Comments on: AOL Sees Strong Growth In Sites After Year Long Revamping http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/ Startup and Technology News Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:25:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: AOL To Shutter A Slew Of Products, EVP Kevin Conroy’s Future Uncertain http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2419297 AOL To Shutter A Slew Of Products, EVP Kevin Conroy’s Future Uncertain Fri, 25 Jul 2008 00:43:23 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2419297 [...] Bill Wilson, EVP Programming. Wilson controls AOL’s content sites, including the blogs, News, Movies, Lifestyle, and Celebrity Gossip. He’s seen as a rising star at AOL, with many of his properties growing rapidly. [...] [...] Bill Wilson, EVP Programming. Wilson controls AOL’s content sites, including the blogs, News, Movies, Lifestyle, and Celebrity Gossip. He’s seen as a rising star at AOL, with many of his properties growing rapidly. [...]

]]> By: AOL’s Ad Strategy Still Waiting to Kick In http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2238423 AOL’s Ad Strategy Still Waiting to Kick In Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:11:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2238423 [...] on ads it sells on its own sites than on ads it sells on other sites. That is why it is trying to boost its own pageviews by upgrading its sites and is the reason why it bought Bebo for $850 million earlier this year. The [...] [...] on ads it sells on its own sites than on ads it sells on other sites. That is why it is trying to boost its own pageviews by upgrading its sites and is the reason why it bought Bebo for $850 million earlier this year. The [...]

]]> By: Frank Church http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2229745 Frank Church Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:12:30 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2229745 "EvanT"- You get up a bit later on the weekend, eh? My point was (in #34), that you are ALL THE SAME PERSON! Just because you chose one persona to come back and refute the idea does nothing for your credibility. Go read another set of comments and you will understand why you stick out like a sore thumb. It isn't about being a shill, or being ok with being a shill. It is that you took the time to comment under 8 different names. “EvanT”- You get up a bit later on the weekend, eh? My point was (in #34), that you are ALL THE SAME PERSON!

Just because you chose one persona to come back and refute the idea does nothing for your credibility.

Go read another set of comments and you will understand why you stick out like a sore thumb.

It isn’t about being a shill, or being ok with being a shill. It is that you took the time to comment under 8 different names.

]]> By: EvanT http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2227920 EvanT Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:43:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2227920 Frank -- you are correct, I am not an avid commenter on TC but I am a fan of AOL Finance. If that makes me an AOL shill in your view, I am ok with that. I gather from your remarks you either disagree with me or you have not taken the time to check out what the site has done, particularly in the stock quotes area. I also saw apple promoting aol's iphone app this week on the apple web site. Not sure if you took the time to check that our either - but I think it is very strong. If that makes me a shill too, I am ok with that. Frank — you are correct, I am not an avid commenter on TC but I am a fan of AOL Finance. If that makes me an AOL shill in your view, I am ok with that. I gather from your remarks you either disagree with me or you have not taken the time to check out what the site has done, particularly in the stock quotes area. I also saw apple promoting aol’s iphone app this week on the apple web site. Not sure if you took the time to check that our either - but I think it is very strong. If that makes me a shill too, I am ok with that.

]]> By: chance http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2226488 chance Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:29:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2226488 AOL still have more revenue than Facebook, which will need to place more ads and partnerships to ever make money. Yahoo will benefit from AOL's strategy. Yahoo 360 for example was a terrible name, maybe something with a little bit more buzz and individual identity - no one joins a site because of corporate allegiance, they want the cool, fresh new underdog that they can claim ownership in. Maybe something like yahoo daily or yahoo 247 to encourage people to visit daily instead of creating a profile and then forgetting about it. Its all about creating unique, fresh user engagement that gets people excited to visit a site. AOL still have more revenue than Facebook, which will need to place more ads and partnerships to ever make money. Yahoo will benefit from AOL’s strategy. Yahoo 360 for example was a terrible name, maybe something with a little bit more buzz and individual identity - no one joins a site because of corporate allegiance, they want the cool, fresh new underdog that they can claim ownership in. Maybe something like yahoo daily or yahoo 247 to encourage people to visit daily instead of creating a profile and then forgetting about it. Its all about creating unique, fresh user engagement that gets people excited to visit a site.

