guitar. The show can be found at Dave's site -- www.digitalsoundboard.net - I highly recommend it.

Set 1:
Red Hot Mama
You're The One
Many Rivers To Cross
She Said

Set 2:
Cissy Got The Blues
Merle's Boogie
Whiter Shade Of Pale
Take A Chance ->
Just Kissed My Baby ->
Funkify Your Life

2007-02-07T18:31:00.000-05:00

The Perils of Hesitation…..

One of the aspects of business (and life) I’m most interested in is the way people and companies make, or do not make decisions.

I went to a party this past week, and one of the couples I encountered told me about their 3 grown adult children, and their grandchildren.

The father proceeded – “Our middle daughter joined the circus at age 21, right out of college, and spent 11 years on the road working for Barnum and Bailey.”
I was fascinated (this party just got a lot more exciting for me, as soon as a parent uttered those words, (“my kid/joined/circus”) and in typical fashion, I asked many of my probing questions, to DETERMINE HOW THEY (the parents I was speaking with) HANDLED IT, when their daughter informed them that after college graduation, she was going to be a clown, full time?

“We obviously were not thrilled, and we asked her – would you rather have a plane ticket to Europe, summer paid for --- instead of joining the circus?”

She declined the all expense paid trip her parents tried to bribe her with, and spent 11 years living in a railroad car – touring the United States, and EXPERIENCING LIFE.

I’ve never met this dynamic young lady – but her adventurous journey, made me think about many of the opportunities we all take, and others we miss out on.

How many times have we said to ourselves that we will be more daring, take on more challenges, and generally just confront life head on, more aggressively?

Time is NOT on our side – (as Jagger and Richards wrote) – time works against us, and each day that passes in our lives makes, joining the proverbial circus, harder – more difficult, and more fraught with risk.

I’ve made a decision.

I do not want to simply build another cool internet company.

I want to change the way internet media is BOUGHT AND SOLD.

I’ve hired some pretty incredible people, and I think the time is right for an evolutionary change in advertising and publishing.

The tide is turning, people are consuming media differently, interacting and utilizing tools that bring them more RELEVANT information, in a format that they desire – (mobile, web, PDA desktop) – and the advertising community is still utilizing metrics, from the early days of media.

Cost per thousand?
Reach and Frequency?
Share of Voice?
GRP’s?

Do these terms really still apply?

The simple answer is yes they do. They are still very relevant because (for the advertising community) they are the dialect that has endured, and truth be told – they will always have a place in the media world.

But, with social media – are they REALLY VALUABLE? Do they encapsulate – and DEFINE how truly valuable THE DATA, AND ABILITY TO TARGET A CONSUMER (in social media landscape) – and maintain strict privacy -- LIKE NEVER BEFORE?

The short answer is NO. It is easy to continue, to use easy to understand formats, and planning tools, even if they do not apply. It is short sighted, and impeding progress.

It reminds me of the story about how the horse and buggy manufacturers, who sensed that they were about to lose their shirts, and their businesses – (as the automobile started to catch on with the American public) – the carriage manufacturers mounted a strong public relations campaign to denigrate, and attempt to shed negative light on the perils of owning a car.

“If you put your family in a car, you are putting your family in untold danger.”

“The auto is VERY unsafe – the engines are combustible, and are very dangerous.”

“Autos are unreliable means of transportation.”

And my favorite: “Stick with what you know, a proven commodity that has stood the test of time – the luxury carriage.”

I learned this from my Sociology professor in 1988. His name was Dr. De Angelo, and he was a master communicator who loved to mix the world of commerce, with sociology. Are they not intertwined? Are the habits and trends learned from one generation to the next, as technology advances, not the EXACT SAME?

“50,000 people die per year in the US.”

“Your Family is at Risk.”

“It is not safe.”

60 years after the AUTOMOBILE – the above 3 quotes were the argument, AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER. (the activists did not want America to be more fuel efficient with technological advances)

So you see – most of the same arguments endure – but with a different spin.

In the advertising and media world, as a new format is launched, such as the TV -- and later the internet……HERE is the argument from the folks who are late to adopt……

“We do not feel comfortable having our brand associated with that content.” (big argument used by many brands during the early 1950’s, for TV comedy shows)

“How do we know the right demographic is seeing our brand?”

“How do we measure success? It is still the wild west….”

Same objections, but different times -- now, many Social Media publishers are hearing the same issues of hesitancy, that TV executives heard in the early 1950’s about why NOT to embrace change…..

Auto’s, Nuclear Power or Social Media…….the perils of hesitancy risk many of us on the wrong side of the equation, if we do not TEST, and continuously push the envelope of our lives, our businesses, and our willingness to try.

We at Lotame are focused on changing market dynamics. We believe the Social Media publishers can unlock the power of their media, by helping to, CHANGE THE CONVERSATION.

Instead of carriages, it became carburetors.
Instead of large power plants, it became nuclear fuel rods…..
Instead of radio – it became TV sponsorships.

For social media – its about
Influencers instead of CPM’s.
Actions instead of navigations
Profiles instead of demographics
Content Consumers instead of Forum Visitors…..

Oh, and we have formatted these terms to fit TODAYS vertical media buying world. Advertisers and Publishers can use Crowd Control (our technology) to purchase media inside of social media against verticals such as: Health and Beauty -- Fast Food, Early Technology Adopter, Wireless and Hollywood…… (to name a few)

I’ve made a commitment (in a business sense) to join the circus. I aim to carve a path with Lotame that changes Social Media Data, and its ability to unlock the power for advertisers to TALK TO CONSUMERS THAT THEY WANT TO……

Lotame is forging ahead, with targeting concepts, audience building – and definitions that will make it much easier for advertisers to embrace the world of user generated content, and Web 2.0.

The circus is coming……but without animals, railroad cars, and concessions.

We bring evolution, and change to the fastest growing form of media in the world today: Social Media.

The Peril of Hesitancy for me is NOT changing the conversation for publishers and advertisers – but continuing to use out-dated terms and technologies, that are not equipped to deal with the consumer evolutions that are radically altering the comfortable landscape of the media world…..

Like the young lady who joined the circus, Lotame is setting out to trail blaze, and pioneer how media is bought and sold in Social Media.

It’s ambitious, and our goals are lofty – but the greater risk for Lotame is going with the status quo, and not challenging our clients, and our prospects into thinking differently about their uniqueness.

“Make it Happen” was a common refrain from a former boss that I worked for. We at Lotame are making it happen daily……..

And, it is as fun and as exciting as a circus…….and there is no time to hesitate.

2007-02-05T15:35:00.000-05:00

Throwing Terms Around……

3 terms that are being used, overused, and simply abused, are the following:

Social Media
Web 2.0
User Generated Content

Although I have built a company focused driving value for the website owners, of the above “terms” – I have come to realize that not everyone completely understands what is evolving (from a media perspective) around them - as they use and interact with the web.

Enter Professor Michael Wesch.

Dr. Wesch has made a video that does a excellent job of explaining what the above 3 terms MEAN – and how it is being implemented, and evolving in today’s internet world.

If you have any interest in understanding what Social Media, Web 2.0, or User Generated Content – means to you, and how it affects your, interaction with the media you use, then
I recommend you do the following.

Turn up the sound – and watch the video below. Great job Dr. W.

2007-02-05T08:25:00.000-05:00

If it Were Up to Me.....

Everyone in the United States would read THIS LETTER.

I stopped my subscription to the NY Times because they will print the most one-sided editorials -- but rarely do they present both points of view on a given subject. As a example, this type of letter (from a soldier in Iraq) would not get any coverage -- but a Maureen Dowd sarcastic piece, telling us how we are morally bankrupt, will. Or, this past Sunday, a NY Times Magazine puff piece on a a radical Islamist who was denied a visa. The NY Times focused on this poor soul being denied a visa. But, here is WHY he was denied a visa -- (which you wont read in the pages of the NY Times.)

The NY Time has become a joke, plain and simple.

(Back to the letter)
The letter was written by SGT. Eddie Jeffers, serving in Ramadi.

Here is a excerpt:

"It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of President Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that Bush was right."

I encourage you to read the letter, and see if you can understand his viewpoint.

Hats off to Sgt Jeffers. His letter to the american people is HERE.

2007-02-04T11:43:00.000-05:00

Super Bowl and the Banana Slugs....

I play in a Sunday Morning Football League, in Park Ridge NJ.
It is a very competitive league, with 8 teams, and pretty solid players.

Our game today was 8:30am, and at kickoff it was a chilly 14 degrees, and windy.

The Slugs lost 19-12, in a hard fought game.....playoffs start in 2 weeks, and our 3-4 record is NOT indicative of our games.

