The MySpace Nuclear Option

Transform MySpace into a dating site.

The signs of MySpace problems go way back but really surfaced when CEO Owen Van Natta resigned. I won’t dwell on the many reasons why MySpace is declining (declining market share, shrinking revenue, loss of key employees, etc), instead I would propose that MySpace reinvent itself and become a dating site. Yes, I said it. A dating site. The demographics are there. 50-50 male/female ratio (at least in U.S.), MySpace is huge in the 18-34 age range (very pop culture), and nearly 40% earn an estimated $30-$60k/year. Plus you have the MySpace freaks, strippers, gamers, nerds, and everything "Twilight". Most importantly, the online dating industry is worth $1.049 Billion. Customers of dating sites spend an average of $239 per year. The average visit per site time is 22 minutes. 22 Minutes! Think advertising revenue as well as pay wall revenue right from the start. International revenue (specifically China) would be HUGE. The MySpace brand (like it or not) is formidable. MySpace should integrate the Twitter API with profiles and dating ads. I could go on and on again, but the main point is that MySpace trigger that nuclear option and become a dating site. Take all that revenue away from eHarmony, Match.com, and the adult dating sites. Do this ASAP. The revenues will be terrifyingly enormous. Game over.

See breakdown below.

On Apple Tablet Eve

I feel like its Christmas Eve with the new "supposedly" release of the Apple Tablet tomorrow. I love Apple and I love its innovated products. After every major introduction (think iPod + iTunes & iPhone), Apple shakes up some industry ecosystem. This time around it will be the book & magazine publishing industry. I can’t wait to view magazines on that bright colorful display. Throw in the book version of iTunes and I am good to go. Should be a fun time tomorrow. I will be checking out the live blogging at either Gizmodo or Engadget.

This year I want to blog on up and coming start-ups, technology, and of course, online marketing techniques through social media. One trend that has been increasingly popular is the "cloud" computing trend. This is due to many reasons such as cost reduction, collaboration, e-commerce, etc. One start-up I ran across recently, "Sharetivity", harnesses the cloud through a browser plug-in and "shares" content among users. This is particularly useful for students in college to research, share, and archive their content online. Check out Sharetivity's FAQ for more information.

Recently, Sharetivity partnered with schools and colleges to help raise funds for their students using this service. Sharetivity will generate revenue when the students conduct search from the Sharetivity site via the Google search box within the Sharetivity application. If Sharetivity is adopted by a school or institution (university), they will share 50% of the revenue. This start-up is backed by an industry veteran that has raised a total of $50 million of Venture Capital in his previous 3 start-ups. Check them out and play with their service. This is one company that will be making headlines in 2010.