Podcast: Exponent 039 – Lando Calrissian Publishers

On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: In this week’s episode Ben and James follow up on last week’s episode, introduce the Toilet Bowl philosophy of career development, and then dive into the future of publishers in the world of Facebook. Links Ben Thompson: The Facebook Reckoning – Stratechery […]

Podcast: Exponent Episode 020 – I Want You to Be Wrong

On the newest episode of Exponent, the podcast I co-host with James Allworth: In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss the problems with Ello’s business model, James’ discomfort with Facebook, and why Social Networks always have ads. We also talk about incentives and something surprising Ben learned from the notorious Episode 18. Links Ben […]

Facebook Launches Google+, and the Week in Daily Updates

The main page content on Stratechery is free for all readers, but I also offer the Daily Update via email and RSS for $10 per month/$100 per year.1 This is one of the items sent out in this week’s Daily Updates. To sign up, visit the Membership page Facebook Launches Google+ Slingshot I would love […]

The Week in Daily Updates (Week 2)

The main page content on Stratechery is free for all readers, but I also offer the Daily Update via email and RSS for $10 per month/$100 per year.1 This is a selection of items that were sent out in this week’s Daily Updates. To sign up, visit the Membership page Was Google+ A Success? (Posted […]

How Google Can Steal Facebook’s Candy

I wrote a piece on Bloomberg View about Facebook’s vulnerability when it comes to their chief money-maker: app-install ads. Facebook runs the risk of becoming the second option for the sorts of advertisers that are currently its best customers. Facebook has made several acquisitions that will help them gain more insight into in-app behavior, most […]

The Week in Daily Updates (Week 1)

The content on Stratechery is free for all readers, but I also offer the Daily Update via email and RSS for $10 per month/$100 per year.1 This is a selection of items that were sent out in this week’s Daily Updates. To sign up, visit the Membership page Twitter Launches Ad Network (Posted on Monday, […]

Why Targeting Increases the Value of Ads

I’ve written previously that “Targeting information is the new scarcity in advertising.” The Information has a perfect example of exactly that: Mobile app developers that rely on highly targeted ad campaigns to bring in new business are facing rising rates and inventory shortages as they compete to reach a small group of desirable, free-spending customers. […]

Facebook phones and the future of mobile communication

Frank Meehan, who built integrated communications platforms at INQ Mobile/Three in the mid-2000s: We had a lot of early success…because in 2008/2009 most people just used a handful of key internet communication centric services. Facebook, MSN Messenger, Skype etc dominated. So integrating just those services was such a useful step that people loved what we […]

The Facebook Flop

I’ll admit it: I’m rather enjoying the Facebook Home/First flop. First off, it’s always fun to say “I told you so.” Specifically, pre-launch I questioned Mark Zuckerberg’s assertion that people, not apps were the center of our smartphone experience in Apps, People, and Jobs to be Done: Apps aren’t the center of the world. But […]