The Super Bowl may be this afternoon, but the BANANA SLUGS will win the ACPL.

Colts will win by 10.
Team pic below from this morning.....

2007-01-31T12:14:00.001-05:00

The Ingredients for Success in Early Stage Company Building......

Lotame is growing.
Employees, Technology, Processes, Clients, and the speed at which our entire business is evolving is simply incredible.

Looking back on my career, I've come to realize how fortunate I've been to work for some incredibly talented entreprenuers......I'm thankful to them for the lessons they have taught me.

I'm attempting to use some of those learnings, and apply them in our business.

Recently, I stumbled across Darren Herman, who happens to be a excellent resource, and someone who writes about entreprenuership, and issues that are critically important to me.

His post on "What Makes Early Stage Investment Opportunities Attractive to Investors" , reads like a bible for anyone who is focused, and driven by creating a powerful business.

Darren's 4 Rules - (that will hang on the wall of my new office)are:

*Prove to the world that you can develop a product or service

*Test the early product/service in the marketplace and receive feedback

*Help boost your valuation (if and when you take money from an investor or sell the company)

*Generate excitement from potential business development partners

Read the rest of his piece HERE-- if you want his recipe for success in creating value for clients and investors.

Good job Darren.

2007-01-29T10:25:00.000-05:00

Jack in the Box - Wallstrip Style.

When you have talent, (like Howard), you are pretty - (like LINDSAY), you throw in some talented writers,and add a dash of Adam, Jeff, and Gang.....mix together smartly -- and POOF.

You get a profile of the company Jack-in-the-Box, (JBX) which is trading at a all-time high.....which means it hits the Wallstrip radar screen.

This is a classic Wallstrip - with music, dancin, and Howard rappin' like no other...

2007-01-23T15:46:00.000-05:00

Leaders and Pioneers in QUALITY Online Video.....

The Wallstrip Team, led by Howard Lindzon.

A well deserved article on Wallstrip in Business Week, which can be found HERE.

If you want to see why they are gaining traction, expanding the amount of views they get on a daily basis - then watch this clip.
They filmed it in Phoenix, and it gives you a good idea of the concept, from the TEE of Howard....

Click on the Arrow below to start playing, and turn up the volume....

2007-01-22T13:15:00.000-05:00

The debut of Lotame GEAR, and Lobby night...

Ilene, Heather and Lisa....

Friday Night Essentials....

Oyster Shooter, Wine, Beer, Champagne and Water......sitting in front of me -- and it was too good not to capture.

Lobby Night and Jeff Pavell's 40th Birthday

Dr. Jeff Pavell (seated 2nd from left) started a tradition with 4 couples pictured here. It is a great concept, and night out in NYC -- and it is called, "Lobby Night." We all meet at a hotel lobby bar....such as SOHO Hotel, or The W. We then learn about the history, the art and the architecure of the establishment. We also take pictures of the scenery, and have a good time. Jeff intends on publishing a book about Lobby Bars, the ambience -- and the vibe. We then proceed (within walking distance)to a nice dinner. This past Friday we ate at Fresh on Reade St. Our evening coincided with Dr. Jeff Pavell's 40th Birthday...Happy B-Day JP.

2007-01-19T10:18:00.000-05:00

New Hires at a Startup....

This past week, we have begun to take our company from a, "ripple to big ripple."

We hired some VERY talented folks, and we move into our new office on Feb 1, 2007.

I've attached a picture below of Devin and Scott Hoffman... (from yesterday) we went to our new space, to scope out our furniture plans, and layout for our IKEA delivery..

NO CUBES - open desks..... I am a big believer in large open spaces, this fosters sharing of ideas, without walls between creative people -- and WHITE BOARDS on every wall around the room.

The 1st 10 hires in a new technology company are BEYOND critical. We have interviewed many people who just dont display one major characteristic that I believe is easy to spot.

Being a Self Starter....and running with the proverbial - "ball."
I'm pretty sure the characteristic of "self starter" is not something that can be taught.... Thankfully, with our 1st 6 hires, we have not had to find out.

I'm thrilled about our team, our focus, our strategy -- and most of all, this unique culture that our employees are creating. More pics to follow of our space, our move -- and our, WAR ROOM meetings. Rock on,

Devin Rust and Scott Hoffman

2007-01-11T22:05:00.000-05:00

Classic Earl Weaver...

Earl Weaver was THE manager of the Baltimore Orioles from 1968 - 1986.
He was known as a great orator, when it came to arguing with umpires.

One day, he was mic'd before a game.
4 minutes into the game, he forgot to take off his microphone -- and the ensuing clash erupted between Earl, and the first base umpire....
Classic Earl, (salty language) click on the video below.
Rock on.

2007-01-10T13:01:00.000-05:00

Growth and Opportunity at the Beauty Parlor....

"The beauty parlor is filled with sailors."

Bob Dylan penned this line for a song called, "Desolation Row."
I was running at my usual slow speed on the treadmill the other day, with my IPOD set to the shuffle setting, and this song came on.

"The beauty parlor is filled with sailors
The circus is in town."

What?

Bob Dylan has this way of coming up with absolute ZINGERS, and one liners in almost every song he has penned, that makes you scratch your head - and wonder, "How did he come up with that?"

And then, after hearing the song literally hundreds of times in my lifetime -- (partially because the Grateful Dead did it as part of their repretoire) -- I had one of those moments of...

"I can translate this line, after all of these years into, SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE TO ME."

It is about the crossroads of Social Media, and Advertising.

In social media communities (sites), the beauty parlors ARE filled with sailors, in the eyes of advertisers and their agencies. It is a CIRCUS.

It is confusing.

There is a oversupply, and a glut of inventory, of available impressions --- the question is --- "HOW SHOULD ADVERTISERS BUY THIS MEDIA?"

Here are some examples (of how Advertisers) currently execute their social media buys:

* run of site -- fixed low CPM for a specific amount of impressions over time. (usually frequency capped.)

* sponsorship -- fixed placement, with a page or a hardcoded placement.

* content category -- CPM buy in a specific area, or inventory spot.

* CPA - cost per unit metric -- only paying for results. Little to no risk for the advertiser.

* 3rd party network -- Advertisers buy through a 3rd party, and dont get involved with how they get results, they allow the network to use, and make the best decisions, on how to both buy the media, and serve the impression.

"Now Ophelia, she's 'neath the window
For her I feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday
She already is an old maid"

Another relevant line from, Desolation Row - and herein lies the problem with Social Media and adverising -- based on Advertisers BUYING social media.

It's about the data. Just like Ophelia being old at 22 yrs -- that is the problem with much of the data being compiled today - it is based on advertisers, being treated as a "old maid."

The data needs to be FRESH, and READY to use, and most of all TRACKABLE and accountable.

Often times sites are using very siloed, or "one dimensional" horizons to look at their user data - that they miss the larger picture -- of MULTI ANGLED, AUDIENCE GROUPING -- and compiling it IMMEDIATELY, (real time) for advertisers.

Much of it involves a term called, "taxonomy." --- Or, a "simple organization of objects into groups...or audiences, for ADVERTISERS TO REACH and target consumers who have displayed a specific behavior RECENTLY.

Not 3 days ago.
Not 5 days ago.

But, where they are generating the most amount of usable, and visable DATA -- inside of that social media property IMMEDIATELY. Make it actionable.

Recency in decision making is critical.

Relevancy is essential.

We believe that Social Media publishers should be ARMING ADVERTISERS with incredible amounts of both data and choices, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A OVERSUPPLY OF IMPRESSIONS for publishers who own "socialized" properties.

How should Social Media publishers confront the issue of oversupply, and under demand? (based on the low value of their media vs. other websites)

1) Create a plan to fix the issue
2) Use enhanced technology to segment inventory and members
3) share the data with agencies and advertisers
4) sell SPECIFIC profiles and inventory that advertisers desire, sell fewer impressions - but at a higher CPM
5) share MORE data
6) refine plan and test new audiences and segments for advertisers, as a benefit to working with your media.
7) educate advertisers that they can buy media in a targeted fashion inside of the social property -- while protecting the brand.

Michael Walrath from Right Media opines -----
"Display advertising has a monetization problem. So did search in 2001. When you look at it like that, it begins to look less like a problem and more like an opportunity."

He continues --- "The glut of inventory creates a new challenge for publishers of all sizes–how to sell it to marketers interested in driving responses or finding efficient reach. This explosive growth in ad impressions has not resulted in explosive growth in revenue. In other words, revenue is growing, but revenue per impression is shrinking. And if ad impressions continue to climb at anything like the rates they’re growing today, the US display ad market size prediction for 2010 ($6.2 billion) assumes that unit prices will continue to fall between now and 2010. Forecasters are assuming that inventory will continue to grow faster than revenue."

