PANESAR.net » Social Media

Joel Spolsky quits blogging? But I like breathing!

Jas Panesar — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:39:10 +0000

I came across an article by Joel Spolsky in Inc. Magazine announcing he’s quitting his blog.

For one of the original software development bloggers, at the center of the startup, micro-isv movement to make a decision like this, it seems a little strange at first..

Joel mentions a number of reasons that I think are interesting of what a startup may face, once a startup has.. started up.

Part of the reason he’s no longer writing is that he has so many customers that his blog posts seem to deeply offend one of his clients in one way or another.Plausible? Sure. But isn’t differentiation what a product is built on? I think this could be the topic of a blog post on it’s own by Joel to see what kind of things others in startups have to look forward to when you get large(r).
Growth means there’s revenue for traditional advertising. I would think, though, that tools for developers are ultimately best directly connected to them instead of magazine ads?

Joel might be big enough and he doesn’t need to, or can’t benefit from blogging as he did prior… With Stack Overflow taking on the answer / thought market and opening things up beyond him, maybe there’s room for a lot more voices, that can be found easily.

Maybe Joel was developing the best bug tracking software in the world, and attracting the best developers in the world, so that when FogBugz reached it’s sweet spot, he can go onto building the best software company in the world?

Who knows.

I do know that writing, and sharing doesn’t leave you once you start, and know the value of being shared with, especially after many years.

Joel’s posts have helped so many that I don’t think many will lose their value or relevance. Whether it was the pay-scale matrix, or why the command and conquer or econ 101 management won’t work with software developers, it’s rare to have reasonably concise, applicable, exploratory rants that were sane as it’s readers most of the time, and willing to have it’s share of mind-stretching ideas like anyone being stretched by growth.

If this is the last of Joel blogging, thanks for doing it. The fact that Joel replies to emails and shared what he learnt so others could join the movement to make the world a better place with better software.

Will it be the last we hear from him in books, conferences, articles elsewhere..? Doubt it. His recent introduction to mercurial at www.hginit.com is a prime example.

I hope Joel continues to create and write, and if not, we see his writing has inspired others to write and share.

Joel I know you read more than you ever let on, so if your eyes reach here, which I’ll do my best to ensure, remember that with our talents we have a responsibility to share what has been shared and taught to us by life and others. No guilt trip intended, the world owes us nothing.

Let’s step back from this and see the general picture.

Does this decision by Joel mean blogging is ultimately useless for startups? I don’t think so. At all.

Most companies, indeed, do use their blogs for boring news releases is relevant.

Blogs are all about relevancy. Blogs, like products that provide relevancy thrive.

Blogs will always have their place to share information, and for us, resources for startups looking to reach their market through the public seeking their content. If you don’t have the marketing money, a blog is a key way to demonstrate and share expertise and knowledge.

I can say that the last year of writing this blog has showed me that I need to write more, and often.

Startup Edmonton Launch Party today!!

Jas Panesar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:54:56 +0000

A quick reminder that the new upstart StartupEdmonton is having their launch part today at 6:30 pm at the Matrix Hotel in Edmonton!

This event is a groundbreaking start for the software startup community in Edmonton.. I’ve had a chance to meet the organizers and it’s definitely folks who eat their own cooking and are pursuing startups of their own.

Working in startups can be isolating at the best of times… This is a fantastic opportunity to meet your peers and see where things are headed with events, and your input.

See you there!

Find out more at StartupEdmonton

No one cares about your stupid little startup?

Jas Panesar — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:10:03 +0000

Came across a very interesting slide show called “No one cares about your stupid little startup” from the folks over at xobni.com regarding their launch experience. With a title like that, how could I resist?

Check out the slide show here, my thoughts below.

No One Cares About Your Stupid Little Startup

View more presentations from brezina.

1) I loved the categories of startup. Stealth –> Private Beta –> Nerd Scarcity –> Invite beta –> Iteration –> Public Beta –> GA –> Paid Drivers.

My favorite? Paid drivers.

2) The importance of Marketing and PR. I’ve heard it said that 80% of a product is it’s marketing and PR. Sadly, it’s true and a lot of great products languish because they can’t speak the same language as their customers to make them say “hey, this would be really great for me.”

Anyone who thinks they can go without learning marketing and sales should stay out of startups. Good thing I changed my mind

: When we got PR Help – No one cares about your stupid little startup

3) Tie yourself to a bigger trend. We see them coming often, and do nothing. Every day there is a growing need the more, and more our lives, our photos, our information, our people get more and more connected, more integrated. We need ways to manage, organize, use, and leverage all of this connectedness to improve the quality of our life, not drown in it.

4) Network, network, network. Let every journalist and person you can find know about what you’re doing and how it works. If it’s really that cool, they will help you.

5) Positive Word of Mouth. Advertise and market the best you can. The people who do find you, empower to evangelize for you. LIstne to them. Listen to why they feel they way they do about your product and what they need. Consider it but don’t implement it all.

Customers are attracted to things that do the hard work to make something complex into something simple. Their tendencies for suggestions will often involve complexity, either in wanting features, or in how they are wanting to solve their problems. Listen to their problems, but solve them your way, the way that initially attracted them. Use their help if it feels right.

6) Journalists are lazy. Help them be. I don’t know if I can fully agree with this since I worked at a newspaper for 4 years in Edmonton in the News Research department. I’d say it’s a mix.

The point being made here, though isn’t one to miss out on. Have a clear, concise, printable message. If you do it well enough they will copy and paste, or heavily rely on your wording. Make it sound less like an advertisement and more like an announcement to the benefit of others. Make your media briefings like the articles you want to see, with quotes, testimonials, examples, and it will increase the chances of it being picked up. Learn to write well or get someone who does and it will go a million miles for you.

Enjoy!

Great Video on Social Media Revolution

Jas Panesar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:01:48 +0000

What is Social Media, and why is it becoming important? Is it here to stay?

The main thing I’ve found about Social Media that is unique is instead of customers seeking products, services and solutions; the products and services find the clients by reaching them.

People may look in places. Facebook, Google, Twitter, etc. What reaches them through these means though, is something entirely different than a traditional marketing sense. People are no longer looking for a product. We review. We read. We compare. We debate. We review some more.

In all of this reviewing and deciding there is a taking of people’s opinions. I recently read something that consumers will trust a review 80% of the time in their purchases, and advertising (online or otherwise) about 15% of the time or so. I wish I had the link and if I find it I’ll post it.