Most Popular Posts of 2007

Here are the most popular posts in 2007 on this blog. Note: this particular blog was born in Aug, 07, so we've only got about 4 months of data.

1. Broken iPhone Screen, Sept 22
2. Uploading Mobile Photos From the iPhone to Facebook, Oct 03
3. Mac vs. PC on Web 2.0 Websites, Oct 15
4. Johnny27 Answers All of My Questions, Dec 10
5. Using Gmail on the iPhone, Sept 28
6. Brandframe Takes Product Placement Online, Aug 12
7. Last.fm Let Me Down, Sept 13
8. Marketing to Bloggers, Oct 09
9. High-Give to Urban Dictionary, Sept 19
10. In Rainbows Update, Oct 09

Most traffic was driven from organic search results. Here are the top organic search terms driving traffic:

1. Andrew Baisley
2. Broken iPhone Screen
3. iPhone Broken Screen
4. Shane Goes
5. Johnny27
6. Brandframe
7. iPhone Screen Broken
8. Scrobble iPhone
9. Broken iPhone
10. Facebook Email Photos

It's obvious why Broken iPhone Screen is my top viewed post. However, I should also note that the vast, vast majority of visitors view the homepage only, as opposed to clicking through to the permalinks. So this data could be somewhat misleading.

New on The Site: Voki and AdBrite

Some new things on the site... in the sidebar, under the Content module up top, I've added a Voki. It's a little creepy and I'm not sure exactly what it's for, but I had fun making it. He sort of looks like me, but not really. Click play to hear a little recorded welcome I did last night. I stumbled on the word "subscribe," considered re-recording and decided that it gives the thing at least a little humanity. So I can't speak straight - I'll survive.

I also added an AdBrite skyscraper unit in the sidebar, down the page a little ways. I replaced an AdSense unit. I don't ever intend to make money off this site, but I am interested in advertising technologies and the differences between each provider. It's mostly my way to evaluating and exploring the options.

Let me know what you guys think.

Movable Type Problems

Lots of problems installing Movable Type (over the last two days!). Anyway, I've given up for now. Maybe it's something I need to tackle as a weekend project. Eh, whatever. I'm back for now. Sorry for the downtime. It was pointless.

Changes to This Blog

Just a heads up - the blog will be up and down today as I make some changes. I'm thinking about switching over to Movable Type and will be experimenting with that. Stay tuned.

Picture of Me

Someone has been searching on the site for a picture of me. There isn't one, so here you go:

Now that's what I call proactive reader engagement.

Free Website Ribbons

Came across this cool website via Digg's frontpage. It's a corner ribbon generator. And, it's free. I created one that says, "Subscribe to RSS" and links to my RSS feed. Pretty simple, but draws attention.

Note: current RSS readers will need to click through to the site to see what I'm talking about.

Week of Insanity

I've been so busy this week that I entirely forgot that I had a blog. Sorry about that. I'll be back fresh on Monday and, unlike WGA members, I'll write a few things up for you guys.

Reminder: Blogger's Challenge Still On

I just wanted to give everyone a quick reminder that the Blogger's Challenge is still going on. The challenge officially ends tomorrow and some projects remain unfunded. I've decided to promote Fred Wilson's challenge. You can see my original post here.

These are great projects and time is running out on this challenge. Even just a few bucks make a difference, so go help them out.

Getting Down to Business

My friend Patrick wrote up a funny little post about an IM conversation we had yesterday. Besides the fact that he is getting damn old (he's not really, mind you), I found the whole discovery process interesting:

First, some background, Patrick and I worked together at WPTV around 2001-2002. He had a brief stint in New York where we would hang from time to time, but since then, we largely keep in touch via the intertubes.

1. I IM him a link, followed by a quick conversation
2. I follow link, buy pants, twitter the link
3. This morning, check my twitter feeds, see that he's twittered about his blog post
4. I try to comment, but can't figure out how to log in to do so (we should discuss that offline, Patrick)
5. I try to trackback, but Blogger doesn't support that (boo!)
6. So, I write this blog post
7. Patrick will probably find out about it via this blog's RSS feed (but, I'm just guessing)

I have two thoughts about this. One, it's super cool that we're able to keep in touch in such dynamic and constantly evolving ways. Two, it's super annoying that there's no (perfected) central location to manage all of this.

