Tag: Editors’ Blog

It's fair to say that the application proffered by applicant company Laybuy was the cause of an icy-reception. In fact, it was literal cause of an icy reception area. The dissertation on the reasons why Laybuy is ‘cool’ arrived embedded in a block of ice and spent two days in the office sink defrosting before we could get to it.

It's fair to say that the application proffered by applicant company Laybuy was the cause of an icy-reception. In fact, it was literal cause of an icy reception area. The dissertation on the reasons why Laybuy is ‘cool’ arrived embedded in a block of ice and spent two days in the office sink defrosting before we could get to it.

Anthill celebrates its 6th birthday this week. To celebrate, we're taking a stroll down memory lane, beginning with one our most memorable blunders... The...

Social media maven and general rabble-rouser Cameron Reilly posted the following political observation on his Facebook Page earlier today, under the earnest heading "Obama's Health Care Explained."

Later in the evening, perhaps after a second or third round of cocktails (all the pubs were closed), Cummings shared his views that raising capital is a time consuming process and that, in particular, he would be seeking a strategic partner. That's why I was particularly pleased to receive news yesterday that Travellr.com has secured growth capital from none other than the travel insurance and travel services company The Worlds Normad Group.

Hulu is a website that offers commercial-supported streaming video of TV shows and movies from NBC, Fox and many other networks and studios. It topped Fast Company's Top 100 Innovators list for 2009, beating both Google and GE. It is a rival to YouTube (offering full episodes, rather than 10 minute teasers), threatens Apple's strategy for renting and selling video content online (as a logical extension of iTunes) and in April signed a deal with Disney that sent shivers down the spines of television and studio executives the world over (those execs with spines, anyway).

Hulu is a website that offers commercial-supported streaming video of TV shows and movies from NBC, Fox and many other networks and studios. It topped Fast Company's Top 100 Innovators list for 2009, beating both Google and GE. It is a rival to YouTube (offering full episodes, rather than 10 minute teasers), threatens Apple's strategy for renting and selling video content online (as a logical extension of iTunes) and in April signed a deal with Disney that sent shivers down the spines of television and studio executives the world over (those execs with spines, anyway).

There is a popular blog post currently doing the rounds - a list of 25 Social Media Sites for Entrepreneurs. It provides a brief description of 25 tools (including some familiar ones, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) but with very little analysis or commentary on each. Committing to any new social networking tool is time consuming. So, I figured it might be helpful to test each out and share my views on which are useful and which... quite simply... suck (i.e. are ugly, awkward and generally suck time from your day with very little return).

There is a popular blog post currently doing the rounds - a list of 25 Social Media Sites for Entrepreneurs. It provides a brief description of 25 tools (including some familiar ones, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) but with very little analysis or commentary on each. Committing to any new social networking tool is time consuming. So, I figured it might be helpful to test each out and share my views on which are useful and which... quite simply... suck (i.e. are ugly, awkward and generally suck time from your day with very little return).

Australia’s proposed National Broadband Network (NBN) has been thrust back into the headlines with yesterday’s news that the Rudd Government is taking Telstra over its knee with the firm intention of breaking it in two. Of course, Conroy’s Telstra play is all about the National Broadband Network and competition – more of it means better prices for consumers, and more opportunity for clever Australian startups.

The nominations are coming in thick and fast, female involvement is close to reaching an all time high (as posted previously) and, next week, mobile billboards will be hitting major CBDs (thanks to your input). However, one or two trends have emerged that have surprised me.

The nominations are coming in thick and fast, female involvement is close to reaching an all time high (as posted previously) and, next week, mobile billboards will be hitting major CBDs (thanks to your input). However, one or two trends have emerged that have surprised me.

If memory serves (from my days as a PR consultant in agency-land), the main purpose of PR is to build positive brand awareness. And this is motivated usually by a need to sell 'stuff' or promote a message. And, quite frankly, there are few mediums that achieve this better than online channels - unless your target market is poor, a 'frugal' (the parent of a baby-boomer) or based in a submarine.

If memory serves (from my days as a PR consultant in agency-land), the main purpose of PR is to build positive brand awareness. And this is motivated usually by a need to sell 'stuff' or promote a message. And, quite frankly, there are few mediums that achieve this better than online channels - unless your target market is poor, a 'frugal' (the parent of a baby-boomer) or based in a submarine.

The events surrounding the death, last week, of Sydney businessman Michael McGurk have attracted greater intrigue and speculation than a Sopranos cliff-hanger. How someone can build a career on intimidation and extortion is beyond this author's imagination. However, the fascinating events surrounding McGurk's demise have got me thinking. What can we, as business-people, learn from the tactics of a stand-over man? Fortunately, I have only one resource to rely on. Gangster fiction!

Last year, we were forced to ask the question, 'Where are the female entrepreneurs?' when, according to the nomination form, only 8% of the nominated companies in 2008 were run by women. Of course, our provocatively titled post had our female Anthillians nominate en masse, getting our female contingent up to a more respectable 28%. This year, only one month into the process, nominated companies run by women represent 35% of the total!

While most new technology developers will spend months chasing down angel investors and cold calling VCs, often with the randomness of a headless chook, without too much planning or forethought (much to the potential investor's frustration), sometimes the safest money is already right under their noses. It's called 'strategic capital' or 'smart money' (or a mix of the two).

Once of the greatest things about social media is that it allows advertisers to target their messages to certain demographics and consumers with identifiable buying habits. Initially, this sounds insidious. However, targeted advertising is largely a boon for both sides of the sales equation.

Once of the greatest things about social media is that it allows advertisers to target their messages to certain demographics and consumers with identifiable buying habits. Initially, this sounds insidious. However, targeted advertising is largely a boon for both sides of the sales equation.

This could perhaps be the shortest post I have ever published. In fact, the headline says it all. Should I be worried? If Bing is so good, why doesn't Anthill appear when I specifically search for 'Anthill Online'? And, of course, does anyone understand search optimisation for Bing?