We believe that there is a small percentage of every social media property that is valuable today. It is valuable - and it needs to be identified, sold and acted upon.

Why?

Because it changes daily. It is a moving target, in social media it needs to be recalibrated almost DAILY.

Lotame helps identify both the audience members (USERS) - and the placements (INVENTORY) - that have the highest value for advertisers -- so that publishers can earn higher effective CPM's (yield) for their media.

As Jerry Garcia so aptly sang in a tune called, "Althea."

"There are things you can replace, and others you cannot.
The time has come to weigh those things.
This space is getting hot, you know this space is getting hot"

The space of social media is HOT, (according to Time Magazine) - and the facts.

Lotame is focused on RESULTS.

It is a HUGE opportunity - because after all --

"The beauty parlor is filled with sailors."

If there is NO understanding of the beauty parlor........

Rock on.

2007-01-08T09:32:00.000-05:00

Wallstrip Rocking....

Mr. Howard Lindzon, the architect behind Wallstrip, continues to impress, and provide the roadmap for success, for other entreprenuers out there.....(like me)

He has done an incredible job of creativity, and team building -- as well as executing on the concept of, "entertainment online for stocks at all time highs."

Howard recently put together a round of financing, which I'm thrilled to say I'm a part of - but, I'm more excited to participate, and chip in where needed, to assist in the continued upward climb of Wallstrip.

I look forward to working with the Wallstrip gang -- Adam, Jeff, Linsday and team, on projects that I can lend a hand on, and add some value.

Congrats Howard and Team -- I'm psyched to be a part of your dream....which is becoming a successful reality....

Here is today's production on BOSTON BEER by Wallstrip. (click on video and turn up the volume) MMMMMMMMMMMMMM....beer.

2007-01-05T08:37:00.000-05:00

Finding Pain, and Creating Value.....

The best businesses solve problems.
Some of the issues that leading companies solve for their clients -- CREATES A MARKET unto itself.

The original business plan, most likely does not represent how the company evolves and dynamically embraces changes in the marketplace, as well as the client's business, pain points.

Some entreprenuers call this "opportunity."

One of the most fascinating things I have witnessed in the past 8 years (in my former role) as a participant in the growth of online advertising , is how people predict the coming year, and how they think the media will evolve.

More often than not, it has been writers of magazines, editors, and pundits who have scribed something akin to -- "My thoughts on the coming year."

It could be 2002, or 2007. It matters not.
Here a partial list of PREDICTIONS for 2007.

I give them to you, but they are difficult to read...(I try every year)

Why?

Because they mean NOTHING. No one predicted in 2001 that Google would rise up and become the largest media company in the world. No one could have envisioned that a company that was based on "Search" -- would DOMINANT, and capture somewhere between 15-25% of online money spent.

No one knew that a company called Intermix, would create the largest platform for internet "socialization" - and it would be acquired for half a billion dollars by NEWSCORP.

No one knew that AD NETWORKS would be as valued as they currently are.

One person, who is a FANTASTIC writer - has nailed what I believe is one of the largest opportunities in terms of PAIN, and addressing needs in MEDIA today.

Robert Young of GigaOM writes.....

"Social networks, and online communities in general, are terrible platforms for advertising formats designed for any type of call to action. As such, Google Adwords-type direct-response PPC ads have proven highly ineffective. On the contrary, the significant opportunity for social networks is to become highly-efficient branding vehicles. In fact, it is my prediction4 that social networks will prove themselves to be the most effective brand communication platforms on the Internet. "

Bingo. He hits on the very reason on WHY I started Lotame. It's about the DATA -- and effective use of highly specialized DATA points...thus, helping BRAND and DR marketers hit the VERY audience, and INDIVIDUALS they covet....in a place they are increasingly spending most of their time....

He continues:

"Given the extreme pressure to monetize with low CPMs, many of today’s social networks are way too cluttered with ads. Virtually every pageview that is generated carries an ad. This is highly wasteful and counterproductive, for both users and advertisers. Instead, improved methods of monetization yielding higher CPMs, must correspond with a reduction in the volume of ads. To some extent, old-fashioned artificial scarcity must be imposed on available ad inventory in order to achieve improved performance and satisfaction for all parties involved"

Scale and Data points for Social Media Publishers are KEY to generating higher profit and revenue in 2007. And, it all begins with segmenting and understanding their audiences, SO THAT THEY CAN TARGET MORE EFFECTIVELY.

Andrew Weissman writes...

"In other words, the advertiser intent or motivation (reach, response, etc.) becomes much less important, at least in terms of the publisher side of the equation. What increases in importance is the data provided to the advertiser. The middle opportunity can, in my opinion, be captured by providing rich, detailed and new levels of analytics. An advertiser may only care about reach, or unique users, for some campaigns, but for others might wants levels of segmentation that heretofore don't exist (but are being developed).

In other words, all that matters is data, and making that data relevant and actionable (and visible) (and even share-able).

Then, concepts like branding, DR or even page views fade in importance because an advertiser can take a data set (provided by a publisher, a network or a third party provider), analyze that data, mesh it with strategic or tactical objectives, and make an ad decision."

How critical is that?

"Someone will successfully fuse social networking and online advertising. If I am interested in some topic, like programming in Ruby, or Vespa scooters (along with thousands of like-minded others), then sponsoring an online watering hole for aficionados should make sense. But no one has cracked the code yet, except for the mega-sites like MySpace and Yahoo. This should be the area that traditional media companies would move into, if they had any sense."

- Stowe Boyd, Jan, 2, 2007

My thoughts for 2007 is simply this:

We will add value for our Social Media publishing clients by helping them MAKE MORE MONEY....and increase their value, WITHOUT HARMING THE USER EXPERIENCE inside of the community.

We will make social media work better in 2007 for advertisers, than in previous years.

We will focus on having the most comprehensive set of tools, to arm publishing clients -- so that the LOW CPM's they are charging today -- can DRASTICALLY INCREASE by working with LOTAME.

Why do I think this will come true over the next year?

There is "pain", and a need, amongst advertisers who WANT to use social media properties to target, and there are publishers, who want more money for their media.....

We create the VALUE for both.

And, through this opportunity -- create VALUE FOR US.

Rock on.

Kimock_Cervantes_Dec06_3

2007-01-04T08:59:00.000-05:00

Kimock Picture
Originally uploaded by Scarlet_Fyre.
This is a amazing picture taken on Dec 06, 2006 -- by Scarlet Fyre.
This is why I love social media -- the sharing of talent and artwork. Flickr is a social media image site, and it makes sharing of images easy. (click on image to enlarge)
The reason I love the picture so much is that I helped produce Steve Kimock in 2004, on his DVD titled -- "Live at the Gothic Theater." This image reminds me of working with Steve, and prepping for the production in his barn. He practices, and works out musically in his Big Red Barn. This picture hits me, because it IS STEVE.

GREAT PICTURE !!! Thanks for sharing.

Andy

2007-01-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year....

May 2007 be a GREAT year.
"Make it Happen..."

Here are some photo's from my FLICKR page....Dec. 2006 pictures from the holiday journey...

Happy New Year. Jan 1st Morning, 2007 with Camryn and Dylan.

John Klauber, (my awesome Father-in-law) and I, at the JETS vs. Miami Dolphins Game Dec 25, 2006 ....and it poured the entire game. Jets Won 13-10.

Camryn loves Rollercoasters, and fast rides....I don't.

Our Family Dec 2006 at a Carnival

This is my view as I "follow thru" on life....and, I love it.

A Great Bar on the beach in St. Maarten -- and a cool vantage point with my Kalik.

Time and the man marching on in San Juan.

2006-12-27T09:38:00.000-05:00

2 Great Leaders and RESULTS.

Blogging has been a bit light the past few weeks, as we as a family, have been traveling a bit, and spending time away from home -- visiting many different places....I will post pictures from our journey upon our return.

I'm very excited for 2 things, (and thankful)in a sports-oriented way, as we close the books on 2006.

Let's start with a team that I'm a season ticket holder for, and a team that I spend alot of energy cheering for. The NEW YORK JETS. This past Monday night in Miami, I sat for the entire game in the rain, at the top of Section 402, (the end zone) 3 rows from the top of the stadium, and GOT DRENCHED. Our tailgate party was great, (I love parking on grass, and hanging with no shoes at a tailgate -- something you surely would never do at the Meadowlands, in the concrete jungle)-- but the game was sloppy, and played in monsoon like conditions.

