Comments on: Zen and the art of ‘capturing mass audiences’ http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/ International technology news, business & culture Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:39:44 +0100 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Online casual games; a worldwide gameplay of dollars! http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361606 Online casual games; a worldwide gameplay of dollars! Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:10:18 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361606 [...] agree with me that the big companies have seen the light and want to “find” the mass-audience through their own games/IP. But when you look at the current trend of “free-to-play”, [...] [...] agree with me that the big companies have seen the light and want to “find” the mass-audience through their own games/IP. But when you look at the current trend of “free-to-play”, [...]

]]> By: Reinout te Brake http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361605 Reinout te Brake Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:12:01 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361605 Tim, I agree. of course the concept that is sometimes TOO simple, is also overlooked at in the beginning. because it is too simple sometimes investors don't believe in it, but I always say that the more simple, the more pure and close to the needs of the online users! Tim, I agree. of course the concept that is sometimes TOO simple, is also overlooked at in the beginning. because it is too simple sometimes investors don’t believe in it, but I always say that the more simple, the more pure and close to the needs of the online users!

]]> By: Tim Molendijk http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361604 Tim Molendijk Tue, 25 Mar 2008 02:15:39 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361604 Yes, simplicity is important. But I think you're a bit oversimplying here. First of all, simplicity is a condition, a means to an end. And that end is a useful service. So at the end of the day, usefulness is key. And that's where the real challenge comes in. Since most of the new business models in the 'Web 2.0' space rely primarily on advertising, as you rightfully pointed out they all need mass audiences in order to really workout. Nowadays that mass audience is reading some news, doing web searches, doing some social networking and sending mail. That's about it. At least when we're talking about true mass. So a new service does not just have to be useful, it has to be REAL useful. Simplicity is peanuts compared to that. Secondly, nowadays we're so used to the concept of social networking that it's hard to imagine not being able to grasp its usefulness. But after some honest introspection I doubt whether I would have gotten excited had someone tried to explain the idea of social networking to me ten years ago. ("Yeah you can put your name and age on a page, and then your friends do the same, and then you can send each other messages! -- Hmm... why can't I just send an e-mail?") I'm sure there must have been a lot of investors back then who didn't get it either. My point is; I think Facebook's simplicity wasn't as utterly obvious before its conception as it is now we are all familiar with its dynamics. So since investors cannot truly judge the simplicity of new ideas, it wouldn't make sense for them to use it as their main criterion. Yes, simplicity is important. But I think you’re a bit oversimplying here.

First of all, simplicity is a condition, a means to an end. And that end is a useful service. So at the end of the day, usefulness is key.

And that’s where the real challenge comes in. Since most of the new business models in the ‘Web 2.0′ space rely primarily on advertising, as you rightfully pointed out they all need mass audiences in order to really workout. Nowadays that mass audience is reading some news, doing web searches, doing some social networking and sending mail. That’s about it. At least when we’re talking about true mass. So a new service does not just have to be useful, it has to be REAL useful. Simplicity is peanuts compared to that.

Secondly, nowadays we’re so used to the concept of social networking that it’s hard to imagine not being able to grasp its usefulness. But after some honest introspection I doubt whether I would have gotten excited had someone tried to explain the idea of social networking to me ten years ago. (“Yeah you can put your name and age on a page, and then your friends do the same, and then you can send each other messages! — Hmm… why can’t I just send an e-mail?”)

I’m sure there must have been a lot of investors back then who didn’t get it either. My point is; I think Facebook’s simplicity wasn’t as utterly obvious before its conception as it is now we are all familiar with its dynamics. So since investors cannot truly judge the simplicity of new ideas, it wouldn’t make sense for them to use it as their main criterion.

]]> By: Reinout te Brake http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361603 Reinout te Brake Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:27:06 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361603 Social networking and user-generated content sites, online advertising optimizers, casual video games, and virtual worlds are not only attracting growing numbers of consumers, they've caught the eye of forward-thinking investors. Where there are people on the Internet, chances are there will soon be money. VC dollars grow in the entertainment space. Whether affiliated with big industry players or not, consultants, venture capitalists and others funding hot media and entertainment sectors say they are already pumping big chunks of their disposable capital into such companies. Many expect to continue doing so over the midterm. just read this article; http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i21efeb96c273aeec46408af0756de8e0 Social networking and user-generated content sites, online advertising optimizers, casual video games, and virtual worlds are not only attracting growing numbers of consumers, they’ve caught the eye of forward-thinking investors.

Where there are people on the Internet, chances are there will soon be money.

VC dollars grow in the entertainment space.

Whether affiliated with big industry players or not, consultants, venture capitalists and others funding hot media and entertainment sectors say they are already pumping big chunks of their disposable capital into such companies. Many expect to continue doing so over the midterm.

just read this article;
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i21efeb96c273aeec46408af0756de8e0

]]> By: Reinout te Brake http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361602 Reinout te Brake Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:26:08 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361602 True! completely true and guess what I started to use twitterpod. Nice tool, created for Twitter.com. Alexa says; http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/twitter.com?site0=twitter.com&y=r&z=3&h=300&w=610&u%5B%5D=twitter.com&x=2008-03-24T11%3A29%3A03.000Z&check=www.alexa.com&signature=qIOgriJR0L6A1vj%2F3cXiI2I26d4%3D&range=3y&size=Medium True! completely true and guess what I started to use twitterpod. Nice tool, created for Twitter.com.
Alexa says; http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/twitter.com?site0=twitter.com&y=r&z=3&h=300&w=610&u%5B%5D=twitter.com&x=2008-03-24T11%3A29%3A03.000Z&check=www.alexa.com&signature=qIOgriJR0L6A1vj%2F3cXiI2I26d4%3D&range=3y&size=Medium

]]> By: Ernst-Jan Pfauth http://thenextweb.com/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361601 Ernst-Jan Pfauth Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:19:59 +0000 http://thenextweb.org/2008/03/24/people-want-you-to-keep-it-simple-for-now/#comment-361601 Nice piece! Although I miss the no 1 example of simplicity: Twitter! On Le Web 3 last year, Evan Williams told the audience you can have success by keeping things simple and even leave stuff out. See: http://thenextweb.org/2007/12/11/evan-williams-twitter-wants-simple-services/ Nice piece! Although I miss the no 1 example of simplicity: Twitter!

On Le Web 3 last year, Evan Williams told the audience you can have success by keeping things simple and even leave stuff out. See: http://thenextweb.org/2007/12/11/evan-williams-twitter-wants-simple-services/

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