Category: Uncategorized

EMARKETER — Mar 8 — comScore Networks recently highlighted the growth of social networking sites. MySpace.com and Facebook.com remain the leaders among those in the 18-24 age group and attract five million unique visitors a month. Facebook.com uniques increased 14% in December 2005. MySpace.com saw a 34% increase. Social networking sites are characterized by the ad hoc nature of consumers posting text, photos and videos that advertisers and marketers have no control over. Flickr readers can create their own pages with their own stories, for which they collect 90% of associated ad revenues. Eurekster also.  For more on social networking, read eMarketer's recent reports: College Students Online: Social Networks and the Net Generation and Online Dating. 

The full article was originally published at eMarketer, but is no longer available.

SMALL BUSINESS COMPUTING — Mar 7 — LinkedIn reported that thanks to recently announced premium services that range in price from $60 to $2,000 per year, its expects to reach profitability this month. Recruiting firms and investment firms tend to subscribe to the higher-end services, while other small businesses tend to use the services in  the $60 range for background information and business development. By offering more free services for all members, LinkedIn hopes to grow its network to the 10 million user mark in the next six-to-nine months.  FULL ARTICLE @ SMALL BUSINESS COMPUTING

Mark Brooks: Linkedin is a great business networking service with a rich member base.

PR NEWSWIRE — Mar 6 — Friendster today announced that its users can now build online radio stations powered by Pandora's Music Genome Project and share them with their friends.  Friendster Radio taps into Pandora's Music Genome Project, recently lauded by Rolling Stone magazine, to develop radio stations based on an individual's favorite artists or songs. The playlists are based on the Music Genome Project's exhaustive analysis of thousands of songs across hundreds of musical attributes. Friendster users build radio stations that can be shared, evolve, and even become 'hits' on Friendster.

ONLINE MEDIA DAILY — Mar 2 — Fox Interactive Media President Ross Levinsohn told investors of a plan to deepen the connection between MySpace, which News Corp. acquired in July, and Fox TV. The top 12 "American Idol" contestants will get MySpace profiles. MySpace and "American Idol" will direct traffic to each other’s Web sites. The goal is to increase traffic to MySpace–which currently boasts 55 million registered users, and is growing to the tune of more than 200,000 a day. MySpace accounts for 25-30% of Fox Interactive Media revenue. Gaming property IGN, acquired in September for $650 million, represents 25-30%. Sports network Scout.com, purchased last September for $60 million, accounts for ~20%. Foxnews.com, Foxsports.com, and other Fox properties are responsible for 20-25%.  FULL ARTICLE @ ONLINE MEDIA DAILY

ONLINE MEDIA DAILY — Mar 2 — Fox Interactive Media President Ross Levinsohn told investors of a plan to deepen the connection between MySpace, which News Corp. acquired in July, and Fox TV. The top 12 "American Idol" contestants will get MySpace profiles. MySpace and "American Idol" will direct traffic to each other’s Web sites. The goal is to increase traffic to MySpace–which currently boasts 55 million registered users, and is growing to the tune of more than 200,000 a day. MySpace accounts for 25-30% of Fox Interactive Media revenue. Gaming property IGN, acquired in September for $650 million, represents 25-30%. Sports network Scout.com, purchased last September for $60 million, accounts for ~20%. Foxnews.com, Foxsports.com, and other Fox properties are responsible for 20-25%.  FULL ARTICLE @ ONLINE MEDIA DAILY

MSN MONEY — Feb 28 — Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, started testing a free U.S. marketplace, similar to Craigslist.  Expo categorizes postings by zip code to allow users to filter ads by distance. Online at http://expo.live.com.  Microsoft will face competition from eBay and Google Base. Expo is integrated with MSN Messenger to allow buyers and sellers to instantly discuss or negotiate a deal.

Mark Brooks: The home page is too busy.  I recommend more simplification. 

MSN MONEY — Feb 28 — Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, started testing a free U.S. marketplace, similar to Craigslist.  Expo categorizes postings by zip code to allow users to filter ads by distance. Online at http://expo.live.com.  Microsoft will face competition from eBay and Google Base. Expo is integrated with MSN Messenger to allow buyers and sellers to instantly discuss or negotiate a deal.

Mark Brooks: The home page is too busy.  I recommend more simplification. 

JUPITER RESEARCH PRESS RELEASE — Feb 8 — According to a new report entitled: "Online Dating in 2006: Pricing Strategies to Drive Subscriber Growth" authored by JupiterResearch Analyst Nate Elliott, industry growth in the last twelve months has been driven by higher monthly fees rather than an increasing number of subscribers. A January 2006 JupiterResearch consumer survey found that 5% of Internet users paid for online dating subscriptions in the last year, down slightly from 6% in 2005. Industry-wide user conversion rates fell for the first time since JupiterResearch began tracking that metric. "Although online dating revenues continue to grow, rising prices have kept a large number of users from converting to paid subscribers.  The report also concludes that social networking sites pose little threat to the online dating industry.  RELEASE @ JUPITER MEDIA

JUPITER RESEARCH PRESS RELEASE — Feb 8 — According to a new report entitled: "Online Dating in 2006: Pricing Strategies to Drive Subscriber Growth" authored by JupiterResearch Analyst Nate Elliott, industry growth in the last twelve months has been driven by higher monthly fees rather than an increasing number of subscribers. A January 2006 JupiterResearch consumer survey found that 5% of Internet users paid for online dating subscriptions in the last year, down slightly from 6% in 2005. Industry-wide user conversion rates fell for the first time since JupiterResearch began tracking that metric. "Although online dating revenues continue to grow, rising prices have kept a large number of users from converting to paid subscribers.  The report also concludes that social networking sites pose little threat to the online dating industry.  RELEASE @ JUPITER MEDIA