Eric Mangini the coach of our JETS, managed a wonderful game. Coming into this season -- NO ONE would have believed we would be in a position to be going into the last weekend of the season at 9-6, and in control of our playoff destiny. Coach Mangini is EVERYTHING that Herm Edwards is not....a DISCIPLINED MANAGER WHO BELIEVES IN LEADING -- he is NOT a players coach. Coach Mangini controls his team in practice through intense drills, and a clear game plan....he also believes that players should be held accountable in a very specific way. THE NEW YORK JETS ARE ONE OF THE LEAST PENALIZED TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE, and it is SUCH a pleasure to watch a team that does not commit dumb penalties over and over.

Before a game, the entire team watches a BOXING match....

"As he did before the Jets' season-opening win at Tennessee, Mangini broke out a boxing video to make his point. He had his players watch Larry Holmes' 13-round TKO of Gerry Cooney in 1982.."

and more.

"He may not be watching the same tapes as the rest of us, but then nobody is going to question the way Mangini has low-keyed this team all the way into contention. The coach is a strange guy - more cerebral than he is either macho or conversational. He likes to show boxing films to his players, reliving the days when Mangini watched these bouts with his father. For the moment, the team seems amused by his odd habits, even inspired."

And, he went on Sesame Street.....
In a nutshell, these wins this year have been MANGINI WINS, and with any of our previous 5 coaches we would be have 4-12 at BEST. Thanks Coach M!

Coach #2 -- Rutgers Coach, Greg Schiano.

I've been a lifelong Rutgers Sports fan. Both my father and brother attended RU, but more importantly I grew up 10 miles from the campus. Growing up in East Brunswick which is the bordering town to New Brunswick, made going to a college basketball or football game as a kid, MUCH EASIER and more cost efficent than going to a professional game 60 miles away.

Rutgers became one of the teams that I really enjoyed to cheer for. My memories of the 1976 Basketball team that went to the final four, are established firmly in my youth and memory....and always bring a smile....James Bailey/Eddie Jordan....

Football has been a different story. The team has consistenly been below average. One of the main reason is that the BEST recuits in our states frequently went to Penn State or Miami.

No more.

We have a coach in NJ who works so hard, is so disciplined, and comes with such a solid game plan, that he won college football's coach of the year.

Here is Coach Schiano from the Boomer Esiasion show(in NYC on MSG) -- and its gives a good understanding of why he is a good coach.

In closing, recognizing and rewarding talent...as well as coming in with a solid game plan to their jobs -- have made 2006 a GREAT year to be a fan of RU and the JETS.

Thursday evening RU plays in the Texas Bowl vs. Kansas State....

Next Sunday (12-31) the Jets play the Raiders, and with a win qualify for the NFL playoffs.

These 2 coaches have produced results for their teams and the fans.

They are also GREAT role models on managing and building a winning atmosphere.

GO JETS and RU!!!!!

2006-12-13T09:41:00.000-05:00

Advertising Space Online....

In today's online media world, there are two specific types of display advertising (inventory) that advertisers buy, and publishers sell.

* Premium - This is considered high quality placement (example: Yahoo Front Page) that allows brands to advertise on pages that are relevant to their audience. These are typically web pages that advertisers feel comfortable with, and are highly trafficked, thus "premium spots." The price is for this positioning on any given page is sold by the increments of 1000 (called CPM) thus it may go for $7.00 CPM, or cost per thousand impressions. Premium inventory is GREAT to advertise on, but it does not grow as fast as the internet advertising (it is virtually static) and can be expensive for many advertisers.

* Non-Premium - This is considered -- THE REST OF THE INTERNET. Some pundits think it comprises 75% of all advertising space currently online. Remnant inventory is the advertising space that MAY NOT have the highest profile, it may not be on the front page, but it is media, and a definite media source that is growing.
Advertising Networks depend upon publishers selling them their space that the publisher themselves cannot sell. In other words, publishers send out their inventory, when they cannot monetize it themselves. As technology becomes better at identifying users and inventory -- you will see remnant media decrease -- and CPM's (costs rise) -- the better that publishers can target their space.

Here is a example of a economic breakdown on a publisher that has 500 Million Impressions per month to sell, and lets us take the example, that 25% is premium inventory -- and 75% is considered remnant, or non-premium.

* 500 Million Impressions
* 75% is remnant or 375 Million Impression
* The Value of the 375 Million impressions is 50 cents CPM (or dollar amount per thousand of impressions)
*The remnant inventory is worth -- $187,500. The site gets $187,500 for 75% of their media.

If the site could yield 72 cents CPM (instead of the 50 cents above)a difference of .22 cents -- the upside is the following:
375 million impressions at .72 cents = $270,000

A difference of $82,500. A HUGE swing up monetarily for the publisher. The positive effect can be felt in numerous ways:
1) higher revenue
2) better use of their inventory
3) less remnant inventory
4) better targeting and results for advertisers
5) a more compelling user experience.

Here is the best part of the scenario -- (and if you have read this far, you probably understand it...)-- we take on the risk to generate results for our publisher clients.

We, at LOTAME do this.
We make our clients MORE money, by providing virtually risk free technology to do all of the above....We make our money by participating in the upside -- and focusing on creating more value from our clients media -- and sharing in the win.

We call it performanced based technology, for the PUBLISHER.

Rock on.

2006-12-11T09:23:00.000-05:00

Working on the Elevator Pitch....

This is a good video on what makes up a good, "elevator pitch." I'm learning alot as I talk to VC's, on what to focus on -- (and it is VERY different than speaking to a potential customer)

The key key ingredients to focus on are:

*what is the problem you are trying to solve? (what is the pain?)
*how does your venture solve the problem?

2006-12-08T14:25:00.000-05:00

Lotame Site Relaunch....

A little bit of self promotion never hurt.

Our new site is HERE.

2006-12-06T08:41:00.000-05:00

Wallstrip on Direct TV.

My friend Howard Lindzon made a "brief appearance" on today's Wallstrip.

Wallstrip is excellent production, that is produced and posted daily with a focus on:
"Our business is hot trends and
stocks at all time highs."
(please take special note of Howard's 10 seconds of fame, it is surreal and award winning)

2006-11-30T21:39:00.000-05:00

Technology vs Content...and Strategy.

Music is a DRIVING force in my existence. It soothes me, stabilizes me, and provides me comfort nearly every single day.

Riding in the car, my music is EXTREMELY loud, and very crisp, and balanced through a well respected, and adored sound system.

If you looked through my IPOD, or my CD's here is a list of music you would find.
Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, The Who, Simon and Garfunkel, Crosby Stills ans Nash, Neil Young, YES, The Police, Rush - and various other bands that make up a large part of what I would term, "classic rock."

I respect people that can enjoy and appreciate newer music, but for some reason the recent and new bands - do not "hit me" the same way that Jerry Garcia, or Keith Richards does.

One thing you should know -- is 99% of the time -- I listen to the bands that I've listed above, in a "LIVE CONCERT" format -- I rarely listen to studio releases, as I've made a hobby of acquiring bootlegs, and rare live soundboard copies of shows. I blogged a piece about collecting live music, and the DILEMMA I WAS FACING, that I've yet to answer.........

But, I must say - THE GRATEFUL DEAD has so much of a impact on me, that they truly altered my outlook on life, BEYOND MUSIC.

I learned a few valuable lessons as I toured this beautiful country many times, "Who are the Grateful Dead, and WHY ARE THEY FOLLOWING ME?"

In every time zone, in many states, and places I had never been - but most of all, the many people that I came in contact with, that enriched my soul.

We all shared a common bond.

Music.

Now mind you, some people came just to party at the concerts, and especially at the end of the Grateful Dead's touring days -- the "scene", became folks in cities and towns across the country, that came to the concerts and venues, more to drink and tailgate -- than they did to see, amazing music. Make no mistake -- the scene grew steadily from the early 80's straight through to 1995......

One major attribute that sticks with me is the ability to live life, and allow your content to flow freely. Allow your creativity to end up where it may - with NO STRINGS ATTACHED. The band came out and played nearly one hundred nights a year for many consecutive years, and allowed their shows/concerts to be taped by the audience. (Some nights they were horrid, but it was all part of the experience, and then one night, you caught "Jerry's magic" that severely dented your being)

The Grateful Dead effectively led the way for what we see happening now in the media world, and content and distribution circles.....they were visionaries - and possibly we can all learn some lesson - and look at the, BYPRODUCT OF THEIR SUCCESS. What did their concept of releasing content, (their live shows without strings) what impact did it have, possibly unforseen over the years?

Early Record Labels (Warner) tried in vain to keep the DEAD from allowing their concerts to be taped - for fear of "diluting their product." The labels were worried that their business would suffer (and it did) by the unleashing of, CONTENT for free, on a mass scale with no commercial gain......

Had a record executive with vision, asked the band early on -- to continue their practice of allowing the audience to tape and record the shows, and in return - the record label could have, a fixed percentage for 35 years of ALL concert receipts and sales...... you think that would have worked for the label?

