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I am putting together a new venture in the field of weblogs. This is a media idea, unabashedly supported by advertising. Yes, I know. (If you're unclear about weblogs, check out the background section at the base of this page.)
With some necessary vagueness, the proposition is this. Weblogs are a compelling new form of journalism. Personal web publishing, without the cat pictures, done right this time. For the initiated reader, they are an indispensible part of the web, along with email and search. But for the broader online public, and for advertisers, weblogs are confusing, or simply invisible.
We're beginning to see some basic search engines for weblog content, such as Daypop, and weblog indexing, such as Blogdex. But weblogs are still inaccessible. The challenge is to turn weblogs from cult phenomenon into mainstream media, without corrupting the form. More details in the summer.
Advice
I have some ideas, but the project is in the early stages. If you have thoughts about weblog indexing, and what's missing, let me know. I'm acutely conscious of the sensitivities of the weblog community, and open to advice. My email address is top-right.
Timing
The venture will be based in New York. The company, as yet unnamed, is not seeking outside investors. Limited hiring in the summer. Planned launch of the service is in early 2003.
Hiring
From May, I will be looking for an engineering manager and an operations manager, as well as a user-interface consultant. More detailed job descriptions later, but in the meantime please do express interest, or suggest names. Email me.
Web marketers
Marketers are increasingly aware of the power of weblogs to establish word-of-mouth for products such as movies, books and gadgets. But sponsorship buys across thousands of sites are too time-consuming, and traditional public relations outreach is more liable to irritate key influencers than persuade. Over the spring and summer, I will be seeking advice from innovative web marketers. If this is an area of interest, do get in touch.
Background
· Blog marketing [nickdenton.org]
· The daily blog [Jeff Jarvis]
· All Tomorrow's Media [Glenn Reynolds]
· Linkbait [nickdenton.org]
· What is a Weblog? [First Principles]
Coverage
· Blogvertising [Executive Summary]
· Denton's New Venture: Weblogs, the Next Level [E-Media Tidbits]
· Nick Denton blogs the Big Apple [Microcontent News]
· The 80% company [Evhead]
· El fundador de Moreover apuesta por los weblogs [La Vanguardia]
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