Toys and Tools: Different Names for the Same Things

Having become a father just six weeks ago, I’m already recognizing the patterns of behavior that my daughter and I share.  While she’s not playing with Barbie’s yet, she’s becoming very tactile as she continues to try and figure out this strange new world that she’s joined.

I love my toys.  My toys these days are phones and laptops and all sorts of geeky gizmo’s.  This week, I got my first Macbook Pro and I’m using it for productivity reasons while also treating it like a toy.  I’m sure Mary Hudson will do the same as she grows and starts to put the toys she enjoys playing with to use as learning tools.

So, my question… is there a difference between toys and tools?  Can a hammer be both an instrument of creativity and enjoyment as well as a way to get things done?

Personally, I don’t see a difference between the two.  Hopefully my experience as a father will either confirm or prove wrong my theory.

Google v PayPerPost Act III

Google recently socked PayPerPosters with a decrease of PageRank to 0.  Harsh, but needed in my opinion.  If you’re going to dance to Google’s music, you’ve got to be willing to pay the band.

Robert Scoble makes the point that:

Bloggers beware. If you just write great content and put the ads around the content like everyone else does you won’t be messing with Google and Google won’t mess with you.

VCDan writes in the comments to that post:

GOOG’s latest move isn’t about disclosure or search relevance. IZEA’s launch of http://www.SocialSpark.com (prior to this GOOG move) with mandatory disclosure, transparent RealRank, no-follow links, and face-based analytics positions IZEA to lead on transparency and convert even more bloggers from AdSense to sponsored social media.

Which got me thinking… one of the people that I listen to the most when it comes to all things web, Jim Kukral, has similar things to say about SocialSpark. 

In fact, Jim says that Izea should dump PPP as a brand and focus on SocialSpark.

So, the big question is can a con-man reform himself and can Ted Murphy rebrand Izea and SocialSpark as separate from the PayPerPost stigma?  I’m not so sure, but it will be fun to see how bloggers (and Google) handles SocialSpark’s upcoming release.

Google makes moves to protect organic relevancy « Scobleizer

User Generated Content Can Solve Problems

For all of its noise, "user generated content" can sometime be a huge help.

Yahoo Answers, for example, is sometimes a great resource when you have a random question like when a new laptop will arrive…

Does FedEx Deliver on Saturdays, I mean regular ground delivery.?

Does FedEx Deliver on Saturdays, I mean regular ground delivery.? – Yahoo! Answers

Tiny Google URLs?

John Gruber tweeted a great and intriguing thought tonight…

tinygoogle 

Almost a year ago, I responded to a ZDNet post calling TinyURL the "next YouTube" (saying that was a ludicrous proposition):

I can’t speak for Doc, but I don’t think he would agree that TinyURL is a stealth intention engine. It’s a way to send links without taking up too much space. It’s not YouTube. It’s not an intention engine. It’s not an attention engine. Simply put, it’s a useful tool, but it’s one that is quickly becoming obselete as the intention architecture of the web as we know it continues to change. 

After a year of using Twitter, I have to admit that I wish there was a URL shortening service that I knew would be around for years and years since my tweets are being indexed and I would love for the links there to continue to point to their intended targets for perpetuity.  Using TinyURL or any of the other URL shortening services is putting a great deal of hope and faith in their longevity and good intentions.

So, while I still don’t think TinyURL is the next YouTube, I think John may be on to something… a URL shortening service from a major player would be more than welcome for those us confining our thoughts (and intentions) into 140 characters on an hourly basis.

Twitter / John Gruber: I wish Google offered a URL…

Don’t Have Time for RSS?

I use Google Reader to plow through about 500 feeds (mostly marketing or tech related) and publicly "share" items that I find particularly interesting throughout the day.

If you’d like to get into the whole RSS or syndication thing but don’t have time to read through a bunch of feeds, you can subscribe to (or just visit) my shared items page.  Consider it a "best-of" the affiliate, search, performance and tech marketing universe.

samharrelson’s shared items

Google Reader -samharrelson’s shared items

Privacy and Permission

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Earlier this week I was on a social media panel for the Triangle Interactive Marketing Association in Raleigh, NC with pr guru Peter Shankman.

