We've all heard the adage, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." That's very true for digital media, especially when it comes to measurement.

Everywhere I go, people want to know if the turnaround is happening. It sure feels like it. From the ebullient feeling at iMedia to individual conversations with buyers and sellers nationwide, it is clear that something is happening. John Durham of Interep says that June and August are starting to look decent. The jury apparently still being out on July. I have a couple of observations.

The FCC voted this week to overturn media ownership regulations that have held sway over the media business for some 50 years. It is difficult to know exactly whether or not this is something that will be good or bad, but I think it is quite clear that in this instance, the FCC's vote is good for media companies, bad for media consumers.

One of the big selling points for online advertising over the last few years has been the concept of personalization. The ability for marketers to personalize their advertising to "the one" or "the few" has been attractive as it focuses the message specifically on the needs and desires of a smaller group, thereby increasing the potential for response.

I sit on the board of a local organization called Boston Interactive Media Association (BIMA). Last week we had an event entitled "Demystifying Search Engine Marketing." In attendance were planners/buyers, vendors, search firms, and clients alike. A few years ago we had a similar event. I forget the exact title but it was something like, "Why rankings aren't enough." Back then few people were talking about search. And those who did focused solely on search engine optimization (SEO). Such efforts were to drive traffic to websites.

In the long term, I don't know whether Salon will thrive or crater. F--ked Company's constant warnings about its cash situation notwithstanding, Salon has been one of my daily surf stops for years, and I'd hate to see it go.

At E3 a couple of weeks ago one of the amazing data points was that South Korea is 67% wireless! What are they all doing with these wireless computers? It seems like they are playing MMOGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Games). South Korea is the biggest market for this phenomenon.

The issue of compensation, particularly for those agencies providing interactive media services, is an important one. The resolution will determine what level of service and be provided, what kind of fiscal viability the agency will have, and what level of commitment a client has to the use of the media (do they see it as a marketing tool of strategic value or a commodity?).

As everyone knows by now, Search Engine Marketing works. Search continues to be one of the primary elements for any marketer, brand development or direct response, as it drives both awareness and acquisition. None of this comes as a surprise to anyone who is involved in online advertising, but what may come as a surprise is the amount of work that goes into making these programs effective.

Hey Earthlink. I've got a product I'd like to sell you. It's called the "HTTP Blocker" and it will give your users the flexibility to use your service without encountering any of the annoyances of the web. Pop-ups, interstitials, rich media ads - It won't matter. My new product effectively caps off port 80, so that none of these things can get through and annoy your users. Then they'll be able to hang out on IRC, bitching to one another about how commercial interests have ruined the web for everyone.