Daum Kakao Buys Path, Amazon’s Funnel, More from Mary Meeker

Messaging apps are great examples of the power of funnels, and of how difficult they are to build. Meanwhile, Amazon expands and leverages theirs, plus my five favorite Mary Meeker slides.

The Funnel Framework

The Internet has removed scarcity, meaning business models based on controlling distribution are no longer viable. Instead, the key to success is controlling access to the best customers — and that means being the best.

Verizon-AOL, Facebook Instant Articles, and the Future of Digital Advertising

Two seemingly unrelated stores — Verizon buying AOL. and Facebook offering publishers the option of Instant Articles — are actually very much connected: advertising online is undergoing a fundamental shift, and while there will be a few big winners, there will be a lot more losers.

Daily Update: Facebook Earnings, Google Launches Project Fi

Good morning, Earnings season is here, plus a big(?) announcement from Google. On to the update: Facebook Earnings Facebook had another good quarter, and the stock is up…oh wait, just like last quarter the stock is down after-hours. Last quarter’s slide didn’t make sense at the time, and quickly reversed itself: as of yesterday’s closingSubscribe […]

Facebook and the Feed

In a week where much of the Internet was all atwitter about Mobilegeddon, Google’s pre-announced algorithm change that will favor mobile-friendly sites in mobile search results, a potentially far more impactful announcement was much more of a surprise: Facebook is tweaking the News Feed algorithm. This is a big deal for publishers in particular: according […]

Daily Update: Was I Wrong About Cyanogen?, Weekly Wrap-Up

Good morning, I’m trying something new: a weekly wrap-up where I touch-on a few interesting stories that I didn’t have room to address more fully. But first a bit of a brain dump. On to the update: Am I Wrong About Cyanogen? I concluded yesterday’s newsletter by writing: The truth is that for normal consumersSubscribe […]

Daily Update: Facebook’s Messenger Announcement, Other F8 Announcements, Apps Matter (and Facebook Knows It)

Good morning, More Facebook today, but in a decidedly different arena – developers. On to the update: Facebook’s Messenger Announcement From Bloomberg: Facebook Inc. is opening up its Messenger chat application so that other software developers can add new features that will let people include photos, videos and other enhancements to their online conversations. TheSubscribe […]