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RSSSent By: "Plaxo Pulse" pulse@mx.plaxo.com On April 1, 2008, 12:01 AM
To: brian.roberts@comcast.com
Reply To: pulse@plaxo.com
Dear Brian,
Joe Mandese wants to add you as a business connection on Plaxo's Pulse.
To accept this connection request, go to:
http://pulse.plaxo.com/pulse/connections/confirm/
Thanks!
The Plaxo team
Hmmm, somehow I cannot see Brian Roberts accepting my invitation to Plaxo, even though the Comcast Corp. CEO is plunking down upwards of $175 million to acquire the social networking platform. That's part of the beauty of social networks - people have the right to ignore invitations. So apologies to all you Plaxo devotees whom I've ignored over the past couple of years. Ditto for you LinkedIn linkers, and MySpace cadets. I wasn't ignoring you, I just haven't seen the point of networking with you online when we can do so in person, via the phone, or through one-to-one email communication. So if you still want to connect, it's Joe Mandese, MediaPost, 4th floor, 1140 Broadway, New York, NY, 10001; 212.204.2009; joe@mediapost.com.
Alright, so I am on Facebook, but that was only because I was befriended by a couple of agency big shots like Initiative's Richard Beaven and Aegis' Sarah Fay, and I was afraid of incurring their wrath if I ignored them. Ask Richard how often we network via Facebook. Though, I have had a bit more interaction with Sarah, I still network better the old-fashioned way. So call me old school. I admit it. But I seem to be in the minority, which is why Comcast's acquisition of Plaxo is so intriguing to me.
Meet Joe Mandese at OMMA AdNets LA!
Joe Mandese will be there moderating a panel on "The New Brokers: Agencies Become Networks" on July 28 at 9:45 AM. Top executives will be there. Will you?
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Register today and save.
It's the first move by a major cable TV operator I've seen to date that suggests it is genuinely interested in developing an open community, and doesn't see itself simply as a pipeline, albeit a fairly broad and powerful one. It's also a strong signal that Comcast no longer sees itself as a "walled garden" that can grow by tending what's inside its walls. It's a recognition that being a great conduit will only get you so far in the world of Media 2.0, and that the real opportunity isn't necessarily what you distribute, but what you can bring back in. For Comcast's shareholders, of course, that means a greater return on equity. For Comcast's subscribers, that means giving them the same utilities that they can get just as easily over the broadband-enabled Internet, but letting them do it seamlessly from any screen.
So call the acquisition of Plaxo part of Comcast's screen play, or triple play, or whatever you want to coin it. It's all part of a shift from being a coaxial or optical fiber utility, to being a hub that lets people utilize what they really want, when and where they want it - whether it's on a TV screen, a PC screen, or a hand-held mobile screen.
I'm not sure I understand all the implications of migrating a social networking platform like Plaxo into a television platform like Comcast's 24 million household cable system, but it clearly is going to have a big impact on the future of the small screen. What do you think?
And please answer either by replying to this TV Board post, or via my personal email. I'm feeling guilty enough ignoring all those Plaxo invites. Just as I'm sure Brian Roberts will ignore mine
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Joe, don't take umbrage with Joel. He doesn't understand our own distinct networking preferences. I applaud you, Joe, not Joel, for what you wrote, and I know a scad of people, young, who feel the same way, like you and me.
Excuse the formality of this note but I see we do not know each other nor are we connected in anyway shape or form as far as I can tell (or perhaps we are but you clearly have no way to know).
I think you are missing the point. Plaxo and and other social networking sites such as Linkedin are valuable in and of themselves and not just as tools to be desired by an old media giant to help it in developing an open community. While I will agree with your assumed premise that the old media should be developing a more direct relationship with its consumers, I would say you the old school should be looking to expand your thoughts on the value of online social networking.
You come off like one of those executives who held out against email in favor of more traditional written communication. This is hardly worthy of an Editor-in-Chief who should be more of a thought leader then a technological stick in the mud.
Face it, the millions of professionals on Linkedin and the plethora of people socializing on Facebook, Twitter, Friendfeed, Tumblr and many other socially based web 2.0 sites can not all be wrong.
Networking is something you do for yourself and not for others. Today as Editor-in-Chief the world beats a path to your door but as my more notable brother (now that reference would mean more to you if you were part of a social network along with me but I assume given the unique nature of my last name you will get it none the less) there are friends and friendlies and the real difference is who you will be connected with when the chips are down and the job/title is not in play.
Simple put, when done correctly those in your online network are the people you are truly connected with. Perhaps you only really consider the few people you have connected with onLinkedin and Facebook as worthy of your connection but I somehow doubt it.
I would have respected you more if you had told those few advertising big shots that you were standing your ground and not playing into the system. It is as if you come off in a bad light for having pandered to what for them is a valuable tool.
To use your own words, the rules are changing and so are the times. I certainly hope you are wrong and that Mr. Roberts and Comcast see more in Plaxo then you do. Things are on the move and it is more important to ever to be connected both with one's consumers if you are a media giant or with your network of valued connections if you are an executive in any business.
Now there are executives who to this day survive without email and without other technological tools and perhaps even flourish without them. However, they are the exception and to be sure one needs not look far or deep into their organizations before finding executives who do get these tools and do use them.
I will stand and defend your right to stay connected in the manner of your choosing, but I would argue that those who find a way to maximize their social connectivity using these new tools will win the day.
Joel Ordesky Chief Technical Officer Wexler Video
It has to do with how consumers and businesses relate with each other.
Right now there are two companies with the focus and scale to pull it off: Facebook and Plaxo.
Marry retail presence with web video, and all of a sudden there are new uses for production facilities across the country.
PS I'm no Brian Roberts, but I would still like to be your friend :)
However, what is Comcast doing buying this crap? Look what MySpace has done for NewsCorp. Not much. And that's exactly what it's going to do for Comcast.
Comcast needs to be thinking about ways to make my triple-play bill work harder (more HD please, don't just tell me every 5 seconds) for ME. This doesn't even remotely (Ha!) tie in with their business line unless they incorporate it in with their Comcast.net site... Hmmm.
I have no problem with them joining the media 2.0 world, but Plaxo? I guess it's the cheapest thing out there and maybe the most versatile as it's a cross between business and personal networking.
Give my regards to Brian Roberts!
Like you, I just pick up the phone or send someone an email. I get the concept, I just don't want to deal with another form of connectivity.
Let me know if Brian Roberts accepts your invitation! This was the laugh of the day, thanks.