Comments on: Succeeding in Independent Online Media

By: Gunpowder Tea

Gunpowder Tea — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 12:55:21 +0000

While I agree with the overall point that yes, there is an evolutionary development in online media (i.e. the explosion of new content sites coming), from my own personal experience marketing on “conversational properties” – what I think this piece misses is a discussion of performance. I've deployed a range of media/creative tactics from standard banners to highly customized UGC initiatives, but found that just because a medium is new (or more likely evolutionary) doesn't mean readers are any more likely to respond to marketing on CM sites than they are checking their Yahoo email.

By: Gunpowder Tea

Gunpowder Tea — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:55:21 +0000

By: Social Media advice from Chris Brogan » The Web Pitch - A blog looking at how small businesses are using Web 2.0 technologies

Tue, 13 May 2008 07:51:23 +0000

[...] Succeeding in Independent Online Media [...]

By: Pat Drake

Pat Drake — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:15:21 +0000

I wouldn’t miss a day of listening to Bigg Success – I agree they are winners!

By: Community Media in Transition » Blog Archive » Connecting Community TV and The Social Web

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:11:54 +0000

[...] up and working in community television in Canada. The series was inspired by a post written by Chris Brogan about social media. In response, the author writes, “Hmmm. Sounds to me like Community [...]

By: eric : Gardenfork

eric : Gardenfork — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:01:51 +0000

Yes, I do plan on getting there soon. Gardenfork.tv and RealWorldGreen.com are very targeted shows, – I didn’t plan it that way, its just this is the kind of shows i like to create – and there is interest from the $ people.

The proof of concept of niche programming for me is the emails i get from viewers and the growing number of participants at our community site, The Greenhouse ( http://thegreenhouse.gardenfork.tv ) inspired by Steve and Zadi of EPIC-FU .

By: Gerry Grant

Gerry Grant — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:39:59 +0000

World Health News is making a major effort at this with the launch of a network of health related shows. They are placing the shows on their portals like http://www.yourcancertoday.com but also seeking international distribution on cable and satellite. They may well be the next big success.

By: Susan Murphy

Susan Murphy — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:32:59 +0000

Trying to break into a new market like Internet television is tough, mostly because nobody else has come up with a proven model for success yet. There is no real model to follow at all, so everyone who wants to be in it is out there messing around with it in the off hours from their real job/life and trying to figure out how to get the most bang for the buck.

Coming from traditional broadcast television, I am learning that even on the web, creating good quality, watchable shows can be expensive and time consuming. That may be part of the reason the content is so slow to get up there.

Maybe it’s about shaking up the model of conventional TV a bit..finding some clever ways to build your audience without having to sell the farm to get the darn thing on the air.

I think the bottom line is, it’s about having a good idea for a show in the first place, then getting out there and just ‘pressing record’ as you say, Chris. Otherwise it’s just a bunch of us sitting around on our duffs waiting for someone else to do it first.

I for one intend to make it on your list, Chris…and soon. Stay tuned!

By: chrisbrogan

chrisbrogan — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:57:34 +0000

LB3- I think Justine and Scoble and others are doing a great job of finding content where it exists, and bringing it to the rest of us. They are hustling out there all the time, seeing the good stuff, and evangelizing it. The folks making that stuff work for them are more brands in their own right, and they’re using video as a powerful medium. That works great for some.

If you ask me my super secret bet, the money’s on people like them, Steve Garfield, and others who are roving studios.

Steve- you know the love’s there. You guys are working it hard and doing a killer job. Every episode is something new, something better. So keep driving that forward.

By: Steve Woolf

Steve Woolf — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:49:50 +0000

The more we spend time in this whole sphere, and the more we interact with the people who have the money, the more it’s clear that no one has a clear path to making money (and I mean money on the scale of millions of dollars) unless you team up with entrenched media. And even then, good luck trying to convince them of the value of truly interactive media. They are mostly looking for things that look like TV, and then if you have that, they want to own everything

The smart new media companies and VC’s are not going to dole out millions to just anything anymore. Everyone is tightening their belts.

I think it goes back to the core concepts of creating any small business. Identify your audience; create reliable, quality content; be active in business social circles (conferences, etc); repeat as necessary.

And don’t be afraid to change what you’re doing. EPIC-FU was JETSET for over a year. We changed the name and the branding approach, and our views more than doubled since then.

The people we know who approach this stuff with calculated fearlessness (sounds weird, I know), are the ones making it happen. The people who hesitate for even just a moment seem to stagnate forever.

And btw, thanks for including us on your list, Chris! We pretty much hold our breath day to day looking for the best opportunities to grow our show and our tiny little production company. But the opportunities are definitely out there!