Quotation: Restate the problem

"The greatest challenge to any thinker is stating the problem in a way that will allow a solution."

- Bertrand Russell

Having a thorough understanding of the problem, and knowing what problem it is you're trying to solve, are key elements to any project's success.

Freeconomics

A couple months ago I wrote that free is the new black. In the latest issue of Wired magazine, editor in chief Chris Anderson has an outstanding article on the topic and how it is redefining the way we do business online. Chris was the author of the incredibly influential book The Long Tail. This article is a preview of his next book, Free, due out in 2009.

Death of the webmaster

Many of our grandfathers built their own houses. And from the foundation to the roof, they knew everything about them. They knew which fuse to pull and replace, how to adjust that squeaky door and how to troubleshoot the plumbing problem.

Today, I have a nice house. I know how to change the furnace filter. But plumbing is not my strong suit and I'm still not sure how to work the gas fireplace. I manage by relying on experts - plumbers, electricians, cable repair guys - when I need to.

Websites have evolved in a similar fashion. There was a time, not that long ago really, when organizations would appoint a single person to "run the website." They were called a webmaster or a webmistress. They were generalists who were expected to be a jack of all trades, having skills ranging from coding and design to copywriting and marketing. It was the era of FrontPage, hit counters, and static web content.

But today's sophisticated websites demand more attention and expertise than one person can manage. Today a team of individuals, representing different business units and different organizational priorities, are often responsible for the website. And just like my call to the electrician or plumber, some functions such as site hosting, application development, or search engine optimization are outsourced to companies outside the organization who have more expertise or capabilities in those fields.

Yes, even for most small organizations, the days of one-person web shop are over. But, despite the title of this post, the webmasters didn't die off like the dinosaurs. They are still around although their titles and responsibilities may have changed. Today they are probably the Director of Web Operations or the Vice President of Digital Media. Just like my Grandfather, they probably catch themselves speaking of "how we did things in the olden days of the previous century" once in a while.

Breakthrough Ideas for 2008

Here's an interesting read from the Harvard Business Review. It's their annual look at the emerging trends in business.

Free is the new black

Radiohead. The New York Times. Google Docs. Photoshop.

The unifying thread? Free is a business strategy.

More than ever before, companies are finding new and innovative ways to get their products into the hands of the consumer. Often the easiest way to do this is to give the product away. The thought is the business will make their money in other ways. (i.e. Radiohead will sell more concert tickets and t-shirts; The NY Times will sell more advertising due to increased traffic.)

The Internet has changed consumers' expectations. We don't want to pay sales tax. Or shipping and handling costs. We want free phone calls, free music, and free classifieds.

Several newspapers now offer free print versions in addition to their free online versions. Software often comes with a free trial. Lawyers offer a free initial consultation. Tech companies offer free white papers.

Even when companies do charge for a product, they are finding creative ways to offer extras - free refills and WiFi at the coffee shop. Free shipping and gift-wrapping. Buy one get one free. And why not? People love getting things for free.

But it may seem scary to just give your product away. Many companies "give it away" without a clear definition of what success will look like. Think through your "free" strategy and figure out what you're trying to accomplish. Is it about business leads? Email addresses? Loyalty? Publicity?

The trick is to make sure the gift keeps on giving.

10 rules for a great website

Seth Godin has put together a nice list of principles to consider when creating a new (or maintaining an existing) website.

While I understand the point, it's often impossible to "fire the committee" in the real world. The key is to gather requirements and ideas from the stakeholders but keep the key decisions in the hands of a select few. But if the committee is truly "fired" and feels like they are not being included in the process, the project will fail.

"Free news here! Get your free news."

The New York Times announced earlier this week that they would no longer charge for full access to their website. Many have called this the death of paid content on the web. "If the New York Times can't make a pay-for-access model work, it can't be done" goes the line of thinking.

I think it's more a matter of the type of content. News has become commoditized. Many print newspapers have become free at the newstand. It's hard to charge for a product similar in every way to free ones available from CNN, WashingtonPost.com, FoxNews, etc. It's no coincidence that there aren't "premium" news channels" on your cable or satellite service.

But in my opinion, this does not signal the death of pay-for-content on the web. Plenty of sites thrive now with this model by providing content not easily obtained elsewhere. Sports sites give you more or "inside access" to certain information for a fee. Niche sites dealing with particular topics can do well.

The question you have to ask is "Do you have a unique and compelling content offering?" If so, people may be willing to pay for it.

It's bad, but hey it's free!

Here's an inciteful take on a curious strategy from Time Warner. I guess it's better than nothing, but it's hard to compete with a product when your goal is to be not as good.

Time Warner vs. TIVO