Summary: This article discusses the ongoing battle between publishers and AI, caricatured as “Skynet.” The author suggests four strategies for publishers to combat AI: altering the robots.txt file, enforcing server-side measures, updating terms and conditions for potential lawsuits, and developing their own large language models. However, the article acknowledges the challenges, such as AI’s ability…
Summary: This article explores the challenges surrounding micropayments as a revenue model for news media. The author considers various reasons for skepticism, including a lack of a universal standard, perceived complexity, and the convenience of ad-supported or subscription-based models. The article also discusses the emotional debate around micropayments and questions their impact on traditional journalism….
Summary: The author criticizes articles that make generalizations about generations like Gen Z. While there are averages, individuals within a group can vary widely. Instead, focus on managing people based on their specific characteristics and needs rather than labeling them based on demographics. However, such articles can be valuable in pointing out issues that may…
Summary: The article discusses the shift from ad-funded models to subscription-based revenue in media, playing off 8 keys points from Carolyn Morgan. Audience segmentation is crucial for effective online marketing and content personalization. Focus on content valued by potential subscribers rather than casual visitors. Determine which content goes behind a paywall based on uniqueness and…
Summary: This article emphasizes the importance of staying within one’s area of expertise when creating content. The author recounts a podcast interview with a priest who made compelling arguments in his field but sounded foolish when discussing geology. The article advises content creators to stick to what they know and seek expert input when venturing…
I want to have a cocktail after dinner tonight, so I thought about variations on the Negroni. Doing that the old-fashioned way — with a Google search, then reading several different pages — is slow and stupid. I just asked ChatGPT “Please give me the classic recipe for a negroni, then show me five popular…
Summary: Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) offer the potential for real-time data consolidation and customer engagement. However, achieving true real-time execution depends on various factors. These limitations encompass challenges in personalization, e-commerce, fraud detection, and third-party data integration. Key factors include data update frequency, processing requirements, and the need for immediate data access, making it essential…
Summary: The article explores the potential impact of personalized AI agents on publishers and platforms like LinkedIn, Google, and Facebook. It questions whether AI will make platforms redundant as AI agents can provide tailored content and services directly. The author suggests that AI agents may undermine the need for platforms, as they can deliver content,…
Summary: Gall’s Law, planned cities like Brasilia, and the constructed language Esperanto all have one thing in common: they all show that experts can’t plan certain things. Rather, they must evolve organically through real-life experience. A radically user-centric approach to website design might be an effective counter to the fear that AI might replace content-based…
Summary: Google, OpenAI, and Bing are using website content to train AI, which will have a devastating effect on publisher websites. The New York Times is showing the way by forbidding their content’s use for AI training. While this may delay the decline of publisher websites, chatbots and AI are improving. The path forward requires…
Summary: Software companies are embracing subscription models for recurring revenue, similar to how Microsoft Office shifted from one-time purchases to subscriptions. Now, a debate arises regarding the ownership of eBooks. Libraries typically follow a “one copy, one user” model for eBooks, but the Internet Archive has not followed that model. Corporate publishers want to treat…
Summary: To improve the performance of your e-newsletter sign-up process, (1) Make it pop, (2) Make it compelling, (3) Make it easy, and (4) Make it fast. Avoid these all-too-common mistakes with your e-newsletter sign-up Email is becoming more and more important to publishing companies as search traffic gets scarcer. And I predict it’s only…
Summary: Traditional news outlets struggle because their offerings are much more limited now. The internet has taken away most of the money makers, and what they have left is “news,” which is not the greatest seller. Some local news outlets are doing well by focusing on email as a content delivery mechanism. But email is…
Summary: After 100 daily podcasts, I’ve learned (1) have lots of sources for new material, (2) Focus on steady improvement, (3) ask for the money. Watch • Listen On my whiteboard I have a list of six things publishers can do with their content. Update me Educate me Keep me on trend Give me perspective Divert me…
Summary: Use cases are more important than identity in constructing a customer data platform. To understand their relative roles, use the device framework and the person framework. The former involves understanding device requests, activity, and collecting identifiers, while the latter deals with complex individual identities across devices. The article stresses the need to consider both…