I believe so......and that is why - CONTENT OWNERS and PRODUCERS must look at "creative ways" to be compensated for their hard work and effort, they cannot rely on standard 20th century guidelines. Technology will not allow it.

I'm afraid the - BUSINESS AND COMMERCE SIDE OF ART AND CREATIVITY, IS FALLING FAR BEHIND THE ABILITY TO DISTRIBUTE CONTENT, and it is out of fear - rather than a visionary strategy.

Warner Brothers made a HUGE mistake in 1973 by fighting with a band (Grateful Dead) over creative rights to live concerts. If any visionaries at Warner, would have "thought out of the box" -- the revenue stream (of potentially attaching themselves to the gross sales of each concert,) the record company could have potentially dwarfed any gold or platinum record in the pipeline. Keep in mind the Grateful Dead toured until 1995 - and from 1986 to 1995 were continuously amongst the top touring bands in the United States.

I write this because today I helped a good friend (who is both a artist and a producer) explore a new way to "profit from creativity."

Creativity, is needed urgently not only from the artist and producers -- but from the BUSINESS side of the table as well.

Technology and The Social Angle, that the media world is taking - DEMAND IT.

My favorite musician GETS IT.
His name is Steve Kimock. He is the BEST GUITARIST IN THE WORLD.
Have a look/listen for yourself -- this is called "Hillbillies"
Its from 4-3-99, Great American Music Hall, SF.


4.3.99 - Hillbillies on PCP - Steve Kimock guitars, Bobby Vega bass, Alan Hertz drums, Ray White vocals, guitar

2006-11-30T12:46:00.000-05:00

GigaOM on Lotame...

Liz Gaines of GigaOM did a fine job at interpreting what we (at Lotame) are trying to build and execute against in the WEB 2.0 world.

She got our core message, and for that I'm thankful.

"One startup, Columbia, Maryland-based Lotame, thinks it can target ads better by analyzing behavior on social networks. The idea is to provide software that bolts onto ad servers and feeds in information about people’s cookies, member profiles, interactions with other users, and responses to ads.

“We’re not looking to be an analytics company that just has cool reports,” says Lotame CEO Andy Monfried, a former executive at Advertising.com. “We’ll make it actionable.”

Here is the REST OF THE PIECE ON LOTAME FROM GIGAOM.

2006-11-29T09:25:00.000-05:00

The "You Never Know" Post.....

While working at my former company, I met many fantastic people, and worked with energetic, bright - and motivated individuals. (it's part of my profile on the right of this post)

After a advertising campaign ran for a client, the clock started ticking on the payment schedule, or DSO clock. (days sales outstanding)

My internal person who handled our NYC office collections for years.....was, as one of my collegues recently pointed out, "extremely good at making everyone feel good, and always asking about your family. It was like working with your grandmother."

Well, this is her. Meet Rhian Smith.

"SANFORD -- Rhian McGuire-Smith is a tiny, unassuming woman, a grandmother who, neighbors say, loves to spoil her grandson.

According to law-enforcement officials and court records, she also is a longtime thief with a trail of victims across at least four states and Australia. Those cases, though, pale in comparison to what could be her biggest crime yet: She is accused of embezzling more than $1.2 million from a subsidiary of America Online."

You never know.....

Here is the REST OF THE STORY.

2006-11-28T10:55:00.000-05:00

Value Creation in a Startup.....

I believe building a quality company from nothing, that creates value for both customers and shareholders is one of the toughest things to do in all of business.

Being a executive at a mid-size or large company, and making decisions when a company is already established, branded, and selling a quality product in the marketplace of ideas – is VERY DIFFERENT than building a business. I believe you make certain decisions based LESS on what is best for the business – but MORE about EGO and PERCEPTION.

I’m finding myself interviewing people for positions at my new company who have never been in a start-up firm. These candidates (that I’ve met) have always been in a company that has had more than 50 to 100 people, and have never had to come in to work, and worry about their respective jobs on a day to day basis.

They felt (the candidates) as though if they were doing a good job, their cube would always be there, the desktop computer would always be on, and the coffee machine will always be a few short strides away.

That’s not life in a start-up internet company.

No matter how hard you work ,there is no guarantee of anything. There is no guarantee of a job in the months ahead, no firm placement of a where your office may be, and certainly no perks that established companies have.

But, you know what you in a startup have, that larger companies yearn for from their employees?

Confidence, desire and a hunger to perform….

Confidence in leaving what they were doing at a established company, that may have evolved away from it’s roots – and transformed into a company that is well established, and stable – but LESS innovative than ever….. this is part of the phases that large companies go through in their evolution. (Some call it success) Many employees of these companies, see INNOVATION and the ability to perform, as taking a backseat to politics, ego’s and the internal “running scared” mentality, to protect their small empires. The percieved success, drives valuable employees to look elsewhere, and begin their quest to find a place where they can feel rewarded......

Desire – Desire to create and share new ideas in a open environment that breeds and welcomes thoughts and ideas. This is what a startup company is all about. Sharing, laughing and coming up with new thoughts, ways of solving problems, and communication. Larger companies sometimes lose this important internal fabric, of what made them great as they grow in headcount, and employees leave. Politics, Egos, and internal empires – (chain of command issues) replace the fostering and fertilizing of creative plans, fresh ideas, and innovation.

I respect Google and their internal structure more now than ever. They realize that as they grow, they still need employees to “think outside the box and be more than creative.” This has helped to breed employee satisfaction, and at the same time – assisted Google in building and executing against new products, that came from grassroots employee ideas. It's hard to believe that 5 years ago, they did not even have a ADVERTISING plan......

Many companies and their leaders stray from what made them great originally – (which is understandable as they grow and scale) but what is 110 % unacceptable, is to allow – EGO, AND POLITICS -- to crush creativity, and innovation completely…

These corporate leaders are nothing more than mid-level managers, with big titles, who have been taught that using slogans, symbols, and hallow half hearted communications, can somehow replace a SINCERE and GENUINE desire to create value, reward employees, and build confidence with REAL managers intent on making their staff feel GREAT. (they are more concerned with making themselves look good, and worry far less about their workers and their future)

All big companies go through phases, but much of what history has taught us in regards to corporate value DESTRUCTION, starts at the bottom of the company – and works its way north, to the top of the org chart.

As I hire and fill out the rest of my company, I can promise you that staying as focused and true to what helped us land our FIRST two customers, will be with me (and our corporate DNA) as long as I’m a leader. Putting every single employee FIRST, and making sure they know they add genuine value – and making sure they feel as though they are CREATING VALUE, through THEIR innovation is critical.

I encourage companies to create a “politics free zone” in their offices. A place where ideas can be shared with their managers in a arena FREE of ego’s and attitudes.

The “politics free zone” is any startup company – in their offices, in tight quarters…….and it is PRECISELY what creates value, and breeds employee satisfaction.

It’s the reason many of you who work on the internet, have a job.

Get part of your company BACK to it.

KVHW - Live in San Francisco

2006-11-26T16:21:00.000-05:00

9.18.98 - Maritime Hall -

Steve Kimock - My Favorite Musician.

Here is his Band KVHW from, 9-18-98 - Maritime Hall, SF. (is you want to see Kimock sizzle immediately fast forward the video about 4 minutes in, and watch him channel some good, kind energy...)

Turn it up, sit back watch Steve work.
Slumber > Hillbillies on PCP

Steve Kimock guitars
Bobby Vega bass
Alan Hertz drums
Ray White vocal, guitar

2006-11-23T12:50:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving 2006 Football....

Norwood, NJ Style. We had a great game in the rain, mud...and fun.

We will all be sore tomorrow....but it was worth it, to act young, throw the body around, and laugh about getting older. "In my younger days, I was able to catch that????!!!"

The annual game was a success. No broken bones.

Here is the cast of "characters."

AM

2006-11-17T12:31:00.000-05:00

The Future of Media, as it Evolves Socially.

I've written this before, but it bears repeating and emphasizing, as the ground shifts around us, as it pertains to both content, advertising, and consumption of MEDIA.

To date, content has been controlled by companies and outlets that have chosen for you-- what you can watch, hear, and interact with. The owners of newspapers, for instance controlled what you read on a daily basis......

The ground is moving under us...as the seisimic tremors of change and evolution are being felt across the globe.