]]> By: Eric http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2226356 Eric Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:16:37 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2226356 Great to see AOL is putting up the good fight. Given the pounding they take regularly it is actually nice to see they are enjoying some substantial growth. Although the portal is a copy of Yahoo, I prefer their Finance, News and Moviefone sites. Great to see AOL is putting up the good fight. Given the pounding they take regularly it is actually nice to see they are enjoying some substantial growth. Although the portal is a copy of Yahoo, I prefer their Finance, News and Moviefone sites.

]]> By: Jason http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2225328 Jason Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:48:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2225328 There's an inside story here. As far back as 2002, some product-people inside AOL programming had been pushing for changes in the branding strategy -- but senior-levels at TW always mandated a very strong, consistent AOL brand (and programming voice). It was typical "states rights" issue -- with AOL was the destination; while TV, Music, Movies, etc. were just content offerings. Speculation was that a strong AOL brand would add value to the stock, and help AOL navigate the politics on TW's board. Past financial reliance on the AOL Welcome Screen fueled the fire, since funneling all users through a front door created a lot of ad revenue. Around that time, Moviefone was rebranded as AOL Movies, over the cries of many people in the product strategy team. Some may also remember a precursor to TMZ, which was AOL Celebrity. Alternative brands were denied for AOL Television, Research & Learn, AOL Local and others . Non-AOL brads were reserved for franchises, like TV's Top5 or Sessions. With the recent shifts in personnel, such as Bill Wilson's ascent to EVP over all programming, AOL is finally making the smart decisions. Apparently, the shift is away from corporate ego, and towards smart business reality. Now that they have the traffic, they need to complete Platform-A, so they can effectively monetize their great products. There’s an inside story here. As far back as 2002, some product-people inside AOL programming had been pushing for changes in the branding strategy — but senior-levels at TW always mandated a very strong, consistent AOL brand (and programming voice). It was typical “states rights” issue — with AOL was the destination; while TV, Music, Movies, etc. were just content offerings. Speculation was that a strong AOL brand would add value to the stock, and help AOL navigate the politics on TW’s board. Past financial reliance on the AOL Welcome Screen fueled the fire, since funneling all users through a front door created a lot of ad revenue.

Around that time, Moviefone was rebranded as AOL Movies, over the cries of many people in the product strategy team. Some may also remember a precursor to TMZ, which was AOL Celebrity. Alternative brands were denied for AOL Television, Research & Learn, AOL Local and others . Non-AOL brads were reserved for franchises, like TV’s Top5 or Sessions.

With the recent shifts in personnel, such as Bill Wilson’s ascent to EVP over all programming, AOL is finally making the smart decisions. Apparently, the shift is away from corporate ego, and towards smart business reality.

Now that they have the traffic, they need to complete Platform-A, so they can effectively monetize their great products.

]]> By: Greg’s Mind » Blog Archive » “Open AIM is the Most Open Synchronous Platform in the World” http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224998 Greg’s Mind » Blog Archive » “Open AIM is the Most Open Synchronous Platform in the World” Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:55:44 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224998 [...] is not the only property at AOL getting love today. Michael Arrington over at TechCrunch wrote a cool article about AOL’s strong growth in our sites. The reason for this growth is all the revamping we have done on sites like webmail, AOL.com and [...] [...] is not the only property at AOL getting love today. Michael Arrington over at TechCrunch wrote a cool article about AOL’s strong growth in our sites. The reason for this growth is all the revamping we have done on sites like webmail, AOL.com and [...]

]]> By: Scott K http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224925 Scott K Sat, 26 Apr 2008 04:18:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224925 Frank- I left a positive comment about AOL. Am I an AOL employee? Investor? Bot? None of the above, but I recognize that some of their properties are very strong. Bashing AOL is so five years ago. They deserved every bit of the bashing back then right up until about a year ago. Now it seems they're making smart decisions, creating compelling vertical sites, and generally making progress on turning the company around. I used to hate AOL as much as the next guy, but I got to give credit where credit is due. Frank-

I left a positive comment about AOL. Am I an AOL employee? Investor? Bot?

None of the above, but I recognize that some of their properties are very strong.

Bashing AOL is so five years ago. They deserved every bit of the bashing back then right up until about a year ago. Now it seems they’re making smart decisions, creating compelling vertical sites, and generally making progress on turning the company around.

