Mybloglog Case Study: Product progression and widgets

Why do you want to write this startup company?Review

MybloglogIn2005The blog Data Analysis Service was launched in March, but it was created online for some blogs.CommunityAnd was widely welcomed.MybloglogAllow bloggers to create personal archives for their readers and use social networks (SNS) Functions are connected at a more private level. To2007Year2Month16Until,MybloglogWith more70000Register a blog, about14000Blog is using their most popular"Reader roll"Widget. This company is in2007In January, it was transferred at a price of about 10 million to 12 million.YahooAcquisition. They didn't have external investors in their entrepreneurial process, which made the three founders quite profitable (it should be quiteHappyAH ).

Accompanied by an interview:Scott RaferMybloglogOfCEO

 

Key success factors

 

Reader scroll barWidgetPopular

 

Mybloglog Reader's scroll bar Widget Is placed on the side of the blog. Widget It shows the mini introduction of your readers who have recently read your blog. This product isMybloglog The most important pillar of success. Reader scroll bar Widget Work like a free ad, use this Widget Basically, no cost is required. To 2007 Year 2 Mid-month, Mybloglog It provides services for activities of more than 2.5 million readers on more than fourteen thousand sites. Fred Wilson In one of his articles Blog Calculate this Widget The value is about $0.3 million if free ads are used for consideration. / Month (Use 10 USD / Thousands of presentations * 1 million presentation/ Every day * 30 Day, Easy math huh ?). I don't think 10 USD / This number is relatively high for thousands of times, but even if it is used 1 USD / A thousand times of presentation multiplied by 2.5 million times of presentation of such numbers for computation is equivalent 75000 Free monthly ads for USD.

This is equally important.WidgetServices in a simple and bright StyleMybloglogAll the things you want to do are pushed to users. The bloggers and readers cannot resist the temptation to register on their websites. ThisWidgetIt also integrates emotional factors. In my previous articleArticleI mentioned people's real faces (XD.

Team Responsibility and three monks have water to drink

ScottNoteMybloglogMost of the successes are attributed to the way their teams work. Each of the three gunmen assumes responsibility for their respective fields of expertise and controls the final decision.Eric marcoullierResponsible for products,Todd SampsonResponsible for technology,ScottGlobal decision. Interestingly,ScottReader's scroll bar is not consideredWidgetThis product has such great influence on the company.EricWhen I first proposed this concept, I also did not agree with this decisive product that promotes the company's development.However,EricHave the right to make decisions on products in the company,ScottAnd didn't stop him from doing this. This does not mean that teams are not cooperating in decision-making in areas beyond their professional scope, but letting everyone make decisions in their own field ultimately clearly helps them fromMybloglogThe huge bonus of success.

In our researchUserplaneIn this case,CEO Mike JonesThe company is also divided into three main lines. If we are still trembling with the correct management methods for internet startups, business, products (User spokespersons (User championIs that true?) How does it look like if we are equal to the third-line technology team? I think the key element here is to give the product (in the user-centric view) the same position as the other two. In most cases, the product belongs to the other two points.

 

Locate the problem and resolve the problem through product marketing

 

Scott does not fully agree that this title is a key element ), I think other entrepreneurs may benefit from this way of thinking. mybloglog was founded in 2005 In August January, the main goal is to make blogger to better understand their readers. Their initial product starts from the perspective of blog readers who click what link to get rid of the blog of the bloggers so that they can better understand the readers. Scott in 2006 added mybloglog brings a simple idea: bloggers are more willing to learn from the social background what kind of people their readers are, rather than analyzing them from the cold and detailed aggregated analysis. Scott proposes a show on the blog page, this seems like a brilliant idea. Later, the widget was proposed by a group of users. Eric also determines that this is a good idea .

The experience for entrepreneurs here is that a person should pick out a problem worth solving and take you on the right track through product marketing techniques. If you really understand the problems you want to solve, know what your users think is valuable, listen carefully to these feedback, and do not be too persistent in your initial product ideas, you have a higher chance of success. I thinkMybloglogThe team accurately identified "unsolved" (what is Uncle bus's resentment ?) The correct solution is found through multiple iterations.

I think the following are a good way for Internet entrepreneurs to evaluate their opportunities.

1.Are you sure the problem (or user dissatisfaction) exists?

2.Is this problem worth solving? For example, will there be many people who change their habits little by little, or will there be few people who greatly change their habits? Or in another way, if you solve the problem, do you think it would be a huge step forward for the company? (This is for those of us who are greedy)

3.Try to solve the problem, but don't drive. You know the problem well. Let's just listen to the user's words. Be in love later (suddenly changed to Jay Chou-_-|).

4.Are you sure you have enough time to try again and again,18A month or so may sound good.

 

ReleasePolicyAnd Marketing

 

MybloglogReleasing their social network services (SNS) One of the key factors to success is that tens of thousands of them use their data analysis services.Blogger.MybloglogFounded in2005In January2005In March, their blog Data Analysis Service was released. So when they are2006When the beta version of the social service system was launched in March June, they prompted fourteen thousandBloggerCreate a social archive. This kind of product progressPolicyIt is worth mentioning.MybloglogIn the initial stage, we first provide users with value-added services that do not have network effects. Their social products will certainly not get so much attention in the early stages of the launch if they do not have preheated products.

Since then,MybloglogGet an influential ImageBrad FeldAndFred WilsonSuchBloggerThe blogger received strong support. They also actively participate in discussions about their products in their blogs. They get recognition by leaving messages on others' blogs. Reader scroll barWidgetHe was a winner in viral marketing in the Internet market.

