Disqus - Latest Comments for Nicholas Tolson

Re: Team is Everything

Nicholas Tolson — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:56:42 -0000

Dave -

I have to tell you, one of the most annoying things to me as an entrepreneur who is bootstrapping his startup, is how all conversations about startups assume the goal is looking good to VCs.

My goal is to build a good business. If this attracts VCs, so be it, but I'm not going to make major strategic decisions about my company based on whether I think it will impress a few people I don't know.

Every week, there are posts that warn about the minuscule percentage of companies that are funded. Right behind each of those posts, are handfuls of posts about how not to pitch VCs and how to get the attention of VCs and how to build a team that will make VCs change their religion and yada yada yada. I'm sure attracting VC money is the wet dream many entrepreneurs have (although, I don't really know why) and this is the stuff that draws their eyeballs to blogs, but the incongruity seems a bit odd, even disingenuous, at times.

IMO, making decisions about your company (at the stage we're talking here) based on what impression you think it will give VCs is probably putting the cart before the horse for the great majority of startups.

To me, the "do I quit my job" question is so personal and so dependent on a variety of variables (family support/siutation, nest egg, personality, etc.) that for someone on the outside to tell someone they should or shouldn't do it and when without a conversation about it is, well, bad advice.

Re: Growing Up Wilco

Nicholas Tolson — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:15:55 -0000

Sam, just a heads up about the 2/27 webcast of Wilco's DC show by NPR.

Re: Twitter Has Officially Tipped

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:30:21 -0000

I have gotten more new followers in the last 24 hours than any other period. Woke up today and had 10 noticed sitting in my Inbox. The problem? 8 of them were marketing-only, commercial accounts. They weren't there to join any conversation. They were there to shout over it.

The beauty of Twitter is that they can shout all they want. I'm not interested, so I didn't follow them. So it's almost as if they don't exist at all.

For the record, I'm not against a company being on Twitter across the board. Zappos is innovating there, and lord knows Gary Vaynerchuk is making Twitter his bitch when it comes to WineLibraryTV. But just as I mentioned above, these folks are actively joining the conversation, so I listen. Just like in real life.

Re: Is Plurk an Alternative to Twitter?

Nicholas Tolson — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:22:12 -0000

The interface is definitely hip, and the timeline functionality is cool (something that could be added to Twitter or done via its API), but there just might be too much going on. And with all the dropdowns and options, it takes too much thinking to post.

The Karma points are interesting, but ultimately I don't really care about that kind of thing when it comes to a communication medium.

I like that people are innovating and I appreciate much of what Plurk is doing, but in the end, the whole point of micro-blogging/micro-communication is that it's quick, simple, easy. Plurk just feels a bit bloated to me.

Re: My Life 2.0

Nicholas Tolson — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:29:15 -0000

I am in the EXACT same situation. I've even looked at moving to Charleston. I was CTO of a marketing agency until about three weeks ago. I'll get in touch with you via one of those social network site thingamajigs, but we might be able to join forces and help each other drum up business.

Good luck!

Re: Twitter Spam Spirals Out of Control

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:22:24 -0000

Not sure CAPTCHA will do it, but not sure what is required. I've noticed a big jump in spammy commercial followers just in the last 24 hours. But really, who wouldn't want to know about airbrush tanning offers on Twitter? http://twitter.com/jtnt/statuses/789071987

Re: 2008/09/10/new-facebook-launches-2/

Nicholas Tolson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:46:31 -0000

Agreed 100%. I think people just like to be contrary.

Re: http://gary.tumblr.com/post/78889405

Nicholas Tolson — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:18:14 -0000

Definitely, Gary. People think of others that way, and they also do that to themselves. Sometimes it just makes things easier or happens to do with circumstance, though. Regardless, it's surely unnecessary.

I think that people tend to identify themselves and others too much by their work in general. Conversations rarely start with, "So, what do you do for fun?"

Re: Gary Vaynerchuk - A reaction to Howard Sterns thought on Social...

Nicholas Tolson — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:57:30 -0000

The proof that all this talk from Stern is bullshit: He has over 10,000 fans for his page on Facebook. You telling me he's cool with ignoring that many people?

Re: Viral Advertising- How It Will Really Work

Nicholas Tolson — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:49:57 -0000

The question people will always ask is, "How can I make my video go viral?" Or a different side of the same coin, "Why did that video go viral?"