The average session time (meaning time spent in one sitting) - on MySpace is over 30 minutes. Thats is 30 minutes LESS time spent watching TV. 30 minutes per day less reading the newspaper, 30 minutes less per day -- IN ANY ENVIRONMENT WHERE BRAND ADVERTISERS COULD REACH CONSUMERS, AND SELL TO THEM. (for me, as a kid, it was watching magilla gorilla and magic garden in front of a tv after school -- but, that same kid today, who might have been watching TV afterschool -- is NOW ON THE COMPUTER -- and not consuming TV media -- but, most likely on a site, like Myspace)

MySpace (and the 200 other sites like it) are social in nature, as they have the component of the consumer (you) being the producer of content. The consumer CREATES HIS OWN SHOWS...the consumer interacts with people he/she chooses -- and the consumer controls the media, and how they consume/digest it.

It has thrown the media world on it's multi billion dollar head.

Rupert Murchoch and News Corp caught on to the changing landscape, with their purchase of MySpace for $500 MM - but wait.....THERE IS MORE.

Remember the "old media" companies that controlled what you watched, saw and digested? They are struggling to figure out how to use blogs, and social content to their advantage. They can't target, or comprehend how to use SOCIAL MEDIA, to their advantage.

Social Media simply means that -- "Yet, unlike mass media before it, social media introduces the very unique element of the previously passive audience becoming both producers and distributors of media."

How huge is that?

As pointed out from the GigaOM piece -- traditional ad models simply will not work in a Social Media world.

Brand Advertisers do not have the proper data, to conquer social media planning, out side of doing what they have been doing online to date (using standard web targeting tools such as reach and frequency, and old school planning guides containing audience composition) -- which is using the contexually relevanant model, and demographic targeting tools to brand consumers.

It does not work in social media. Context and Demographic targeting in Social Media is the equivalent of, showing up as a driver to a auto race, with a set of golf clubs......the tools do not apply.

Why?

Contextual Targeting is LESS relevant than -- "social profile data collection and optimization."

Because, Demographic Targeting can't work in a environment where THE PRODUCERS OF CONTENT -- attract a wide array of people to their personal sites based on HOW THEY FEEL that day - and what was TAGGED.

The content is less important than the producer.

Lotame is hard at work building tools so that advertisers can use SOCIAL MEDIA IN A WEB 2.O WORLD TO ACHIEVE BETTER RESULTS THAN EVER BEFORE.

We believe that Social Media inventory (impressions sold on SM sites) are currently, tremendously undervalued, and are not being, MONETIZED correctly for advertisers or publishers.

Lotame will be at the forefront of yielding better results for Advertisers, while lifting the inventory value for Publishers who own the Social Sites.

The data is there, to begin to target based on SOCIAL aspects of media, as opposed to old models that have served us well........but need to evolve.

Rock on...

2006-11-14T20:25:00.000-05:00

Shameless Self Promotion.
Who would do that?
Me.
My company release below.
Rock on.

Web2.0 Publishers Now Have New Value Proposition for Advertisers with the Next Generation of Ad Targeting and Yield Management Technology

Lotame™ Crowd Control Brings Web2.0 and Social Network Specific Targeting
Technology to the Market

COLUMBIA, MD. (November 14, 2006) – Lotame™, an Internet marketing and technology company, focused on lifting the value of social network media for publishers and advertisers, today announced the introduction of Lotame™ Crowd Control, the industry’s first targeting and optimization software built solely for Web2.0 social media publishers.

Traditional systems have struggled to keep up with the ever-changing environment of Internet media, as well as the growing world of consumer-generated content. Lotame™ has engineered its technology to specifically drive results for publishers and advertisers across Web2.0 media.

Founded by Andy Monfried, Lotame™ has tapped the industry’s best talent, bringing on Devin Rust and Jeremy Pinkham, both Advertising.com veterans, to build the next generation of online ad targeting technology. On the heels of raising seven figures of venture capital investments, Lotame™ is well-poised to take the social network inventory space by storm. Using powerful targeting and optimization tools, Lotame™ Crowd Control allows social networks to increase their value proposition as the space becomes more complex and dense.

Lotame™ Crowd Control utilizes the rich member data that is unique to social networks and consumer-generated content to better identify marketing opportunities and enable publishers to enhance their ability to target ads. Using this new technology, publishers will now be able to target specific members and niche audiences that have not yet been realized by traditional targeting technologies to increase returns and provide improved qualitative results for advertisers.

“As social networks continue to expand and warehouse an ever-growing amount of member data, Lotame™ set out to identify and establish new audience segments to allow advertisers increased penetration and improved targeting inside Web2.0 media. Our goal was to build the next generation of ad targeting technology, specifically for Web2.0 and social network platforms, whose members are estimated to account for as much as 20% of all Web impressions,” commented Andy Monfried, president and CEO of Lotame™. “With the introduction of Lotame™ Crowd Control, publishers will quickly increase revenue per member and promote advertiser acceptance of Web2.0 and social networks as a viable and profitable space.”

Using proprietary technology to collect behavioral and social data to identify specific actionable audiences, Lotame™ Crowd Control pinpoints groups using tracked social behavior and member profiles to predict increased likeliness of ad response. Specifically, Lotame™ Crowd Control will allow publishers to better direct campaigns to specifically targeted demographics, in addition to providing advertisers comfort in the knowledge that their ad spend is being efficiently allocated and directed.

“Lotame™ Crowd Control’s core technology, as well as its reporting and analytic tools for Web2.0 and social networks, provides the data collection, discovery and measurement of member audiences that are actionable and sellable,” said Devin Rust, Lotame™ chief technology officer. “Lotame™ Crowd Control offers a scalable marketing strategy and technology system to handle the volume and uniqueness of Web2.0. Using our technology will allow social media providers to improve the quality of their ad targeting for branded, as well as performance-based, campaigns.”

About Lotame™ (www.lotame.com)
Lotame™, based in Columbia, Maryland, serves publishers and advertisers looking to drive results from the media of Web 2.0. Its ad targeting technology includes an optimization tool that enables a Web2.0, or social network publisher, to automatically discover member communities and member social profiles that respond well to specific ad campaigns, for more efficient targeting.

# # #

2006-11-11T15:32:00.000-05:00

The Greatest Guitar Player Alive.....Steve Kimock.

Here is a snippet -- which is a very small sample of just how good he is.

Steve Kimock with ZERO from 6-10-06 in Santa Rosa, California.
This jam is from a song called, Catalina.

(the picture and sound are about 2 seconds off, but rest assured it is Steve playing guitar, and displaying his talent)

If you like what you see below, here is a link to his DVD - which is amazing. Here is also, one more video of Steve with his band KVHW -- from 4-3-99. The Song is called, "Bad Hair."

Click on the arrow, and turn it up..

2006-11-06T13:32:00.000-05:00

Ad-Tech Post 2006

I am attending the 2006 Ad-Tech show being held in New York City at the Hilton Hotel on 6th Avenue.

I have had the great experience of witnessing the growth of the web from the, "inside, out."

You see, my first show with Ad-Tech was in 1998, when I was with Advertising.com. Seeing the changes of companies, people, and concepts, is staggering and overwhelming.

Here are some terms you did not hear AT ALL (if you attended this conference) in 1998.
Some of the "newer terms" are:
Online Video, Web 2.0, Social Media, Behavorial Targeting, Social Targeting, Keyword Optimization, Google, Integrated marketing online.

Crystalizing the changes in the online media world, has been the growth and acceptance of, THE WEB as a, branding channel........

In 1998, many viewed the immediacy of information, and results from the internet as simply a, direct marketing/performance channel.....

I type this post as I sit in a session of Media Buyers and Planners from major agencies, who are pontificating about their needs and desires from vendors and media properties.

It STILL all boils down to one thing: PERFORMANCE.
Performance for Advertisers has many different and unique metrics by which to judge -- but some concepts that stand out, and clearly differentiate what makes the web so successful, (when compared to other media, such as print, newspaper, radio and TV) is:

1) Rapid Data Feeds
2) Consumption of Web Based Media is outpacing all other forms of media
3) Reach and Frequency of both portals, and networks
4) Unique Content
5) Applying Technology and Optimization to continually refine and maximize results
6) Limited Risk (compared to 1998)

There are many more.....

The point is that INTERNET ADVERTISING is growing rapidly. The numbers are simply enormous -- but advertisers (both Brand and Direct Response) have now - KNOCKED THE WALLS DOWN TO SPEND SIGNFICANT PORTIONS OF THEIR BUDGET ON THE INTERNET.

If you are reading this, and you, OWN NO internet advertising companies stocks in your portfolio, think again.

Google is extra ordinary (in terms of performance)....and is now the 900 pound gorilla with publishers and advertisers alike.

There are many other excellent companies (not as dynamic as Google) that have tremendous upside for potential investors.

Think about this:

"Whats is your primary means of consuming media?"

For many it is the internet, and if it is -- you are part of the trend of growth, JUST BY DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING RIGHT NOW.

Crazy days at Ad-Tech 2006.

