AOL
ProfR
8/23/2011 8:11:37 AM
What has not been clear for some time is - what is AOL's strategy? Over the years, the managment team took an interesting internet company and put it in steap decline. It missed the broadband boat altogether.
Re: AOL
AskAsa
8/23/2011 9:01:46 AM
Always wonderful insight from Mr Kitman.
I was an early AOL subscriber. Back in the day when you paid first by the minute and then later a monthly fee for internet access it seemed reasonable. AOL also had a quirky but fun browser even before netscape.
AOL has never been able to navigate a place for itself in the world of free internet access. Talk radio types were howling about the Huffington Post purchase for several days.
As for Arianna's salary policy - it's becoming the industry standard.
Often when experienced writers, creators, photographers - people able to deliver real content ask to be paid, the person in charge dismisses them as "Old Media."
Re: AOL
Phoenix
8/23/2011 8:29:17 PM
I agree. AOL's strategy... well if there is one does not make much sense considering the fact that they would pay such a lot of money specially at a time when there is a near recession...or r we already there? The timewarner merger made a bit more sense at the time.
Still trying to figure out the business model here... let's see, get hundreds of writers to produce content & traffic for free, flip to AOL for $300M... and then what?
Then Arianna buys a bigger place in California and reaquaints herself with Jimmy Cho and Whatshisname Blahnik.
It really is tough to see what the play is here. Huff Post does seem to generate a good deal of traffic and content on a broad rang of topics, I'm sure there is some way to leverage that into profit......maybe.
Re: What now?
tokyogai
8/24/2011 7:54:03 AM
AOL has defied all attempts to make a profit, so why should this be different? I really don't see a play here either.
Re: What now?
ProfR
8/24/2011 7:57:34 AM
How to make money with a content site? I think the way to do this is thru advertising. If you have a lot of clicks on the site, then they should monitize that.
it does seem as though HuffPost has the space and the layout to insert ads into their page, but i wonder if that would really be enough to support the site.
Clicking on display adds is a nice way to earn money for a picnic fund or company dinner. Although the ad revenue for a huge site like HuffPo may differ, by and large you aren't gonna pay the rent with the money you make from display adds. And who wants their reading interrupted by prodding to buy stupid Acai berries?
Re: What now?
driven
8/25/2011 8:02:13 AM
I don't think monetizing the site is a problem for someone who just made $315 million selling the company.
Pay your writers Arianna!
But Marvin...
Tenacious
8/23/2011 10:25:22 AM
Don't you know you were supposed to be grateful for the sheer enjoyment and prestige that comes from expressing oneself on HuffingtonPost.com? Wasn't that payment enough?
Nope, I didn't think so.
None of the HuffPo bloggers were kids eager for a byline in exchaenge for their efforts. These are pros--who deserve compensation for their work.
Re: But Marvin...
mInvestor
8/27/2011 2:31:49 PM
Tenacious, that's a good point. We do need more jobs, decent jobs, available here. Only this is pretty good.
Just not sure if this merger will help or it may do the opposite.
I've never especially liked HuffPo because I find Arianna annoying. But what I find even more annoying is how often the HuffPo articles come up in the top of my search results. I try to skip them but sometimes I make a mistake and click...and I just hate giving her page views.
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