Category Archives: Notes

Where will Vidli.com Fit into the Value Add Chain of Online Video Monetization?

Posted on December 21, 2009 | Leave a comment

As the new year is strapping up its boots and getting ready to launch us all into a brand new decade, those of you (and I) interested in online video may be wondering what’s next. As I continue my quest to become Vidli.com’s next Social Media person (you can help by clicking here and signing up to receive a free beta invite. TIA!) I find myself learning more and more about the marketplace.

The work I’ve done in the past for EPI, LLC (where I’m a founding partner) as we attempt to launch TheFightChannel.com, an all fighting online video network has been very educational. In fact, during 2008 I actually designed and submitted to applications for patent protection on processes to deliver audio and video online in new and unique fashion.

Couple the above with the thousands of hours of fight related video we hope to one day launch to fight fans around the world, and you can better understand why having all this knowledge around video licensing and monetization is important. From a business model perspective, we needed to be able to talk to content owners in terms they could understand.

So, now I’m more closely following the happenings in delivery, licensing, monetization and more in the world of online video. Following are some interesting stories from the past couple of days.

Internet TV advances with Boxee Beta and FCC probe

The maturation of Internet TV software like Boxee signals a shift to a more distributed media environment. However, bridging the gap between television and online media is a difficult proposition, not least because traditional content producers are slow to embrace these services.

How Digital Distribution is Changing Viewers Habits {Web Strategies for storytelling}

This paper will identify the current advancement of digital distribution channels and its viewers imminent behavior habits. I hope to prove that today filmmakers, storytellers, and documentary producers can now bypass the traditional methods of video circulation and target their own markets directly using social media websites, live streaming and video podcasting.

New Year’s Wishes For Online Video In 2010

The very best thing to happen to the execution side of our business in 2009 was the emergence and adoption of the VAST standard. VAST compliance allows buyers of inventory to integrate with publishers in a matter of hours, as opposed to custom integration processes that could take days, weeks or months. The efficiencies inherent to VAST enable increased productivity across the board by letting buyers get time-sensitive campaigns up faster, dramatically reducing the potential for errors caused through manual trafficking, and by allowing publishers to significantly reduce trafficking burden. A growing VAST adoption rate coupled with more embracement of standards will benefit all participants in the online video value chain.

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Posted in Monetization, Notes

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Marketing: Events vs. Processes

Posted on December 10, 2009 | Leave a comment

Seth Godin’s posts? They are quick, to the point, unusually poignant, and short reads (mostly). His post today, The reason social media is so difficult for most organizations, really brought it home today for what I’m doing in my career pursuit right now.

Hopefully you are aware that I’m attempting to get an interview with Vidli.com, The Official Video Licensor. They are a new startup that is offering free beta invites through the previous link. By clicking through and signing up for their no cost account, you’ll be helping get me closer to an interview with them for a new Social Media Marketing position they are offering.

The reason Seth’s post interested me so much is how it relates to what I’m doing in my approach to this contest. I’m doing my best to actually use a number of facets of social media to make my case to you, my friends and occasional readers. By creating what I hope to be genuine content that will benefit you and casually inserting a link and request the favor of having you sign up, I am focusing on the “process marketing” angle.

Some others attempting to get invited to interview with Vidli.com are effectively using Twitter and/or Facebook. From my perspective those attempts however amount to “event marketing”.

By that I mean those messages are all about the contest itself, the contestant, and not really about the longer tail advantages of creating quality content that could continue to drive traffic and interested users to Vidli in the long term future.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with pleading on Facebook and Twitter to help a lad (or lass!) out. I’m also inserting variations of those messages into my stream as well. My hope is that by attempting to do more than just beg for your action on my behalf, you’ll be more willing to take the 37 seconds or so and click through to the Vidli.com beta invite sign up form.

