DISQUS

Bijan:

Is it "next generation blogging" or "blogging for the next generation?" You want a unique identity, but your need for personal space is different from many younger Facebook users. I see your kids are young. When they get to be teenagers, you will notice that they and their friends will adopt a very small amount of personal space. They are like puppy dogs in the way they like to pile on top of each other. Try setting up a group of chairs a foot or two apart for 5 adult males. Then watch how they spread them out when sitting down. The same group of chairs will be moved right next to each other by teenagers. I think Facebook reflects that age group's need for tight clusters.

Jack:

Could you take a look at VibeMetrix.com, our new blog monitoring product, and tell us what you think? It has some overlap with Filtrbox, but it is more focused on identifying key infuencers and managing conversations with them. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. Thanks.

Adam Green
CEO, Grazr Corp

<abbr>Adam Greens last blog post..How to reply to a blog comment</abbr>

You are right that the "We need a black Google" pitch is a little over the top, but it makes a great headline. If RushmoreDrive makes the unilateral decision that people of a certain "race" prefer a certain item, that is silly. Race is a cultural construct and varies over a wide range of behaviors. On the other hand, the general model of trying to attract a certain demographic group, and then using their behavior to direct search engine results is a great idea. The perfect search answer surely varies from one group to another.

Jesse, the @ isn't just a link mechanism. It is a key Twitter gesture. It says to a person, I am talking to you now, and it also tells your followers that you value someone that they should possibly follow. Twitter behavior is subtle and fragile. Beware of unintended consequences.

Sorry, Matthew, but I think you are wrong on this one. Are you assuming that the algorithm used by Google is some sort of absolutely correct result? It is the definition of bias. All search engines are biased in this way. They are based on the link pattern of the majority of the Web pages they find, and the clicks of users. If the "majority" controls the behavior, then that is inherent bias. It makes sense for a search engine like RushmoreDrive to try and attract a different user base, and then reflect their bias instead. This isn't racism, it is good business sense for a publisher. It also gives advertisers a more targeted readership. Isn't that one of the goals of publishing?

I agree with the metaphor of a sales funnel, Chris. The question is, What are the specific measurable conversion goals? Is it a link back to your blog or product? A favorable mention at a later time? Becoming friends with the blogger and hanging out at conferences? A sales funnel is quantifiable with sales figures, social media marketing has more amorphous goals.

Bob:

It is the same as posting damaging info on Facebook, but it is being done by a different age group. The people who shake their heads at the silly photos their college age kids are posting on Facebook are making just as silly comments in their Twitter accounts. Twitter encourages a loose style that often leads people to be more revealing than they might want. Drunk tweeting is a common behavior.

Good point, Martin. I don't think enough Twitter users are thinking about this.

I'll be joining the group.

My 3 kids (19 - 24) are the last generation to remember a time before the Internet. Is that like remembering before cars or telephones, or fundamentally different? All three technologies shrank the world in different ways.