2006-11-05T10:18:00.000-05:00

Golf pictures from this weekend to kick off Nov 2006.

The course is called "White Which." Named after, Annie Palmer.

Amazing course, with scenic views and beautiful sculpture.

Relaxing days with The Pavells.

Jeff Pavell is a scratch golfer (he makes me look bad) - and his sailing is simply "out of this world & onto the rocks."

Good times of relaxation, golf, sailing, and fun family time.

Jeff was the captain of our sail boat -- and he steered us perfectly ONTO the rocks. We needed to be rescued. Click on any image to enlarge....

Enjoy more pics to follow.

IRE' FM.

Andy

2006-11-01T08:05:00.000-05:00

Anyone Else Sick Of....

All this pre-election stuff being thrown at us in the media?

It is draining, and a HUGE turn-off to voters in general, but I fear mostly to our youth, who have to sit through commercial after commercial (sometimes candidates with back to back 30 second spots) of totally negativity, and bashing of the other guy.

The next Presidential election is going to be VERY ugly....with fear, security, and bad karma, being rained down on the American people....in long stretches, leading up to Nov 2008. Very troubling.

One another note.

Lately, I've been doing lots of travelin....

A book that you need to get, to understand alot of the underpinnings of

* how we got into Iraq
* the inside mechanisms of the White House/NSA/dept of Defense and State Dept.
* Egos at play
* and, what happens when you have problems with leaders who fail to listen
* intelligence

This is a GREAT book. The book is called, "State of Denial" - by Bob Woodward.

Here is the link, buy it -- you will be happy you did.

Rock on,

Andy

2006-10-28T11:47:00.000-04:00

Power and Inspiration.....

"This story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.

"He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life," Dick says doctors told him and his wife, Judy, when Rick was nine months old. "Put him in an institution."

But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. "No way," Dick says he was told. "There's nothing going on in his brain."

"Tell him a joke," Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a lot was going on in his brain." Watch the video below to see just how much. (click on the arrow)

Hat tip on the Hoyt's comes from --Black Five.

I found this incredible, and a GREAT story....

2006-10-27T16:17:00.000-04:00

Fall 2006 Images from my Lense on life....

Halloween Parties for the kids.

"Not a chill to the winter but a nip to the air...."

Enjoy the changing colors, fallen leafs, Hannah Montana & The Magician.
(click on any picture below to enlarge)

2006-10-25T08:33:00.000-04:00

"Scatter the ashes and turn the page".
Ramrod Shurtliff, on life and livin'.....

The Grateful Dead have had a huge impact on my life.
Musically, Spiritually, and most of all -- Enjoying.

Since Jerry Garcia's passing - I've had the pleasure to allow into my life, tour with a bit, and collaborate on a fun project with a guitarist named, Steve Kimock. Here is his Steve's MySpace page. You can listen to more of his music on his MySpace link. Steve is immensly talented, and amongst the best guitarists on the planet.

It's great to see when Kimock joins with Grateful Dead members to go on tour.
The Rhythm Devils Are:
Mickey Hart • Bill Kreutzmann • Mike Gordon • Steve Kimock
Sikiru Adepoju • Jen Durkin

Here are 2 live cuts from last week's excellent Rhythym Devils show in New Jersey.
10-18-06
***takes a few seconds to load****

New Speedway Boogie: (click here to listen)

Sugaree (click here to listen)

US Blues (click to listen)

As Mickey Hart states, "Music is the salvation for me. It's everything. Without the music it would be hard to make it through in one piece."

I agree.

Enjoy the evolution of music and life, Grateful Dead Style.....2006.

With music, and good energy.

2006-10-23T12:37:00.000-04:00

Travelin' Wilbury....(or Travelin' Lotame)

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but I've been consumed by work.

We have added a bit of clarity to our new venture.

Lotame.

And, our site can be found HERE.

Rock on.

2006-10-18T10:41:00.000-04:00

Cell Phones and Web 2.0.....

I did not want to let this opportunity pass by.

We are living through an amazing time in the history of our world. Technology advances, communication -- and socialization have reached new heights.

The ability to extract data, and make decisions based on information extracted from defined environments.....is simply staggering.

To give you a idea of how much money is following this TREND:

VC Breakdown - deals and money flow by sector online: (first half of 2006)
Social Networking Sites - 21 Companies - Raised $95.8 Million
Business Social Networking 3 companies - Raised $21 Million
Video Sharing/Social - 14 companies - Raised $60 Million

Why am I sharing this information?

Because a tremendous amount of capital is flowing into a sector, called Social Media (and all the components that make it up) -- and around all of this money and deal flow is one important, yet under utilized element......

THE EFEECTIVE USE OF DATA.

Privacy of course needs to be respected and preserved, however WE BELIEVE that many of the tools, and solutions in the marketplace today, were far more effective and more useful when the internet was in its earlier stages. (Web 1.0)

We are in a different phase of maturity as far as the internet is concerned -- but the one aspect that has remained the same?

Ad-Serving.

Ad-Serving has become commodotized. A few large players dominant the ad-serving space....2 of the largest, consist of DART and Atlas.

Ad-Serving is a complex, difficult and evolving issue for publishers online. Many large publishers use one of the two solutions above as the BACKBONE of their website (outside of content) -- to manage inventory, advertising....and analytics.

I want to compliment DART and ATLAS for their dominance and forsight to have basically built tools and functions that allow them to own the ad serving market for the past 10+ years. My hats are off to them for accomplishments in web development and monetization of online media.

Times they are a Changing....

We see the marketplace changing abruptly from under these 2 giant Ad-Serving Solutions of the past decade.

I use the example of the telephone.

The telephone works and it is GREAT. We used it for 100 years, and it was effective and revolutionary at enhancing and developing business....and connecting people and commerce.

The telephone enhanced socialization between people.

But then, the wireless (or cell phone) came along as a technological advancement.

Wham.

Telephone evolved -- AND THE CELL PHONE BROUGHT A NEW TWIST TO A ALREADY REMARKABLE ADVANCE IN COMMUNICATION. You cannot walk down a street, go to a conference, or be in a airport without seeing many people USING THEIR CELL PHONE.

The standard phone was excellent, and if we had asked the average person in 1976 - the rotary phone was just fine....(in terms of communication advancement - the normal phone was the standard).....

Imagine if all cell phone service went down today. The communication problems that would develop with people would, AFFECT SOCIALIZATION in a monumental way.

That is what the current technology of Ad-Serving, is doing to the data of Social Media.

I use this analogy to explain the difference in DATA between normal web sites, (standard phones) -- and social media in Web 2.0, and the advances in DATA and information that is usable.....(cell phone.)

But, we are still using ad-serving systems (DART and ATLAS) akin to the standard phone of yesteryear, in the Cell phone (web 2.0) world.

Because user-generated content (social media) is so dynamic and variable, it's contextual value is VERY LIMITED. It's all the other components -- similar to using a cell phone instead of a standard phone, that make up the uniqueness of social media - and it's ACTIONABLE and INSIGHTFUL DATA.....

Ad-Serving today is not answering this call.

Very soon a system will. Trust me.

2006-10-17T16:50:00.000-04:00

Yahoo's Growth.....

19% year over year.
Not good when the YOUR COMPETITION is growing at 40-50%.
The chart is their stock price over the past year.

Believe it or not - the Right Media investment, that I wrote about below, may go along way toward helping Yahoo get, RIGHTED.

2006-10-17T12:18:00.001-04:00

Smart Move by Yahoo.

Today marks the 1st day in a long while, that I can actually say that Yahoo did something RIGHT.

They purchased a 20% stake in a company that I admire.

Right Media.

You see, I come from a internet company where data, optimization and most of all -- RESULTS matter.

That is what my team and I are building -- a company that delivers superior results for our clients.

News on Right Media & Yahoo.
"SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Yahoo Inc. on Tuesday announced investments into two online ad providers. It's buying a 20% stake in Right Media Inc. and its Right Media Exchange, which is used by thousands of companies to buy and sell online advertising through an auction process. The investment by Yahoo is part of a new $45 million round of financing into led by Yahoo, a new investor into the 3-year-old firm, and previous investors including Redpoint Ventures. Yahoo also announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire AdInterax, which is used by online publishers to create and manage online ad campaigns. Financial terms of both deals were not disclosed."

Right Media has built a platform that allows for both publishers and advertisers to monetize their media. Publishers get to sell their space to the highest bidder, and advertisers get placement on sites that yield the best result.

Yahoo has made a solid move with this investment -- but more than the 20% stake they took in Right Media, they acknowledged a few key things that years ago, (or months ago) would not have happened.

