Out and about at next08 last week, I got seriously frustrated with my cell phone (N95). Phones software kept crashing and battery lasted til lunch time. Twitter direct messages were not delivered and nobody seemed to remember old fashioned text messages. Only the SMS-updates by one of the sponsors (Cellity) made it through, even after I switched phones – no apps needed for SMS.
After the part of the programm I had marked as must-do, meeting Steve Rubel in person for the first time and making a fool of myself talking to Stowe Boyd (btw I was already following you, just no updates on), I began drifting in and out of panels, chatting up other folks I knew or got to know.
A lot of what happens in Web 2.0 at the moment is most likely based on the wrong assumption. It is either “our product is so good people will come” or “our product is so good we will get bought”. However, agreeing with Jason Calacanis, many ideas are not a product but a feature, therefore not enough people will come or you might get bought but only for a fraction of what you are dreaming of.
It seems that many of the current generation entrepreneurs either forget to do what is often called “reality check” or neglect to learn from insight shared by former founders. Advice you can find for free via this internet thingy or e.g. during the Gadowski/Jozefak panel or at the elevator pitches at next08. Chances are, you might be inspired or see something you definitely do different.
However, if you seek revenue soon, you will have to keep in mind where the majority of your users is or how people will use your service. And what turns them off. After all, “we” are an exceptional small number of people who sign up for every single new shiny app that comes around. How small was gracefully demonstrated on Friday when the members of the Gillmor Gang dominated Techmeme for some hours, talking about themselves and how they got each other wrong talking about dataportability.
Moving to the 50k feet level for a minute, read Marc Canter‘s brilliant output of late, it should at least work up your mind, if not even encourage you to get your ideas expressed. As I said before, in recent Gillmor Gang’s he is the star. Totally focused when called upon by the MC and hardly any noise, a great guest.
Speaking of focus, Scoble speculates this morning about a possible Microsoft/Facebook deal to keep Google out which of course went right to the top of Techmeme. This deal is just fuel for the earlier mentioned, necessary discussion on dataportability. My undeducated guess is that no matter what, users will find a way to get the data they want and control their data, too. People will be identified throught their email address or some other URL which won’t be Facebooks.
First of all I don’t see that deal going through, secondly I am with Canter who argued (yes, Steve Gillmor, you too) that the 900 pound gorillas Google, Facebook, Microsoft and MySpace will compete themselves to open standards.
Consolidation is going to continue, Stowe Boyd agreed, and everybody should begin in his own backyard. Strip the unneccessary. Distribute and deliver with reason so that your audience can consume easily and without trouble.