 

Exit Analysis

 

YahooIn2007The year of February is legendary.10 m-12 mUS dollarsMybloglog. InDon DodgeThere is a great blog aboutMybloglogExit valuation andYahooThe discussion on where the money was spent. Of courseDonThe analysis is an estimate from the perspective of a beautiful textbook. The reason why the purchase price actually reaches that price is because the market can afford it, and frankly speaking, the valuation measurement has not played a significant role in this acquisition. This ratioVC,Yahoo(And other buyers), the three-party game between entrepreneurs is more complex. IfMybloglogYesVCTheir InvestmentOfferTo get more valuation,YahooThey are willing to spend more money on them.

according to Scott , Yahoo has a lot of motives to buy. First, Yahoo is very fond of this product, which is simple and clear. It consists of very good emotional factors. A more rational purchase reason is that mybloglog is Yahoo is under attack in two projects about offline branch schools and social services. The key to Yahoo 's currency strategy is to build its own user behavior-oriented ads. mybloglog User information and a wide range of cookies (more than 0.1 billion so far) will enrich Yahoo ad Target engine, in order to improve profits through stronger correlation.

When I askScottWhy do they prefer to sell the company instead of accepting venture capital? He gave me a good answer: "It's hot to eat." (this isScottFromTopix(ApparentlyScottMu has heard this old saying from China.^)). Entrepreneurs areMybloglogInput value20Tens of thousands of dollarsCodeWriting Time,ScottIt takes more time to rapidly increase traffic.24 KAfter the host is completed50Double the return on investment makes the business irrefutable. No dilution, no control, and no uncertainty about future purchasers. Mom taught us to eat hot food!

 

Food to chew

 

MybloglogIs another one that obtains user informationWidgetCompanies that are successfully marketed. Other examples includeYouTube,RockyouAndSlide. I think we will continue to see moreWidgetFor companies that are successful, the difficulty of getting user attention will continue to rise. So what makesWidgetSucceeded? First,WidgetEnd users should be able to benefit from clear value support points. I think most failedWidgetDoes not provide sufficient value for end users. In any caseWidgetPut it on your own site, so asWidgetProvider, you not only compete with your direct competitors, but also tryWidgetProviders and advertising providers that are trying to attract users' attention are scrambling. Second, the most successfulWidgetIt seems to be the natural social relationships, not the methods that come down to Data. Photos are the most attractive. This is reflected inMybloglogThey are the faces of users who are eager for the social environment. AsScott"Our brains cannot be indifferent to what we see"

 

References and additional reading

 

"Mybloglog-shoestring Web 2.0 success story"

Fractals of change blog by Tom evslin, January 14,200 7

TomThis is a great article worth reading. This article discussesWeb2.0Service MarketingPolicyAnd slaveMybloglogThe lessons learned in the success story.

"Interview: mybloglog co-founder, Eric marcoullier."

Steve o' hear the social Web,Zdnet.com,2006Year12Month

This interview contains a good background check on the company's initial objectives and describes how they have come to this day step by step.

"The breakthrough that is mybloglog," Matt McAlister, January 2007

There is no other reason for this article to look good. It includes the most comprehensiveFlickrAndMybloglogOpinions of the acquired customer.

"Yahoo acquires mybloglog for $10 M-Has anyone done the math ?", Don Dodge on the next big thing, January 2007

(Mentioned above)MybloglogHow is the purchase price reflected?YahooObservation on Its Cognition of long-term value.

"The site, she grows !", The mybloglog blog, December 2006.

SomeMybloglogData on the growth rate can be found in comments.Fred WilsonValuation of its advertising value (that is30Hichina/Monthly calculation.

Translation complete

 

In addition, you can find other andMybloglogRelated Articles

Http://www.yeeyan.com/articles/view/thunder/143

In ChinaBlogMedia,MybloglogAcquired by Yahoo has been widely spread, and various mainstream media have reported

Other links in China:

Fengyan crazy LanguageItCompass:Http://www.kuangfeng.cn/blog? P = 956

Windows 2.0:Http://blog.vista.tw/archives/2007/01/18/443

Typed Robin:Http://typedrobin.blogspot.com/2007/01/mybloglog.html

 

In addition, we also need to mention the newly launched services in China:Frog clawHttp://www.wazhua.com/

Frog clawIt looks like from last year11The service was released in the middle of the month, and recently launched after a period of silence.MybloglogThere was another similarity. When I visited the website that day, I suddenly found this website, and saw countless familiar faces in it. I found myself aware of it.T_t

You do not need to repeat the description. If you are interested, refer

The morning bell and drum of the sky:Http://www.ilmay.cn/post/about-wazhua.html

RikuOfWapplog:Http://www.wappblog.com/entry/750.html

Three seconds to change the world:Http://www.yangyc.com /? P = 229

Okay,GoogleNow, this is their boss:Http://www.simonchan.net/

Seems to have hired another employee."^_^/

CurrentlyFrog clawFirst, it seems scattered or not clearly positioned.ItContacts in the circle are obviously not catching a cold on the so-called favorite star functions. In terms of Community functionsFrog clawIt is also a little inadequate, right from the interface and functionsMybloglogThere are many references (well, I like this word), and I have not yet seen the new concept of the lottery. What's more important for me? customizable styles andSize. It is too early to provide this service, butMybloglogThe concept is indeed quite attractive. I hope they will make persistent efforts and they will see my little translation:P.