I used to hate AOL as much as the next guy, but I got to give credit where credit is due.

]]> By: awad http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224639 awad Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:44:51 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224639 #32 I'm with you. My first time on the new layout I thought I WAS on Yahoo. #32 I’m with you. My first time on the new layout I thought I WAS on Yahoo.

]]> By: Frank Church (TC regular) http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224602 Frank Church (TC regular) Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:25:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224602 WOW! AOL SHILL Central! It all started at 4:48 am and finished at 6:05am. I had a few extra minutes to kill, so I compiled a small list of the probable suspects: #11, #12 (Debbie, Stephen)- both list the AOL properties they use and then noting how well AOL is doing contrary to popular belief (8 minutes apart); note the single name/ no link. #15, #20, #23 (EddieF, EvanT, DanielS)- all three noting how AOL has "stepped up their game" or otherwise improved while citing stats that seem like a product manager's intimate knowledge; note the first name/ first letter, last name (not common around the TC comments sections). #16, #17, #19 (RogerTenner, ALanWright, ScottLanter)- all thrree praising AOL sites and comparing to Yahoo, et al. One, even links to apple's iphone app site where the AOL product is featured; note the CamelCaps in all names (again, not usual in TC comment section). WOW! AOL SHILL Central! It all started at 4:48 am and finished at 6:05am. I had a few extra minutes to kill, so I compiled a small list of the probable suspects:

#11, #12 (Debbie, Stephen)- both list the AOL properties they use and then noting how well AOL is doing contrary to popular belief (8 minutes apart); note the single name/ no link.

#15, #20, #23 (EddieF, EvanT, DanielS)- all three noting how AOL has “stepped up their game” or otherwise improved while citing stats that seem like a product manager’s intimate knowledge; note the first name/ first letter, last name (not common around the TC comments sections).

#16, #17, #19 (RogerTenner, ALanWright, ScottLanter)- all thrree praising AOL sites and comparing to Yahoo, et al. One, even links to apple’s iphone app site where the AOL product is featured; note the CamelCaps in all names (again, not usual in TC comment section).

]]> By: KM http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224540 KM Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:46:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224540 Um, a "major rebranding and redesign?" All they did was completely copy Yahoo's home page and change the colors. Even the vertical sites look the same. Not sure why that took an entire year. Even funnier that no one seems to notice it... Um, a “major rebranding and redesign?” All they did was completely copy Yahoo’s home page and change the colors. Even the vertical sites look the same. Not sure why that took an entire year. Even funnier that no one seems to notice it…

]]> By: TechCrunch Japanese アーカイブ » 約１年にも及ぶ改修を経てAOLは安定した成長を予想 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224321 TechCrunch Japanese アーカイブ » 約１年にも及ぶ改修を経てAOLは安定した成長を予想 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:03:46 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224321 [...] [原文へ] [...] [...] [原文へ] [...]

]]> By: Technology Watch http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224155 Technology Watch Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:36:26 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2224155 AOL has been criticized by every tom-dick-harry for their change of direction. But this story now is real. Watch out M$ and Y! Look who is catching up, FAST! http://techwatch.reviewk.com/2008/03/aol-ad-project-platform-a-plots-plan-b/ AOL has been criticized by every tom-dick-harry for their change of direction. But this story now is real. Watch out M$ and Y! Look who is catching up, FAST!

http://techwatch.reviewk.com/2.....ts-plan-b/

]]> By: AOL Acquires Fantasy Football Site « PlayerSearch Blog http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223817 AOL Acquires Fantasy Football Site « PlayerSearch Blog Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:39:31 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223817 [...] has been aggressive with its efforts to dramatically grow its unique visiters before it spins of its advertising platform. Apparently AOL has now set its sites on growing its [...] [...] has been aggressive with its efforts to dramatically grow its unique visiters before it spins of its advertising platform. Apparently AOL has now set its sites on growing its [...]

]]> By: AOL Strong Growth off Niche Redesign and Rebranding | Black Web 2.0 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223808 AOL Strong Growth off Niche Redesign and Rebranding | Black Web 2.0 Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:36:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223808 [...] Via: Tech Crunch [...] [...] Via: Tech Crunch [...]

