Wonder what's it's like to be the guy that wrote this in Newsweek back in 1995:
“The truth is no online database will replace your daily newspaper…”
“…Nicholas Negroponte, director of the MIT Media Lab, predicts that we'll soon buy books and newspapers straight over the Intenet. Uh, sure.”
“Internet addicts clamor for government reports. But when Andy Spano ran for county executive in Westchester County, N.Y., he put every press release and position paper onto a bulletin board. In that affluent county, with plenty of computer companies, how many voters logged in? Fewer than 30. Not a good omen.”
“Then there's cyberbusiness. We're promised instant catalog shopping--just point and click for great deals. We'll order airline tickets over the network, make restaurant reservations and negotiate sales contracts. Stores will become obsolete. So how come my local mall does more business in an afternoon than the entire Internet handles in a month? Even if there were a trustworthy way to send money over the Internet--which there isn't--the network is missing a most essential ingredient of capitalism: salespeople.”
“Computers and networks isolate us from one another. A network chat line is a limp substitute for meeting friends over coffee.”
And the ultimate irony of this ancient article is that can be found, wait for it, online. Ah the good old days. Can’t really say I blame the guy. I was there myself not too long ago. The lesson to be learned here is that judging the world by yesterdays knowledge makes you look pretty silly when you get left in the dust. Just ask Ptolemy.
Words of wisdom on pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads and how to use them from Amanda Congdon. Check it out because the sister speaks the truth.
http://starring.amandacongdon.com/2007/08/03/secrets-to-online-advertising/
(CEO not pictured here. These are other Ad Tech heroes. Or not.)
Nick Brien, Universal McCann CEO, gave the keynote address at this years Ad Tech and spoke truth to power. His comments are a must read. In sum:
1) It's not about new media, it's about new marketing.
2) Legacy thinking is bad. Bad for clients, bad for agencies.
3) Brands need to be destinations and experiences, thus consumer insights must be better.
4) Consumer generated content is a powerful thing
5) New model calls for collaboration between media companies, agencies, and brands.
6) New model is scary. Don't fear it, love it.
From Brien's mouth to the ears of clients and agencies everywhere.
See the summary of Brien's address in AdAge.
NOTE: Here's the podcast of Brien's keynote address.
