Technically Speaking

Congratulations are in order for Matt Marshall and VentureBeat for being recognized for content worthy enough to be syndicated in the New York Times. Along with GigaOm and RWW as well, congrats! This proves that old media is a dying breed, hanging on to what readership is left. Taking over the perceived mainstream media will not be an easy task.

Along with blogs being syndicated to mainstream media, we have places that offer video content by the buckets now. Why do we need a mainstream news show that only comes on at 5pm or 10pm at night anymore? We don’t. News, entertainment, and good writing is all available sans mainstream media. It’s about the people dictating to the media, and no longer the reverse. This is what democracy is about.

The change today only signals a small battle being won. More like a concession by the mainstream that bloggers are doing it better. Blogs like VentureBeat now employ writers that are even better than what the mainstream offers. While many may disagree with me on that last statement, I can speak from personal experience - Matt Marshall knows the news and reporting.

Technically Speaking, my very short run at VB last year was only the tip of the iceberg for both of us, and I like seeing how that moment in time led us both in directions that worked out for the best.

When the NY Times finally acknowledges that there is something going on in the blogosphere, it must be mainstream. While I doubt highly that Mike nor Rafat shared much with this Times reporter writing about other writers, just enough to make a good Friday afternoon showdown in the valley via NY.

What I found interesting is that neither one admitted to building a blogging empire their own way. We are not blind, we see both groups, TechCrunch, Inc. and PaidContent, Inc., doing what they can to be at the top of the game. The funny thing is Mike is in ways like other bad guys we all love to hate. No matter how much you say “Boo!!!” Mike still rides off in the sunset daily with his cigar and his fine wine in hand.

People seem to forget that Mike started a little technology blog a couple years ago, and built the empire pretty much on his own with a few hired guns that made a name for themselves along the way. While some of them recently barfed at the thought of writing about another startup, others went on to bigger projects only to return to where they find the juice flowing again. The nice thing is that makes this blogging world even that much bigger.

My only advice, like I should be giving some, is that they need to strike in 2008 while the fire is hot. Establish a foothold like TechCrunch has already established. Other avenues are becoming more compelling to ignore. Live video has been the hot thing, and with people going over to platforms such as blog TV that makes it easy to start up your own show, who will be reading all the writing in 2009?

Technically Speaking I hope that someone is reading!

BlogCatalog and SezWho will integrate SezWho’s conversation platform for tracking and ranking comments across BlogCatalog’s social network. The partnership leverages the value of meaningful dialog encouraged by SezWho and the member-driven network of bloggers on BlogCatalog.

SezWho provides eBay-like ratings and reputations, revealing valuable information about the history and expertise of individual readers through embeddable widgets and one-click panels. BlogCatalog is the fastest-growing social network for bloggers on the Internet. Members will be introduced to the feature soon after the news breaks and will include all instructions. BlogCatalog members can extend the reach of their BlogCatalog profile across other sites within the network along with their reputations across the blogosphere.

BlogCatalog is the fastest-growing social network for bloggers on the Internet. Since early 2007, it has evolved from a blog listing service into a vibrant member-driven online community with tools, features, widgets, and forums that help bloggers connect. More than 100,000 approved bloggers interact on BlogCatalog everyday. SezWho, launched in June 2007, is a collaborative review and reputation service that informs and improves conversation across distributed social spaces.

Technically Speaking, blogging is beyond a social network, it could be a super duper social monster if the right people put it together. Many have tried, and many have also failed. BlogCatalog and SezWho seem to realize that collaborating and working together to utilize the other companies technology is better than being the small fish swimming in the big ocean of the blogosphere. hoodia

I’m in good company according to this site. It rates your blog’s readability. I’m proud to say that I write on a Jr. High Level. So does TechCrunch and CenterNetworks. Two blogs that I frequent a lot for the latest news. Even ValleyWag is on the same level, but Om takes it to the High School level.

I’ve always believed it’s much easier to talk (or write) in simple sentences, with tiny words if you can. There are however sites that I read daily such as VentureBeat that is on a postgrad College level. There is also RWW that checks in at the College (undergrad) level. Than there is Steve Rubel’s blog where he checks in on the Genius Level!

Technically Speaking, that was a fun site, and if you are blogger you hope to reach as much of an audience as possible - TechCrunch and CenterNetworks - the West coast Big Dog and the East coast Big Dog - write on the same level as I do, but of course my reach is nil compared to either one of those blogs. Only two weeks until Thanksgiving - Shopping season is here, and if you want to be prepared, you should read this.

College Costs Continue to Rise - We all know that the cost of college is going up, but it seems like everything is more expensive then it used to be. A recent report shows that college costs are rising faster then the costs of other goods and services. … read more posted 10/26/2007 - 6:39am PDT

Lending Club, one of the companies I work for as Director of Social Media Content is looking for some more bloggers. We currently have a great bunch of financial savvy guys writing for us, but we are searching for some more people that love to talk about p2p lending, finance in general, personal finance, and other topics that fit. Check the blog out to read some of our current bloggers work. If you are interested, you can either contact me directly or drop a line to us. Yes - this is a paid blogging position!

Invest today. I’m serious. - Do you need any proof that today is the day you should invest? I have an article for you that might just inspire you to invest today.
… read more posted 10/26/2007 - 9:18am PDT real estate