You've got blogs! AOL readies Weblogs
AOL is getting set to launch Weblog software for its members, called AOL Journals, which could quickly add millions of Weblogs to the blogosphere and help bring the format even more mainstream. Blogger Jeff Jarvis reports that he and several other bloggers were given a sneak peak at the software -- kudos to AOL for seeking their feedback before launch. He praises the tool, in particular because it will publish every weblog in RSS/XML and you'll be able to blog from AOL IM (which includes AOL from your phone).He said he and fellow blogger Anil Dash suggested that AOL give their bloggers access to the Time Warner content AOL is now restricting to subscribers (from magazines like People and Entertainment Weekly). "That might sound like heresy, treating the expensive People gossip as a commodity," Jarvis writes. "But the truth is -- repeat: the truth is -- that by creating such a back door, AOL would cleverly be turning its audience into its marketing force: AOL bloggers would be the privileged ones who can show you People content (thus selling AOL subs) and if their readers want to see more, they have to buy the magazine (thus selling magazine subs). Now that is synergy.
"You see, the magnet that creates that marketing power is the people's content. I've learned well in my online career that the audience's content is valuable and the audience is your best marketer if you allow the audience to be the star. Starting weblogs allows the audience to create content and to market and to create value."
Very, very clever idea... Will be interesting to see what AOL does.
Jul 09, 2003 | E-MAIL | SAVE | PRINT | PERMALINK | DISCUSS(0)
Discussion
0 comments about 'You've got blogs! AOL readies Weblogs'Post a comment
Site Map