We were speaking to a highly marketing literate crowd of about 100 or so offline and online companies interested in the social media space.  The question of privacy came up, and Peter made the excellent point that:

"Privacy is currency."

This is an incredibly powerful statement for marketers to keep in mind as we explore and try to find the new metrics that will adequately measure the online space.  I brought up the issue of "attention metrics" and "attention currency" when someone asked about how to monetize Twitter or Facebook.  Looking back, I think Peter’s theory of privacy currency is even more compelling and takes things like attention into its fold.

Keep that in mind when deploying social media campaigns or when attempting to "monetize" Facebook et al.

In relation to Peter’s point, my closing statement went along the lines of "online privacy might be a tightly held currency and an illusion, but permission is not."

In other words, the marketing metrics of the 21st century (both online, offline and in the strange hybrid of relativist space that exists between them) will swing between the pendulums of privacy and permission.

Magnify.net’s New Video Blogging Platform

Magnify.net is one of the most interesting places on the web if you’re int video, aggregation or user generated content.

They’re announcing a new video blogging platform today to be led by a daily show from one of my favorite online people, Chris Brogan.

NEW YORK – November 16, 2007 — Video Blogging goes mainstream with a new free service. Magnify.net today announced that they will enable anyone who is interested in video blogging to jump in, without needing a video camera, a deck or even web design software.

 Magnify.net is releasing to private beta, a new video blogger in a box toolset with an intuitive, plug-and-play Webcam capture tool that allows creators to build a Vlog page, put up all their own graphics and design elements. With just a webcam, their Vlog can go live. Magnify.net also offers stylish and slick templates to make the graphic design process drag-and-drop simple.

Podcamp co-founder and online media guru Chris Brogan will host a daily video blog called “Attention Upgrade” to showcase Magnify’s new platform during the private beta. Chris Brogan and Magnify.net are inviting others to request an invitation if they are interested in video blogging and providing feedback at privatebeta@magnify.net

Press and Speaking Engagements

I’ve updated the “Publications” page up in the menu bar to reflect some of the places I’ve spoken recently and how to get in touch with me if you’d like for me to speak at your meeting or show.

Sure it’s a little vain, but I’ve gotten more and more requests for this type of thing recently so I wanted to make it easier to find and see examples of my previous speaking engagements or publications:

I’m available to speak to groups interested in social media, affiliate marketing, performance marketing or web metrics. Contact me if you’d like to have me speak to your group.

Here are a few places where I’ve spoken and published:

Press and Speaking

re: Shawn Collins on Ticketmaster’s Affiliate Program on buy.at

Hadn’t seen this on ABW yet, but Shawn has news that Ticketmaster (under the IAC umbrella along with Ask.com, etc) is launching their affiliate program with buy.at:

Wow – I just stumbled across some BIG news on the buy at, Inc forum at ABestWeb: Ticketmaster chooses buy at, Inc – Beta affiliate program launch!

Shawn includes:

I’d imagine there is some hand wringing in the board rooms of the other U.S. affiliate networks right about now.

Have to agree, Shawn.  This has the potential to be a huge program and really put buy.at on the map here in the States.  I love music blogs and subscribe to a good number of them.  Having the option to support my favorite sites while getting tickets (which I do frequently) to shows they describe is a win-win.  The implications for affiliate sales on those is huge… not to mention long tail local sites. 

Hats off to the buy.at team for landing this big fish and potential cash cow (I limit myself to two animal analogies in each post).

Ticketmaster Launches Beta Affiliate Program with buy at, Inc | Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

Affiliate Classroom’s Board of Advisors

I’m excited to be a part of the new Board of Advisors at Affiliate Classroom.  We’ll be working with two of my favorite people, Anik Singal and Rachel Honoway, to bring value to the general community of affiliates and affiliate managers as our industry continues to develop.

Affiliate Classroom, a publisher of educational tools for the interactive advertising industry, has appointed a board of advisors.

