Cambridge Disinformation Summit’s Post

Buy or build? It’s a debate that always comes up when discussing reader revenue models. In short: building in-house isn’t always the best option. With insights from The Audiencers Community on WhatsApp, my colleague Madeleine White has pulled together a comprehensive list of best-in-breed tech stacks that can make all the difference. Check out the article for our recommendations!

Getting your press release published on leading platforms like The New York Times, Yahoo News, and Google News is easier than you think! 🗞️ 1️⃣ Write a compelling release 2️⃣ Choose the right platforms 3️⃣ Submit through Thrive News Wire Boost your brand's reach with Thrive News Wire. #GetPublished #PressReleases #ThriveNewsWire

Another excellent piece from Cory Doctorow in which he lays out an argument for "disenshittification" - the ability to tackle the #enshittification of digital platforms. #Enshittification is the key thesis of his book #ChokepointCapitalism, co-authored with Professor Rebecca Giblin, and describes a three-phase approach in which digital platforms first increase their utility to users - increasing dependency and adoption. The tables then turn, and the platform seeks to better serve advertisers at the expense of users. Then the tables are turned again when the platform seeks to extract value from the advertisers, often signalling the platform's death knell. That is, Enshittification is a market #lifecycle. He touches on approaches such as #regulation, #interoperability, and the #RightToRepair movement - harkening back to his strong #OpenSource roots. https://lnkd.in/gkRfRrWN

Journalist Cory Doctorow coins the term "Enshittification" to indicate the involution of large online platforms. The American Dialect Society selected it as its 2023 Word of the Year. Enshittification follows a three staged process. First, the new platforms attract users by creating a relational ecosystem that is favorable to them. Once users are locked in, the platforms aim to attract providers by making user data available to them, to the detriment of users. Once suppliers are locked-in, the platform shifts surpluses to shareholders. Once the platform is fundamentally focused on the shareholders, and the users and vendors are locked in, the platform no longer has any incentive to maintain quality. Finally, the strong centralization of users, suppliers and shareholders leads to monopolies that prevent them from abandoning the platforms. Doctorow's reflections should push us to require platforms to respect at least two principles. Ensure that users receive only the content they want and that you can easily migrate from one platform to another, taking all your data with you.

Google reviews... Ever given a thought to their power? Here's the deal: - Almost like modern wizards casting digital spells, we can transform a humble mom-and-pop shop into the latest local trend by casting our star vote. - With a click, we've got the power to make a new restaurant's phone ring off the hook. BUT, also consider this: - We have the potential of casting gloom over a startup by popping that one-star balloon. 🎈💥 So, as you pen your next Google review: - Think about the cascading effect your words could have. - See beyond the screen to the people, dreams, and hard work behind the services. Let's use our powers responsibly, folks. After all, with great power comes great... reviews, right? Remember, your words mould reputations. That's pretty exciting... but also a little scary, isn't it? #GoogleReviews #DigitalInfluence #PowerOfWords

I realllly love this “peanut butter” analogy that Brad Garlinghouse used in an old internal Yahoo memo arguing that they were spread too thin and needed better focus and accountability. “We want to do everything and be everything -- to everyone. We've known this for years, talk about it incessantly, but do nothing to fundamentally address it. We are scared to be left out. We are reactive instead of charting an unwavering course.” I've heard our strategy described as spreading peanut butter across the myriad opportunities that continue to evolve in the online world. The result: a thin layer of investment spread across everything we do and thus we focus on nothing in particular. I hate peanut butter. We all should.” Some of the memo’s main points give me hints of Frank Slootman’s “narrow the focus, increase the quality” tagline: 1. Focus the vision Declare what we are and what we aren’t. Exit the non-core and duplicative businesses. Form a cohesive strategy and direction. 2. Restore accountability, ownership, and decisiveness Owners and other senior roles should hold accountability for results, implementing changes, and quality. Incentivize teams to care and be part of the solutions. 3. Kill redundancies Align the business units so they’re not competing against each other. Reduce redundancies and make faster decisions.

Is curation just a buzzword or the future of media buying? Ari Paparo's latest curation update explores the debate and reveals why programmatic curation offers greater control and transparency than traditional methods (with a helpful graphic from @Lotame). Check it out and discover a smarter way to reach your audience. #adtech #curation #mediabuying

Don’t spend hours creating content for your membership only to be let down by unreliable technology. Here’s why reliability should be your top priority ⤵ Reliable tools build trust and credibility, helping publishers deliver exceptional experiences. This helps to reduce churn and boost recurring revenue. Dealing with tech issues and manual workarounds is inefficient. Minor issues can turn into major obstacles. Tools that work as they should help you focus on what matters the most: Creating exceptional content and connecting with your audience. For more tips on how to build a sustainable membership check out our blog: https://lnkd.in/dUuKPQgR

Chicago Sun-Times continues to lead the way building a news product Chicagoans want to pay for. They're leading with an audience-first approach that's paying real dividends. After dropping the traditional paywall a year ago and moving to a membership model, the Sun-Times now employs a "freewall" allowing visitors to access articles for free after watching a short video about their journalistic mission. The result: - A more engaged audience with more and higher value memberships - A more sustainable growth trajectory Read more here: https://lnkd.in/esY8VNi4

Why do we talk about spam messages? Because like that distant relative who always shows up uninvited to the family BBQ, they’re persistent, annoying, and just won’t quit. But for businesses, there’s a lesson here—don’t be that relative! Give your customers the choice to receive your messages by using an opt-in option. It keeps your messages welcome, relevant, and far from the spam folder. So, stay smart, keep it consensual, and let your audience look forward to hearing from you! #OptInOnly #ByeSpam #CustomerFirst