Quality is key for a product to succeed, but it's also important for virality (is that a word?). The quality is there in this ad. If there wasn't, why would anyone pass it on?

More importantly, I think, is the content of this video. It's informative. In this case, it's also got the advantage of the subject matter - graffitti - being something that sort of has a shadowy image to it so the content is interesting in that respect and is something people naturally want to hear about.

And the guy's accent doesn't hurt either. :)

People are always looking for some sort of hook, some magic trick, to make something go viral. Focus on the pieces you have the most control over, overall quality and informative content, and let the rest take care of itself.

Re: Social Media Starter Moves for Freelancers

Nicholas Tolson — Sun, 18 May 2008 20:58:33 -0000

Off-topic, but it's a discussion I recently had with a co-worker:

You say: "Kill the calendar thingy. NO ONE navigates by it."

I am of the same opinion on Monthlyy Archive links, but you and almost every other blog I go to have them. I never use them, and don't understand how/why I would. I'm never going to say to myself, "Oh, I wonder what Chris posted in March!" If I'm just browsing a blog's content, I'm going to go back in time use the next/prev links to see the latest stuff (or go by category, more likely).

What say you? How are these different than the calendar things?

Re: The Duo’s Latest Doings | Marco Tour, the ‘Zeppelin Experience,’ and Indie Props

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 12:14:56 -0000

Your Bustle info might be a somewhat misleading. Bustle is actually doing a mini-run themselves, hitting not only Chicago, but also Boulder, Denver, and Teaneck NJ. Check the Duo shows page or the Duo fan community for the latest.

Re: The Duo’s Latest Doings | Marco Tour, the ‘Zeppelin Experience,’ and Indie Props

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 18:10:35 -0000

NP. Didn't think you guys were that CST-specific. Thanks for the props. :)

Re: Fat Mama to Reunite at Green Apple Music Festival

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:09:47 -0000

Not only is Joe Russo closing Green Apple, he - with Marco - will be opening it as well. Check this announcement at the Duo fan boards:

"We will be playing two very intimate ACOUSTIC performances at Tonic in New York City on April 19th as part of the Official Green Apple Music Festival Kick Off!"

Re: Fat Mama to Reunite at Green Apple Music Festival

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:11:25 -0000

Crap. That first direct link to the announcement didn't work for some reason. Here's the URL, if someone can fix it: http://organanddrums.net/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1356

Re: Intonation Fest 2007 | Not Going to Happen

Nicholas Tolson — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 12:15:42 -0000

Chicago needs another kick-ass music festival like Amsterdam needs another coffee shop (so, yeah, it's debatable). DC/B'more and the mid-Atlantic in general needs to get a bit more festival love, in my very geographically-biased opinion!

Re: NYC’s ‘Rocks Off’ Boat Cruise | 2007 Summer Lineup

Nicholas Tolson — Thu, 03 May 2007 01:46:26 -0000

The SofR Festival is indeed Rocks Off: http://schoolofrockfest.com/

Re: From the Editor: To the Future!

Nicholas Tolson — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:21:51 -0000

I'll keep visiting and checking the RSS. You run the best live music site on the World Wide Webernet, and I hope it will continue for a long time in whatever form it can. Let me know if you need any help with anything... Weekly photo galleries perhaps? ;-) Thanks for all the hard work.

Re: News: Live Music Blog to Return

Nicholas Tolson — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:36:29 -0000

Took my awhile to catch up to the news, but really happy to see you're back.

Re: Drymount! | Top 10 Concert Prints of 2007

Nicholas Tolson — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 17:56:49 -0000

Great idea for this site... I've been trying to get my friend who works at Mexicali Blues in Jersey to procure for me a sweet Bustle in Your Hedgerow poster I forgot to snag at their show there last year. I'm thinking he's just keeping it for himself. :) If anyone can help me with that, I'd love you forever.

Re: One Final Thursday: Marco Benevento, Reed Mathis Andrew and Brad Barr at Sullivan Hall

Nicholas Tolson — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 14:22:04 -0000

Check out this long and well-produced video from this night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSqlN2ReIgc

Neddy also posted a characteristically passionate and robust review here: http://weeklyned.blogspot.com/2008/02/review-marco-benevento.html

Re: Live Music Photo Roundup | J. Nicholas Tolson

Nicholas Tolson — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:40:14 -0000

I'm a bit late for issuing a public thank you for this post, but thank you!

