MetaMuse

Using Attention Data for User Value

Jeremy Liew writes a post demonstrating the wise use of attention data, and adding value to users. I've been critical of many viewpoints on the "attention economy" (see my post regarding virtuous profiling and the implicit web), but Jeremy echoes the sentiments I wrote for how implicit profiling ought to be done for user value:

This is a good example of attention data in action. Some people call it the implicit web. There are three reasons that this creates a good user experience:

1. It requires no effort from the user (because it uses implicit metadata that is gleaned from watching normal activity)
2. It is presented contextually (so you’re not overwhelmed with data when you don’t need it)
3. It informs decision/actions that the user might take.

The only thing he misses is the importance of privacy controls, but that was due to the context of his post. In a company like Others Online, clearly he'd see the importance of user privacy controls.

Party at Others Online!

My company Others Online just pushed out some new features, made a great hire, and recently moved into some cool space. Plus it's September, so let's have a little party in celebration of all that and the fact that Seattle is a great place to be a startup geek.

I'm buying a keg and some pizza. We start at 6pm Wednesday night the 12th (hump day) and go until the beer is done! (Address, map and directions).

We'll even give you some promotion and link love out of the deal, if you like. Bug bash our new regisration page at www.othersonline.com -- just enter in your blog/site URL and some keywords for yourself, and we'll show you to others online (in context). Don't believe me? See a graph of how often you're shown to others (which we're pretty excited about). Tag yourself "OOParty" and learn more about each other. Existing users can now sign in, manage their profile and view their reports from our Web site.

Your registration isn't required to attend the party, but I hope people will do it anyway -- currently it's the only way I'll know who and how many are coming!  If you can't come to the party, but feel like testing/bashing our service anyway -- that would be delightful!

A Voice of Reason (and analysis)

I love it when people write me to say they finally started blogging. I love it even more when I go to their blog a week later and they have several kick-ass posts.

My friend Kevin Merritt, who recently started a company called Blist (short for Web list), just started blogging -- take a look. I have a lot of respect for Kevin, and I enjoy talking to him. He's very smart and just loves to drill deep into conversations and analysis. He doesn't shoot from the hip, he makes reasoned decisions.

For instance, look at his recent post on selecting an attorney. Or his other posts. That's Kevin -- good stuff.

Awareness and Usage of Blogs

Very interesting. Just read this news from MarketingVox and wanted to jot down some key takeaways:

• 40% of Americans have visited a blog, and 80% know what a blog is. Moreover, 8% have their own.
• Nearly 90% of those aged 25-34 know what a blog is, and 78% of them have visited a blog. This means that 70% of those aged 25-34 have visited a blog (compared to 29% of older Americans).
• They didn't break down that 8% stat by age group, but I'll bet it's around 12% of 25-34 year olds have a blog.
• Nearly one-third of blog visitors clicked on an advertisement while reading a blog.