You would be helping me out tremendously. And if you told just 3 of your friends or family members about the good you did, that would help out 3X as much! Oh, did I mention that I’ll be buying beverages if/when I get hired by Vidli when this is all done (disclosure: you actually have to have signed up for me to qualify for this offer ;) )

Thanks for your time!

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Posted in Notes, Social Media

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How to install a dishwasher

Posted on June 8, 2009 | Leave a comment

Before those dishes start washing themselves, in addition to the new appliance, you are going to need a few things: fittings, like properly sized brass elbows to connect the dishwasher inlet to the copper supply line as well as compression fittings for attaching the supply under the sink to the angle stop. Your home repair and maintenance tool box should always have some Teflon tape for wrapping the threads of water spigots and other threaded pipe ends.

Medium sized wire nuts are always good around the house, and probably come with the new appliance. You’ll want to have hose clamps for attaching the drain hose, and some plumbers strap to secure that hose.

A few simple tools and a couple of specialty items are all you’ll need to complete this install. Again, your repair tool box should have a variety of screwdrivers, pliers and an adjustable wrench. If you don’t have wire strippers, make the investment, you’ll thank me later!

A power cordless drill will make the job easier. You’ll need a 2 inch hole cutter as well. If using copper tubing, you’ll want to have bending springs and a tube cutter (close quarter is preferred). Rubber or plastic tubing? You should be fine without investing in the pipe tools.

Connect your water supply line to the angle stop, or the “faucet” under the sink. Run your supply through the cabinet wall hole you drill there. If your electrical is coming from under the sink, it’s advisable to run through it’s own hole.

With the 2 lines now into empty appliance cavity, measure how much line you’ll need to connect to the water inlet and the electrical connection box. Don’t hesitate to gently tip the dishwasher forward to gain better access to the bottom of the appliance. From this position you can ensure the inlet fitting and electrical connections are secured. If you’re using copper tubing, leave a few inches past the inlet location, use a curving spring to bend the tube to the fitting.

Open the electrical box and run in your 3 wires: white, black and green with about 3/8 of an inch stripped. Using wire nuts, connect the 3 feed wires to their corresponding appliance lines. Replace the metal box cover, and ensure you’ve affixed the electrical feed line to the back wall.

Attach the drain line at the dishwasher side; secure with a hose clamp. Snake this line through at least a 2 inch hole into the under sink area. Clamp the end of the drain line to the inlet of your garbage disposal, or the sink’s tail piece and be sure to tighten the hose clamp to prevent leakage of discarded dish water.

Push the dishwasher all the way until the closed front is flush with the other cabinet doors. Using a small “torpedo” style level, make sure the dishwasher is level by adjusting one or both of the feet in front (they usually screw up and down.) With the dishwasher in place and level, insert small screws into the built in tabs just under the counter creating a stable connection between the top of the dishwasher and the underside of the counter.

Turn on your water supplies and check fittings. Give them some time, as a build up in pressure sometimes works out leaks. When you are certain all is dry, plug in or make your electrical connection and run a test cycle. Continue to check your water feed and intakes as well as the drain hose clamps on the appliance and under your sink.

Finally, if your model has a kick plate, insert it into place, tighten the install screws, and enjoy your new dishwasher. Take pride in the expert installation job and be happy with your water and energy savings.

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Posted in Notes

Twitter is broken. Thanks @JamesKirk

Posted on March 30, 2008 | Leave a comment

Has twitter always had the “blog this” option right from their web pages? I thought at one point I had added a GreaseMonkey script that would allow that to happen.

Anyway, this image was captured by our friend Will Norris, just to show his gratitude at my tweet of exactly 140 characters. Unfortunately, most of those characters were not broken by spaces, causing any page that my tweet showed up on to be jacked all to hell!

Taking bets on how long it takes the great folks at Twitter to fix this with an overflow: hidden in their css (or some other equally groovy solution)

Geesh, and I was just trying to be me. At least I’m not known as Glitch, hey Joseph?

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Posted in Notes