1 - Yahoo's attitude of -- "we can build it here" is out the window.
(most of the systems that Y! employs are homegrown technologies -- and the internal bureacracy an mantra that existed of "if we did not build it here it does not exist" ideal is gone. Trust me , I know this from my own experience dealing with Y's operational folks)

2 - Yahoo's inventory -- "we are the best at monetizing our space." (well, I dont think so. Ad-serving, optimization and RESULTS based marketing practices have passed Yahoo by, and this investment sounds like a opportunity to gain a bit more of a understanding as to "WHAT MIGHT WORK" for Y's tremendous inventory)

3 - Yahoo's Class 2 Sales Group -- GREAT people, amazing service. But, clearly NOT armed to deliver the best way possible for the CPM's they are forced to ask for in the marketplace of internet media. (performanced based advertisers looking for ROI opportunities)

Today marks the first time (since the Overture acquistion) that Yahoo has responded in a SMART and targeted way, to a landscape of the media world -- passing them by.

Kudos to Yahoo for a smart investment.

Congrats to Right Media.

2006-10-16T14:34:00.000-04:00

The Portals of Tomorrow....

Yahoo is in deep trouble.

They are in the process of getting SMOKED by Google.

Google has been continually taking market share, valuation, as well as advertising dollars from Yahoo's bottom line.

I believe Yahoo will be acquired, within the next few months.

Portals (as we have known them) will cease to exist in the format we have become accustomed to. America Online, Yahoo, and MSN are in the midst of -- MASSIVE UPHEAVAL, on both the technology, infrastructure, consumer, and most of all -- THE CONTENT FRONT.

There is a HUGE WAR going on, in regards to the largest players on the internet - that will shape the future - as it pertains to, YOUR MEDIA CONSUMPTION. (How you will use your computer online.)

Possible Suitors for Yahoo.

AT&T or Comcast.? -- (they have the pipes and need the content)

News Corp or Disney or GE? (they have the content and 2 out of 3 of these companies are rooted in the offline media business)

AOL or MSN? (they know the value of Yahoo, but can they combine their cultures into their established internet businesses?)

A dark horse? (Google, dont think anti-trust will allow this one to pass, but it just may)

Fred Wilson piece titled, "Who Should Buy Yahoo!" is a excellent piece, as it breaks down the companies as well as competitors who may be in-line for a bite of Yahoo's empire.....

Is it not a little weird to think that Yahoo is "old school"?

I mean with all the Web 2.0 hype, and the buzz around "Social Media" -- is it too late for Yahoo to make a resurgence, and recapture it's preminent position as the "Pioneer" of the Internet?

Yes, it is too late.

WHY?

In one word: Google.

Google has a $129 Billion Dollar Market Cap.
Yahoo! has a $34 Billion Dollar Market Cap.

Google is innovative, and has taken one, GIANT STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION -- and THEN, and only then, it branched off into other avenues of online marketing. (video, network, email, shareware)

The one Giant Step that Google executed on? SEARCH AND KEYWORD MARKETING FOR ADVERTISERS. Google delivers results. Plain and simple, marketers want to work with Google.

Yahoo has instead focused on many other avenues to acquire marketing dollars -- but over time, has EXCELLED AT PRECIOUS LITTLE......BUT RATHER RELIED ON IT'S BRAND NAME, FOR JUSTIFICATION AS TO WHY IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED ON MANY RFP'S FROM ADVERTISING AGENCIES.

Yahoo has become a political machine, with employees leaving in droves - and marketers dissapointed with the delivery from Y's operations....

"The situation at Yahoo may have been exacerbated by employees leaving over the last year, particularly in its ad sales force, May said. "Whenever you have that sort of turnover, particularly in your sales force, it makes it more difficult to plan around advertiser category softness," he said. "

Google over the past few years has become the unparalleled leader based on, "Return on Investment" marketing (ROI) for advertisers.....

My biggest fear?

MSN buying Yahoo.

Why?

Then Google will go unchallenged for years to come. The cost will be to all of us, as it relates to our online experiences.

Creativity and Innovation will be the property of a couple of companies.

And, there will be NO COMPETITION ONLINE...with 2 behemoths running this thing called, "the web." Google will win again.

People a few years back called the web, "the wild west" -- and it still may be.

But, when you wake up in the morning (in the not too distant future) - and hear the news that Yahoo has been purchased, understand that, THE INTERNET HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY.

The balance of power is shifting away from, WHAT MADE THE WEB GREAT.

Innovation, freedom, and creativity -- will be being replaced soon.....

By Billion Dollar Companies that DO NOT HAVE roots, in the internet.

Except one company that does : Google.

Too much influence and power is evolving towards, VERY FEW players.

A eery reminder of history's valuable lesson from 100+ years ago.

THE RAILROAD.

2006-10-13T08:46:00.000-04:00

Shea Stadium in the Fall....
A great place to be. Last night was excellent. I took these pictures from my seats (click on any image to enlarge) -- but, it was a GREAT GAME. A pitchers duel. Tom Glavine pitched wonderfully, as did Jeff Weaver. Seeing Darryl Strawberry throw out the first pitch, brought back many memories of years past.. See below. GO METS.

2006-10-10T16:06:00.000-04:00

Another reason to love YouTube.

Without commenting on the content of this video -- there is SOME GRAIN of truth to this production.
In fact, in the future I believe political advertising online will be like this -- or VERY similar. Low budget, lots of content - and not constrained by time.

No more 30 second spots. Here is a taste of future political advertising.

2006-10-09T09:55:00.000-04:00

The Steady Hand of Change....

As much as we all would like many things never to change, we are constantly confronted with tremendous change.

The web is changing.

Socialized Media is more dominant.

It is becoming more prevelant for people who are older, more mature -- and frankly, represent the precise eyeballs that advertisers want to reach.

From ADWEEK.

NEW YORK As top social networking sites mature and become more popular, their visitor age profiles are also on the rise. More than 50 percent of all MySpace users are now over the age of 35, according to ComScore Media Metrix.

That represents a sharp increase from 39 percent over 35 a year ago. The increase came at the expense of 12-17 year olds, whose attendance on the most popular social networking site was halved to 12 percent.

The botton line of this story -- is that change in the online media and consumption world is quickly colliding with SOCIALIZED content and distribution.

Shopping experiences online will become "socialized transactions."

Music distribution online will become more "social friendly."

Advertising will be MORE targeted, and instead of content targeting -- you will see -- Social Targeting.

What does this all mean?

The Steady Hand of constant change is rapidly happening around us......and many forces, HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.

"The smoothest executive: CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves. Years of coping with inflated Hollywood egos have made him a natural at the investor schmooze. He sweeps away worries about Web videos threat, confidently declaring that were looking at the Internet as our friend, one that will strengthen CBS by allowing more-flexible distribution of programming, rather than simply cannibalizing CBS network and far more important its TV stations.

Moonves exudes so much confidence that you almost forget that CBS revenues and operating cash flow are expected to increase less than 2% this year. Or that the CBS networks ratings actually fell 5% last season. Or that the future of CBS radio and billboard units is far from riveting."

Big players in the content world are VERY slow to embrace this rapid change.

They will pay a steep price....and it may even cost them their companies in the process...

2006-10-06T16:43:00.000-04:00

The James Gang....

1971 Joe Walsh.

You want to know why YouTube is so amazing?
Want to understand why it is worth MORE than $1.6 Billion? The Below video is a GREAT reason why YouTube is a monster presence -- because they RELEASE CONTENT that has yet to be seen on a wide scale.

I would never have seen this performance.....thanks to whomever uploaded it, and thanks to YouTube, I now have seen this -- and it made me sit back and smile.
Joe Walsh - The James Gang....click on the arrow and turn it up.

2006-10-05T09:14:00.000-04:00

A Trend Or a Blip.....

My friend, Jeff Burak poses a interesting question, and I ask you to think about it....

Just finishing up my day, roaming the internet to supposedly understand what is going on in this world. This Foley story is nuts and getting nuttier; this Amish school massacre is maddening; what is going on? Is this news coverage self-fulfilling prophecy just linking unrelated events or is it a real trend of note? I did notice a common theme though. Grown men acting out, in response to something that happened in their childhood or distant past. A molester murders young girls. A molestee makes sexual advances toward young men. What the hell is going on? Oh, and there is more. The Molestee who is a democratically elected Republican was in fact molested by a catholic priest. Oh man. Is this a game where you get points for incorporating a certain number of real events into a single story? He or she with the highest score wins. Someone, please, explain this. Is this indicative of the trend for the human condition?

2006-10-04T09:34:00.000-04:00

Stuck Inside of Mobile.....

I'm stuck. Extremely busy.
But, while I'm "stuck inside of work"
Enjoy this 7-12-87, Dylan and The Dead from Giants Stadium.