And Justin, to make you feel better, we professional photographers rarely select more than 5% of our shots as "keepers" either. I once heard in art school, "What separates the amateur and the professional photographer is quantity." Or something like that. Shoot a lot. You're bound to get something good. :)

Thanks again. Hope to start shooting some good stuff for you again soon as the season ramps up.

Re: Widespread Panic @ Landmark Theatre, Richmond, VA 4/27/08

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 05 May 2008 02:22:39 -0000

GREAT photos! Thanks!

Re: Welcome to the new LIVE MUSIC BLOG.com

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:18:20 -0000

Love the new design, Justin. Well done.

Re: Where the Rubber Meets the Road: B2B Companies Struggle to Find Their Fit with Blogging

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:27:13 -0000

IMO, asking for the ROI of blogging is like asking for the ROI of a phone system (can't remember if I thought of this or someone like Maggie Fox or KD Paine did, but...). It's about communicating with your customers!

ROI? WTF?

Re: Where the Rubber Meets the Road: B2B Companies Struggle to Find Their Fit with Blogging

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:38:58 -0000

I agree that most marketers underestimate the commitment and work required to maintain a blog. And I'm certainly not one to suggest that every company absolutely needs a blog... Yet. :)

My issue lies with the fact that blogs are only seen as a marketing medium from a corporate POV, when in fact they are a *communications* medium. And they get it all wrong from the start. Morever, attempts to apply old-school-based ROI numbers to them is missing the point.

I think that if old-school numbers are used to evaluate new media, you'll wind up with flawed assumptions and missed opportunities. Do you think Zappos, Comcast, and JetBlue started their successful Twitter presences only after a hard-nosed ROI analysis? I'd guess not.

Which gets to a larger issue, which is that I think many marketers (by way of their CEOs) don't know enough about blogs and social media in general to even know what they are asking for when they ask for ROI on such things.

What's the ROI of more engaged customers and a more active community? What's the ROI of better informed potential customers? What's the ROI of getting direct feedback from your customers? I'm guessing these aren't the sorts of ROI figures they're looking at.

As Forrester says, value and measurement are still being figured out (and the wildly innovative and active vendor space is evidence of this). So, companies are left to figure out the ROI of social media for themselves, and the tough thing for them is that those numbers might not be as easy to plot as their stock price.

Then again, I doubt many of those same CEOs asked (or know) what the ROI of their web site is, and I bet you that cost them a few cents more than dedicating some time to maintaining a blog, monitoring the blogosphere, or figuring out how to use Twitter to help their business.

BTW, hi there, Janet. Long-time, no speak. :)

-- FWIW, the back-button-based spam protection killed my first attempt at the above, which was much better put and thought out. The lesser second version is what we're all stuck with here at 11:30pm. --

Re: Where the Rubber Meets the Road: B2B Companies Struggle to Find Their Fit with Blogging

Nicholas Tolson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:40:20 -0000

@Drew - Much worse is that it reflects poorly on the company.

Re: 78 Photography Rules for Complete Idiots

Nicholas Tolson — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:16:30 -0000

Link/comment bait.

Re: New Media as Community Theater—All the World’s a Stage

Nicholas Tolson — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:26:01 -0000

And it's not just blogs - or text-based ones - of course. With the continued surging popularity of video and cool services like qik.com the platform, voice, and opening up all get taken to a whole new level.

Then I think about things like CNN's iReport and the platforms such things open up for "the rest of us" and things start to really blow up...

Re: The Shadow Knows: Watching Superbad with My Son

Nicholas Tolson — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:26:15 -0000

Ann - You might have thought you were being nosy, but the shadow of your son might have simply shown an embarrassed boy.

My parents, who were quite liberal, and I watched Risky Business together when I was probably too young to see it. I was never thinking about whether this would bring up questions or what my parents were thinking. I was simply too overwhelmed with embarrassment to think about anything them!

If there were remote controls back then - and we hadn't been in a movie theater - I would have changed the channels too. Not to avoid a prying conversation, but just to not be sitting there with my mom watching and hearing such things.

Re: MarketingProfs in Santa Barbara: Show Notes, ‘Ann-otated’

Nicholas Tolson — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:13:07 -0000

@Bdot - I disagree. IMO, the "Can you type? Then you can blog" line is the quote of the month! And I think it's true. Just like if you have a football, you can play football - or anything else of the sort. Does it mean everyone can do it professionally or as well as everyone else? Of course not. Plus, I think we can all easily assume that Penny wasn't putting down professional bloggers. :)