A video of Ben presenting at Code Media.
2017
Exponent Podcast: Snap’s Gingerbread Strategy
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss Snap’s Apple Strategy. Listen to it here.
DistroKid, The “Publisher’s Right”, Shopify Results
Distrokid is small, but it’s a powerful example of the how distribution is not a value-add, the implications of which European publishers have yet to learn. It’s a lesson that doesn’t just apply to media, either.
Planet of the Apps, #DeleteUber, Amazon Earnings
“Planet of the Apps” is probably not nearly as big a deal as its being made out to be, why #DeleteUber was uniquely dangerous for Uber, and Amazon’s ongoing shift to being a service business.
Snap S-1 Follow-up, Facebook Earnings, Hedging the Future of Advertising
From a business perspective, Snapchat isn’t like Apple at all. Then, Facebook further unveils its video strategy, and continues to invest in what may be the future of advertising.
Snap’s Apple Strategy
Snap plans to win on innovation; we’ve known for 30 years, though, that that is not always enough.
Exponent Podcast: Dull Knives Don’t Cut
On Exponent, the weekly podcast I host with James Allworth, we discuss Inspired Media. Listen to it here.
Slack Launches Slack Grid, An Interview with Stewart Butterfield
Slack launched its long-awaited enterprise product, and an interview with CEO Stewart Butterfield explains why the company’s vision is even more expansive than you might realize.
Apple Earnings, Fitbit Earnings, Nintendo Earnings
Apple’s earnings showed slowing growth but a seemingly impenetrable moat; Fitbit, meanwhile, is in very bad shape, while Nintendo is learning harsh truths about the smartphone market
Inspired Media
The key for products and politicians used to be maximizing paid and earned media. What matters on the Internet, though, is inspired media.