I'm still figuring out how to deal with comments on this blog and am considering writing a post today replying to several questions asked in the comments of various posts. Of course, if I do that, and people comment, then I'll need to somehow reply to those... this could spiral out of control! I'm not convinced at all that posting a comment on the same, old post is the best way to reply to a specific comment. The person likely has no idea that I responded and readers are missing out on what could be interesting and useful dialog.

Ah, I suppose I need to look for something a little more robust than Blogger.

Mac vs. PC on Web 2.0 Websites

Does anyone have market research on the percentage of viewers on Mac across Web 2.0 websites? The average number going around, for all sites, is about 5%. But this includes the sites that we all browse everyday at work. Look around you, even as a Mac user, your office is likely full of Windows boxes.

A friend at beYOU.tv explained this theory to me the other day. That the types of websites we visit at work and at home are fundamentally different and that the market share of Mac to PC in those locations is also fundamentally different.

Meaning, Web 2.0 sites, like video sharing sites, are likely to have a higher percentage of views from Mac users than, say, The New York Times website.

The graph above shows the percentages on this site for the previous month. Not that I'm implying this is a Web 2.0 site, but 26% is a hell of a lot higher than 5%.

Bloggers Unite, Donors Choose

You may have heard about Donors Choose, or maybe not. I don't have enough readers here to justify starting my own challenge to raise money, so I've chosen to link to the current leader, Fred Wilson at A VC. I happen to really like Fred's blog, and I've written about him before on this blog (feel free to use the Lijit search application in my sidebar), so I've decided to link to his challenge.


As the name implies, Donors Choose lets you pick where your money will go. It's a good cause, so go donate.

Blogger Doesn't Support Trackback

This site is being powered by Blogger (a Google product) and I noticed today that Blogger doesn't support trackbacks. Trackbacks, if you don't know, are an innovative way to link to posts on other blogs. Say, for example, you read a blog post somewhere that sparked an idea that you would like to write about. Instead of posting a long comment on the original blog you post on your own blog, use the trackback link and a link to your post automatically appears on the original blog.

The benefits are obvious: networking and blog growth, driving traffic, raising content value for both sites, etc. Blogger has a trackback-like feature called Backlinks, but this is specific to Blogger, so I can't 'backlink' or 'trackback' to blogs outside the Blogger network.

Why can't I use trackbacks? Seems silly to me, Google.

TheNewsRoom Embedded Video Player

I'm still in the process of defining exactly what I want this site to be. In the meantime, I figured that it would be a good opportunity to try out some new things. Yesterday I told you about BuzzFeed; today I've added an embedded video player from TheNewsRoom.

A few complaints right off the bat. For one, the player is ugly as hell. As far as I can tell, they don't give you many options on customizing the look and feel. You have a few templates to choose from (none of which fit in my sidebar), but no options on color or custom sizes. Because of this, I have to place the player in a fairly useless spot - at the very bottom of the main content page.

My second complaint is simply one of usability. After I signed up I wasn't sure what to do next. I ended up using code for a general technology-themed player, but I couldn't figure out how to customize the content. That's an issue.

I'll leave the player up for a little while and see how it goes, but I can't see how this would add any value to my readers. If there's no value to you then it shouldn't be there. We'll see though. If you want to keep it, make sure you press play every once in a while.

BuzzFeed

I've added a BuzzFeed widget to the sidebar. BuzzFeed is a fairly interesting concept, which I encourage you to check out. They have a hybrid system of editors and users who basically rank content up and down with the aim of measuring 'buzz.'

From time to time paid content is included (and clearly noted). What I really like about them is that they only accept clients with good content - meaning, they won't necessarily push your content, but they will help you track its viral success.

I think it's a good idea from the same people that brought you The Huffington Post, The Rejection Line and Black People Love Us, among others.

Disclosure: I recently interviewed for a position with BuzzFeed

Hello

Welcome.

We'll explore things here relating to online video, online media, new media, VC, M&A, New York startups and other topics of interest to me. I may also, from time to time, venture into my personal world. So, I hope you enjoy. Please free free to send any feedback.