Recently appointed Board of Advisors are…

  • Peter Figueredo, CEO and co-founder of NETexponent
  • Sam Harrelson, CEO of ReveNews
  • Jeremy Palmer – Owner and creator of “Quit Your Day Job”, co-creator of PPC Classroom
  • Heather Paulson – President and founder of Paulson Management Group, Inc.
  • Brook Schaaf – CEO of Schaaf Consulting

Board of Advisors Appointed for Affiliate Classroom | Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

Internet Advertising Continues To Grow… For How Long?

I’m still rather bear-ish on the prospects of continued growth for the internet advertising universe.  That sounds heretical given my job and lifeblood, but we can’t expect the continuing economic downturn here in the US to support continued online growth.

New figures released by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and PricewaterhouseCoopers show that internet advertising continues to grow to record levels, with the 3rd quarter internet ad spend in the United States hitting $5.2 billion, a $1.1 billion/ 25.3% increase over the same quarter in 2006.

In fact, I think we’re headed for more than a bubble pop of web2.0 as ad budgets will certainly be one of the first things to get slashed when the economy takes its eventual nosedive.  In the midst of all that doom and gloom, I do see the smart and adaptable small companies weathering the kill-off, just as our mammal ancestors did a few million years ago.

IAB: Internet Advertising Continues To Head North

Affiliate Program Seeks to Spread Wifi Love

fon

Interesting new affiliate program from the wifi network FON in CJ (15-18% commission):

Besides earning a commission rate of 15% of all your referred sales, we also provide 120 return day cookies (to track your referrals even after someone has clicked-through on your link) and unlimited referral occurrences.

Refer just $600 or more in sales in any month and you’ll earn a 10% bonus. Refer $1,600 or more in a month and you’ll earn a 20% bonus, bringing your effective commission rate to 18%!

FON has gotten a good deal of press on tech and gadget blogs for its alternative goal to spread free wifi by subsidizing routers for individuals (costs around $50).  I’m not sure how successful the program will be, but it’s interesting to see a company trying to gain traction here in the States turn to an affiliate solution.

blognation USA has more coverage.

FON

Tomb of Ezekiel?

This one shows the building from the outside. Cool, eh? And this one shows part of a Hebrew inscription on the inside. The first part of the inscription is outside the frame, but the rest reads הנביא בן בוזי הכהן זכותו ינן עלינו ועל כל ישראל אמן, “… the prophet, son of Buzi, the priest. May his merit increase upon us and upon all Israel. Amen.” The prophet in question is, of course, Ezekiel, who was a priest and whose father’s name was indeed Buzi (Ezekiel 1:3).

PaleoJudaica.com

New Star Trek Movie Plot Spoilers

JJ Abrams (Lost, etc) is heading up the eleventh Star Trek movie.  Supposedly, it’s going to be based on the academy time of Kirk, Spock, etc and how they all meet.

Here’s a (potentially) major spoiler post (that you have to read if you’re a fellow fan):

I can’t stress how big of a potential spoiler the following information is. If you want to remain spoiler free DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER.

IESB.net – Movie News, Reviews, Interviews and More! – JJ Abram’s Star Trek Story Details!

How To Play the Piano?

Learning to play the piano at a respectable level is not difficult (or so I’ve been told).

So I’m going to learn to play the piano.

Anyone have a link to a site to help me out?  Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email (mail@samharrelson.com) if so!

I’ll keep you posted on my progress here.

Here’s a great piano tutorial from Mahalo:
http://www.mahalo.com/How_To_Play_Piano_For_Beginners_(And_Save_$500_In_Lessons)

Linkshare’s Flex Links and Mobile Links

Linkshare has announced new mobile and video/embed object initiatives within their affiliate interface.

It’s great to see the major affiliate networks moving into these areas!

I mentioned yesterday that Linkshare is releasing a series of interesting new platforms within the affiliate network’s interface.  Here’s the update on those: Flex Links (a video link embed platform), Mobile Links for pay-for-performance tracking in the mobile space and Link Locator 2.0 for enhanced web services.  All in all, this is a great step ahead for the affiliate network space as the performance market continues to mature and encompass other areas than traditional (or "1.0" if you will) affiliate sites.

Linkshare’s Flex Links for Video, Mobile Links and Link Locator 2.0 Roll Out