The River

Just wrote something up about Google’s new Jumpstart program. Am looking forward to talking with them later as soon as folks shuffle into their offices on the West Coast. Will update accordingly.

Thx to SEO Book for the tip.

We’ve been thinking a lot around here about television ad dollars and their migration (or not) to Internet media. Even though folks seem to agree that 18- to 34-year-olds are leaving TV in record numbers — or at least spending a lot of time elsewhere — the upfront seems to keep heading ever-upward (free subscription).

Anyway, all this to lead into a mention of a Wall Street Journal piece today (free link works for 7 days) that seems to confirm the beginning of the departure of ad dollars. The article only mentions a few companies, but they are big ones — P&G, Unilever and American Express.

Quote of the day (from WSJ): “TV is no longer the engine that drives advertising and marketing,” says John Seifert, a top executive at WPP Group PLC’s Ogilvy & Mather, who has worked on the AmEx brand for 20 years.

I’ve been jabbering about it for a while, but on this — the hottest weekend thus far of this rather balmy spring (it got up to 87 degrees F)– I got most of my hair cut off. Contrary to the picture on this blog, my hair had actually grown quite long. It was all one length and at least down to my shoulders. Alas, no more. Now it’s shorter than my husbands, and is prone to sticking up in irregular spikes. (We woke this morning with him laughing and telling me I had a “Mohican” – British for Mohawk.)

So, fair warning to those I haven’t seen in a while that I’ll see at Ad-Tech next week. Look for the woman with the really short spiky hair. So far, I’m loving it, but I anticipate it’ll take some getting used to. Looking forward to seeing folks out in SF!

November 8, 1996. Let’s take a trip back in time with @NY — The New York Internet Newsletter. And how about April 11, 1997.

This was before my time at @NY, but, boy, does it bring back memories. I worked with @NY founders Tom Watson and Jason Chervokas starting early 1998. (Here’s an issue from around that time.) Right out of J-school they put me to work coding HTML and selling advertising. I must have been hungry. Besides paying my dues, I got to write a weekly feature story. That put me in the position of hearing about the hopes and dreams — and vast venture capital-fueled plans — of a whole bunch of ambitious entrepreneurs. Some of ’em are even still around today.

Anyway, the wayback machine is especially interesting in light of today’s go-go climate, at least in the world of Internet advertising and marketing. Just look at the optimism and hope (and arrogance) that filled the world of Silicon Alley in the late 90s.

Thanks to Tom for the trip.

My column this week looks at how marketers and brand managers can get a handle on what’s happening in the blogosphere.

Talked to some really smart folks — Pete Blackshaw from Intelliseek and Steve Rubel from CooperKatz — and I think it turned out pretty well.

This looks delicious, but it’s missing the GPS that I will need (?) to have in my next fitness device. And what about the heart rate monitor?

I’m somehow obsessed with stats when I do workouts. I guess it helps me feel like I’m getting something accomplished — as if the feel of my aching muscles isn’t enough. Here’s what I need:

• Heart rate monitor (Polar – must be compatible with the machines in the gym so I can track my heart rate on the treadmill or elliptical exerciser.)
  
• GPS/Pedometer – How far did I go? How fast? What was my route?
  
• Stopwatch – How long did it take?
  
• MP3 – Entertainment along the way.