]]> By: anony mouse http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223786 anony mouse Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:28:52 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223786 Aptimus is monetizing a number of the sites for AOL as well. This can be clearly seen in AIM download process. Is Platform A going to kick them out of the AOL properties? Aptimus is monetizing a number of the sites for AOL as well. This can be clearly seen in AIM download process. Is Platform A going to kick them out of the AOL properties?

]]> By: Livedigi http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223677 Livedigi Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:49:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223677 Roger if you like AOL's iPhone apps then you should also take a look at it's Search product on the iPhone. It has received terrific reviews. Go to search.aol.com on the iPhone. This is definitely a company on fire. Roger if you like AOL’s iPhone apps then you should also take a look at it’s Search product on the iPhone. It has received terrific reviews.

Go to search.aol.com on the iPhone.

This is definitely a company on fire.

]]> By: AOL User http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223636 AOL User Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:38:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223636 The content side of the business is doing well, however I'm not so sure how well the advertising side of the business is doing -especially with all the turnover at Platform-A The content side of the business is doing well, however I’m not so sure how well the advertising side of the business is doing -especially with all the turnover at Platform-A

]]> By: Kayakman http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223606 Kayakman Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:27:17 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223606 AOL is starting to make a small come back... i hope they keep improving their services. AOL is starting to make a small come back… i hope they keep improving their services.

]]> By: cnet fan boy http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223510 cnet fan boy Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:53:09 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223510 hey mike, how come no cnet earnings story this quarter? you guys went out of your way to report disappointing quarters earlier. could it be because the report was good and there's a yahoo deal to boot? LOL hey mike, how come no cnet earnings story this quarter? you guys went out of your way to report disappointing quarters earlier. could it be because the report was good and there’s a yahoo deal to boot? LOL

]]> By: Scott K http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223486 Scott K Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:44:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223486 You know, AOL's free webmail service is actually pretty slick: very fast loading, full-featured, free IMAP, etc. There's only two things holding it back: 1) all the ads, and 2) the stigma of having an "aol.com" e-mail address. Web veterans seem to make fun of people using an aol.com e-mail address. I know I'll be in the minority here, but I think Yahoo and AOL would be a good fit. It wouldn't necessarily bring either tons of new users, but it would really strengthen their offerings. Together AOL and Yahoo own some of the best sites on the web. You know, AOL’s free webmail service is actually pretty slick: very fast loading, full-featured, free IMAP, etc. There’s only two things holding it back: 1) all the ads, and 2) the stigma of having an “aol.com” e-mail address. Web veterans seem to make fun of people using an aol.com e-mail address.

I know I’ll be in the minority here, but I think Yahoo and AOL would be a good fit. It wouldn’t necessarily bring either tons of new users, but it would really strengthen their offerings. Together AOL and Yahoo own some of the best sites on the web.

]]> By: Brian Alvey http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223452 Brian Alvey Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:28:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223452 "Asylum" has only one "s", but you got the link right. I checked out the blog and I'm thrilled that they're using my old Blogsmith platform. The deeper I get into it though, the more I think it should have been called Assylum. “Asylum” has only one “s”, but you got the link right.

I checked out the blog and I’m thrilled that they’re using my old Blogsmith platform. The deeper I get into it though, the more I think it should have been called Assylum.

]]> By: Trekker http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223301 Trekker Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:19:50 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223301 Let's not forget best-in-class blogs such as http://www.engadget.com, http://www.joystiq.com, http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com, http://www.ps3fanboy.com Let’s not forget best-in-class blogs such as http://www.engadget.com, http://www.joystiq.com, http://www.nintendowiifanboy.com, http://www.ps3fanboy.com

]]> By: DanielS http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223278 DanielS Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:05:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/25/aol-sees-strong-growth-in-sites/#comment-2223278 As a media buyer AOL's women's sites are the richest in my view - Stylelist, Food, etc.. They are actually closing in on iVillage if you look at Comscore data. Adam - if AOL is over why is their traffic of new users growing double digit? As a media buyer AOL’s women’s sites are the richest in my view - Stylelist, Food, etc.. They are actually closing in on iVillage if you look at Comscore data.

Adam - if AOL is over why is their traffic of new users growing double digit?

]]>