Tonight sees the launch of Robert Scoble’s newest project, Building43, an online community that he’s building in partnership with web-hosting provider Rackspace (we’re having them over to celebrate with us at our birthday party). When we first heard about the new site, Scoble described it as a “community that’s for people who are fanatical about the Internet”. He’s still sticking with that vague tagline, but now it’s becoming a bit clearer as to what he actually means by that.
The site’s goal is to help businesses use modern technology and social sites to increase their exposure and the money they’re making. But rather than focus on the latest in breaking news, it’s looking to offer more practical advice, like how to “Pimp Out Your Facebook Page” (see the video below), or The new economics of entrepreneurship, a blog post by Guy Kawasaki.
Scoble says the big difference between the content he’s previously offered and Building43 will be a new emphasis on practical tips, though there will still be more general interviews. He says that we can intially expect to see two new videos a week, but that soon it will have new video features on a daily basis as the site ramps up (there will also be regular blog posts). And he’s kicking things off with an impressive roster of interviewees, including Fred Wilson, Mark Zuckerberg, and Marissa Mayer.
Building 43 has five people working on the site full time, but it’s also looking to accept content from the community. Users will be able to upload video and blog posts after agreeing to a Creative Commons 3 license, and the site will also feature a FriendFeed room that monitors for mentions of the term Building43 across the web. The hope is that any time you have a tech tip that could be applicable to businesses, you can share it with the Building43 community by mentioning it in your post or tweet.
Building 43 has a good idea on its hands — it’s no secret that there are countless businesses with websites stuck in the 90’s and absolutely no idea how to tap into social media. But it’s still going to have to find a way to make these businesses aware of Building 43, which isn’t going to be an easy task (if they don’t know how to use Facebook, there’s a good chance they don’t know who Robert Scoble is or that Building 43 exists).
To hear Scoble talk about Building 43 a bit in his own words and his thoughts on clown computing, check out this Qik video taken at the TechCrunch offices yesterday.
Looking forward to seeing Building 43 get off the ground. There’s no question there is a need for businesses to modernize, and no question that Scoble is dedicated and has enthusiasm to try and make that happen. Hoping the wish can become a reality.
Ditto and I’d add that if anyone can do it Scoble Doble can.
Live stream from launch party: http://www.kyte...43-launch-party
Congrats to Robert to get this going.
It was just in the early stages of forming the idea when I interviewed him here http://tv.smibs...-robert-scoble/
I am sure a lot of good things will come out of this.
Very interested to see where this goes. Modernizing websites and helping business become more social, and stay better in touch with where the web and the everyday consumer is going to. Basically finding the best way to give value add and keep past consumers almost as friends. IMO is the new web, web 3.0 or web 2010 as Scoble likes to say. Crowd surfing anyone? lol There is no doubt that Scoble is passionate about making these simple but daunting concepts a reality, good luck to him and Building 43!
congrats
Anyone else think Scoble looks like Phillip Seymore Hoffman?
Yes, I think that too
…
I think Philip Seymour Hoffman looks like Robert Scoble.
At the very real risk of parroting this article….
If you disconnect your hyper-caffeinated brain for a moment and listen to what is being said in the interview and what is being shown… it’s actually a nice introduction to what you can do with Facebook. Heck, I learned something new.
First and foremost, consider that people approaching Facebook for the first time look at it and wonder what they are seeing. The value to a business that wishes to participate in the Facebook experience has to see what is behind the curtain and what it will do for them. This short video explains that in plain easy to understand chunks.
The real question is how those business people would come across Building 43. There will have to be a way to get this pushed into a channel with a wider reach than the insular tech chatter.
I’ll suggest it again. Robert Scoble needs a cooking show [1]. People chilling, cooking, meal prep, and special guest star slicing the garlic is none other than… the guy you never heard of that makes that website that your kids are locked on all waking hours.
[1] or something that crosses over outside of people sitting around a laptop/LCD screen and talking while not looking at each other
LOL, Scoble and others mugging for camera at the party.
The though work is convince those businesses (especially small businesses) to use all these new ways of exposing themselves to the world.
It’s though also to get those businesses to have a website or re-design the ones they have…social media and the new technology sounds like “the little green men” for them (and that’s applicable not only here in US but throughout the world too, I guess).
I wish him luck and I hope he will open more the eyes of ‘90 businesses!
I am a Scoble fan, but this is the most boring interview I have ever seen.
Second that, but it isn’t Scoble’s fault.
Using word “fanatical” is lame. It is Rackspace’s tagline and everybody will recognize this as a lame disguised promotion.
So what’s the business model? In-video advertising only? Not many spots left on the site for ad placement and if they are assuming that I can drag my ass out of the 90s by reading the blog for free how will they feed 5 staff?
Bravo! I love to see this kind of stuff. I am in the beginning stages of doing the same with independent artists and music. Most are not even online yet. I talk to artists all the time. Many are stuck in the 80s’ and 90’s; still old school. Myspace? What the hell is myspace music…WTF?
That same holds true with most businesses I see.
This is good for those who are heavy twitter users. Those who are not can always change names like techecrunchi
This looks like an awesome project lots of potential
Good luck to Mr. Scoble. Genuine good guy. Hope this project takes off.
The key is content. How do I know we’re stuck in the 90’s?
how many times can this guy be recycled? booooring
whats worse is the commenters on this site. man there used to be some zing in the comments, its just become a pointless parade of yes-people and self-promoters
Why is there no seat on the bike in the video background??
so no one steals it
umm. it’s a blog with the same old trite videos and poorly integrated friendfeed pages.
really? html embeds with scrollbars? blog posts from the mac guy? that is so web 2000.
I want to know more about clown computing!!!!
@Scoble: there is a big cultural difference between you and your environment and the companies with websites stuck in the 90’s and absolutely no idea how to tap into social media.
How will you connect with them? They will not be able to find you.
Question: who drives the bicycle without the saddle? (on the video).
Best of luck to Scoble on this, but I have to say that if anyone can take an opportunity like this and blow it it will be Scoble – going by previous attempts.
Robert continues to be an important voice for our times, relentlessly documenting the constant change of our industry and world at large. He is always on the look out for the next great thing and provides important insight into where we are and where we may be going. His is a perception that is often excited, giddy, and sometimes even a bit odd – but doesn’t that describe a lot of us that are passionate about what we do? Robert: congrats to the latest place where you let the world peer over your shoulder; sorry I couldn’t make it out there for the launch, but Building43 now becomes for me a place of daily visits.
Thanks for the great article. I just want to clear up one issue. There are two full time employees working on building43.com – Robert Scoble and Rocky Barbanica.
As the “lead contractor”, or whatever you want to call me, I can speak with authority. B43 isn’t my only job at Rackspace – most of us at Rackspace are proficient at many simultaneous tasks.
We developed building43 using contractors (for the website, the graphics, etc). They were managed by a long term Racker who is actually responsible for the physical real estate of Rackspace (which is kind of ironic!). She didn’t quit her day job to help us out.
We recently brought in an editor (just before the launch) – but again, she is a contractor, and part time.
Why is that important? Because I don’t want people thinking it takes 5 full time employees to build something like building43. It doesn’t. Sure, the videos are another matter – it takes someone like Scoble to get those.
If you are interested in who built building43, look here: http://www.buil...m/site-credits/
Call them – put them to work – they are really top notch people!
Rob La Gesse
Director of Customer Development
Rackspace
210-845-4440
Week Old Donuts. Just the usual recycled circular Scobleified ego-blogging. He will prance about as usual, (Podtech and Fast Company-like) not ever caring or connecting with anyone outside the haze. It’s lost me already.