Let The Conspiracy Theories (and congressional hearings) Begin

I received this email from Google regarding my account with Google Analytics (website reporting tool).

Google once again positions their collection of data as "open source sharing" and make it sound like such a good internet citizen kind of thing to do.

Just don't forget that they are the ones who are storing/providing it. And linking it into their Doubleclick adserving reports, and tracking browser cookies across their site properties like YouTube, and using the results in sales presentations to sell more services to marketers.

Insert additional conspiracy theories here...

From: Google Analytics
Date: April 9, 2008
Subject: New Optional
Benchmarking Feature Available in Google Analytics

Dear Google Analytics users,
We are writing to let you know about a change in our service offerings. If you have logged into your account recently, you may have noticed that you can now choose to share your Google Analytics data. By providing data sharing options, we hope to provide you with transparency, control, and new services based on your preferences.

To learn more about data sharing settings, visit our FAQs: http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?answer=87515

We're also happy to announce industry benchmarking as the first new feature available to those who opt to share their data. Benchmarking lets you compare your metrics against industry verticals.

The industry benchmarking feature is currently in beta. Once you have enabled benchmarking, it may take up to two weeks before the categorized, aggregated and anonymized benchmarking data shows up in your reports.

For more information on the benchmarking service, visit our FAQs: http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/topic.py?topic=13909

In addition to the new benchmarking service, opting to share your data will also enable you to take advantage of new advanced Google products and services as they become available. We think these services will offer greater insight and sophistication to users who have opted to share their data. However, if you would prefer not to use these services, simply specify on the settings page that you don't want to share your data.

Sincerely,
The Google Analytics Team

Finally, a home for those Grateful Dead jams

Interesting report of a super data storage technology out of the UK = Racetrack computer memory.

"IBM says this technology could enable a handheld device such as an mp3 player to store around 500,000 songs or around 3,500 movies - 100 times more than is possible today."

Can't wait to see at what point the human mind breaks under the weight of "content pressure" = the desire to collect more and more content just because you can. At which point Google launches their handheld Google InfoBox that can hold all information in the world, all the time for instant access. Very Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

WebiGamingSodes? Video Gamecasting?

If you are a Homestar Runner addict, then you are probably also a heavy viewer of the Strongbad Email animated webisodes/podcasts.

They took the same approach with their upcoming Wii game. Not just a one-time game experience, they are breaking it out of the "game level" approach to gaming. Instead releasing it as syndicated game content = 5 "episodes" released one month apart. And I'm sure future options to release more game episodes for an additional fee.

Here's the details and a totally awesome game trailer.

The creators are extremely anti-commercial (they could have sold out to Cartoon Network years ago), so it would be surprising if they accept marketing dollars. But the opportunity for product placement or sponsorship of "bonus scenes" could be huge.

Anyone Got a Mr. T Webcam?

A celebrity's name/likeness can be a powerful brand, applied to fashion lines, perfume fragrances, gourmet food, even wines.

But sometimes all that fame can go to their heads. For instance, there was a lot of buzz last year when the Kevin Federline Search Engine launched. Yes, a search engine "hosted" by a celebrity.

In reality it was a promotion stunt. Search through this engine (powered by Google and Ask) and have a chance to win Kevin Federline paraphenalia. Your keyword search is your cost of entry. The chance you will click on a sponsored link in the results is the promotion company's ROI.

It must have worked, because they now have a wide variety of celebrity-branded search pages including Kiss, Mandy Moore, Barry Manilow, and even the Indianapolis Colts.

Kanye West just announced the launch of his travel site. Yes, a travel booking site hosted by a celebrity.

I can just see the spoiled brats of Hollywood badgering their parents. "But Mom, Tori Spelling's daughter got a video-sharing portal for her birthday. I want one tooooooo! And not one of those lame widgets that you gave us for Christmas."

At least Angelina and Brad's kids have a head start. They registered 24 domain name versions of their names just in case. Suri Cruise wasn't so lucky.

The Pornification of Emerging Media

There's an old saying that you know an online technology is ready for the mainstream when the porn industry adopts it.

Looks like Twitter-style microblogging has finally reached puberty. From TechCrunch:

Twatr.net: Adult Twitter clone
Twatr.net is trying to keep a low profile but according to the founders it’s basically a Twitter for adults. The site is SFW right now and they’re building out HD video and image streaming/sharing along with some impressive audio features for those who might be afraid to bare it all. The Amsterdam-based company just closed a 2 million euro funding round.

The "Perception of Free" could be the new "Free"

So Chris Anderson's latest Wired article (about how "free" is the future of business) is now the #1 viral business idea getting emailed around corporate board rooms, marketing departments, and Marketing 201 classes.

