These two articles are a must read!
http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/10/16/prosper-and-other-p2p-lenders-get-squeezed-by-the-credit-crunch
http://www.techcrunch.com/
Is contextual advertising starting to lose some steam? I have always assumed that most quality content publishers know exactly who their potential advertisers are and should sell ads directly to them for lots of reasons. If AdSense pays publishers on average $.25 cents per click, could you sell it directly to the advertiser for $.75-$1 profitably and provide more value? I would like to find a company that provides the best click management software to the small publisher and helps us get back to the basics of business and building relationships. I am looking for a software as a service company and not an ad network or ad server. Don't ask me how does it scales or makes money either as I want to solve the problem first. I think in the next couple of years we are going to see a lot of successful companies built that attack entrenched businesses that use the KISS philosophy. Keep it simple software or stupid.
A real opportunity is finally emerging for a disruptive ad solution and not an ad network that focuses on enabling publishers to sell ads direct to advertisers. Google Ad Words has conditioned lazy ad agencies, publishers & advertisers to rely on content network syndication that has zero transparency. I believe good content attracts good advertisers and a simple solution is needed to manage these direct adverting relationships. Below is a overview of the current online advertising world if you are unfamiliar with this complex and often confusing industry.
From: openads, 3 days ago
Range of and capacitiy have been major limitations for existing cell tower solutions. I am not an engineer but it would seem that if a cell down can only reach customers over a few square miles than the technology is probably old. I have heard Wifi and Wimax tests have proven to work up to 100 miles. I also know how to make a phone call using VOIP. So if you add 1+1 together you get a Wifi / VOIP mobile phone. Is it going to take an innovator like Google to enter the wireless carrier business before existing carriers will wakeup and invest in the future? Google does know how to provide a good service to its customers and monetize that experience through advertising profitably. Why can't the same be done with free mobile phones?