StartupCamp Toronto

Posted on November 2, 2007 by Thomas Purves

startupcamp

Well that was quick. After announcing the event just this morning, it looks like we’ve* sold out the first block of tickets already. Don’t expect too many more of the free ones to come up, though there are still sponsored seats available (and you will get some recognition for being a sponsor).

And look for something later this weekend on how to submit your startup as one of the presenters. (There will be 3 or so open slots and the attendees will get to vote on the most interesting. Or at least this is the working theory. Submissions due by midnight Nov 11th).

*I’m lending a hand to the good crew at startupnorth.ca (and sponsors to be announced) in organizing this event. Should be a lot of fun!

Posted in Archive, startupcamp | Leave a comment

Social Network Portability Has Arrived

Posted on October 31, 2007 by Thomas Purves

Google has launched it’s Open API for Social Networks. It’s about time someone did this.

This explains why the goog wanted so badly a piece of facebook. And why Microsoft would pay at any wacky valuation for FB to keep it out of teh google. Facebook is the singular major social network not participating in google’s new scheme.

At the same time though, it cuts out at the knees the fundamental (would be) game-changing advantage of the facebook platform: the idea that someone should be able to build a social app or someone should be able to use a social app without the redundancy of setting up a new profile page, another buddy list, another messaging and comment system etc. (not to mention the viral adoption and network effect advantages that have made some facebook apps the most rapidly adopted software apps ever).

Meanwhile at long last, Google combats microsoft with it’s own operating system… a social operating system for the new web.

neat.

see also recently: Albert Lai’s great deck on Web 2.5, 3.0 and social operating systems
Jevon’s insightful post on Startup North: Delusions of Facebook – Should you be a Facebook Startup?

Posted in Archive, facebook, google, socialos | 4 Comments

Social Network Optimization is the new SEO/SEM

Posted on October 26, 2007 by Thomas Purves

Or, how to buy friends and influence people:

“need someone with knowledge on how to post and title youtube videos and digg articles in a compelling manner… will be paid bonuses for results (ie getting on the first page of Digg, getting lots of viewers, comments, channel subscribers etc) in Youtube” –NYCraigslist Posting
 
“We need someone with experience in adding friends via Friendblaster Pro or other similar applications to Myspace company profiles… We could pay by the friends. Say fixed amounts for every 500 friends. This is a lucrative position and would be long term. We already have a number of clients lined up.” –NYCraigslist Posting
 
“We are looking for active Facebook users with lots of friends in their network. Since we are building a highly social app, it would be expected that you share it with your friends network…For current college students this could turn into a longer term campus rep position. “ –NYCraigslist Posting

 
The sharks are moving in. Buy your social network distribution now, while the kids are going cheap.
 
File under social graft. [tmJay Goldman]

 
thanks to M for the keen eyes and amazement.

Posted in Archive, facebook, marketing, myspace, sno, socialgraft, socialmedia | 4 Comments