Based on how his previous concept "The Long Tail" had a long tail of its own (it still shows up in marketing presentations), you can expect this one to have a decent half life. Especially with the book version coming out next year.

It will be interesting to see how the “perception of free” works its way into the e-commerce model.

I pay $79 a year for Amazon Prime, which gives me “free” 2 day shipping on almost all orders regardless of purchase amount. Which causes me to buy more things, more frequently throughout the year. E-commerce snacking.

Apple and Nokia are looking into an “all you can eat” music device that gives you a lifetime of “free” music downloads.

Which could lead to a Long Tail of Free essay from Mr. Anderson in 2010, followed by a book. Which probably won't be free.

No Shit Sherlock headline of the day

"Clinton Promotes Elton John Fundraiser On Facebook, MySpace"

Next up: "Sliced Cheese Maker Places Animated Banners on Recipe Site"

Jakob Neilsen Trumped by Webcrawlers

Google recently announced a new modification to their natural search rankings, based on site page file weight/download time. Sites with excessive file sizes will be ranked lower than other sites with similar content. According to this Mediapost blog:

Google states that this initiative will: 1) improve user experience and 2) help advertisers improve conversion rates. Google plans to roll this out over the coming weeks and provide advertisers with load-time calculations for review. Site owners will have 4 weeks to review their load-time stats and make changes before Google will integrate load time into the Quality algorithm.

Is this Google's first step into enforcing good usability practices across the world wide web? In a world that increasingly goes broadband, does it really make a difference? Or maybe a strategic move to get sites ready for their Android mobile platform, which would benefit from faster page downloads. Whatever the motivation, MySpace page owners are screwed.

You have to imagine that the sites penalized the most will be the big marketers. The ones spending money to build big beautiful, and often Flash heavy, sites. The same ones who buy Google keywords through Adsense. Bumping them down the natural search results would be one way to force them to buy more keywords.

I'm sure the SEO companies are loving it. Especially the ones who have been quietly building up site creative/production capabilities. Nothing helps a new business pitch like showing clients that not only do they rank on page 3 of search results for cherished industry keywords, but their current agency's bloated Flash content is the cause. Better pull those HTML 3.0 developers out of retirement.

Unfortunately the sites with the slimmest file size are the fake content ones. Those run by people trying to make a quick buck by serving up a bunch of ad links on their landing page and collecting the referral fees. Which means Google might be inadvertently promoting search spam.

Next Up, Viral Email!

I think they are taking this a little too far...

Discover the power of Web 2.0 email marketing:

Take the 5 steps that lead to customer-centric campaigns delivering unrivaled results. Silverpop's "Web 2.0 Email Marketing" will show you how to fully utilize rich recipient data for strong customer engagement.

Do No Evil... Yet.

Google is hilarious. Everyone thinks they are "just a search engine." That now owns one of the largest online ad networks, the largest video repository, photos of every place on Earth, is trying to scan in all the books ever printed, and probably 15 other scary things that you haven't heard about yet.

Forget about Microsoft's monopoly of computer systems/software. Google will have a monopoly on information itself. Which, as long as they are open about it, is fine. But once they go cloak and dagger on us, then get nervous.

Two reports this week that start to make that point:

Google to media companies: We're your friend
Google has no plans to become a provider of content, but wants to be viewed as a partner by traditional media companies, according to David Eun, VP, content partnerships. Eun, speaking at a conference Monday, dismissed speculation that Google will evolve into a full-fledged content producer. "That's absolutely not the case for us," Eun said.

Google Goal: Collect All Advertiser Assets
If Google has its way, all the world's ads will belong to it. Speaking at the annual Bear Stearns Media Conference, the firm discussed its brand and display ad goals, revealing its hope to become a virtual warehouse for every advertiser's ad assets. "We have a long term horizon here which is we want every advertiser in the world to put all of their assets into our system," said Tim Armstrong, Google's president, advertising and commerce, North America. "That's really what we're focused on." Kate Kaye, The ClickZ Network, reports.

No Shit Sherlock headline of the day

Online Video Will Not Replace TV

"There is no correlation between US Internet users watching video online and a potential audience for television content delivered on the Internet. Just because consumers are currently watching free, short-form video does not necessarily indicate there is a viable business model to support viewing of traditional TV content online."

Shameless Work Plug

We launched our first branded widget. Supports a music promotion for teens. Install from the promo site:

http://www.bodybymilk.com/music/

Includes streaming music and video clips. We partnered with Clearspring to produce it and measure performance.