Malcolm Gladwell talks about the problems with email in his book ‘The Tipping Point’. He references a concept coined the fax effect. The first fax machine was expensive and useless. With every additional fax machine sold the network became more valuable, and the cost of the device less so (relative to the value), until they are plagued with overuse (ie - reach a tipping point). Same think has happened in the past with phones and is happening with email. It the price of success and is bound to happen to other new media types given enough time. I think the same could happen with large social networks as well.

I agree Kevin, I think that MySpace is already suffering from this. I rarely respond to friend requests anymore because they are almost always spam. I’m sure more Social Networks will also fall prey to this.

I agree Kevin, I think that MySpace is already suffering from this. I rarely respond to friend requests anymore because they are almost always spam. I’m sure more Social Networks will also fall prey to this.

I agree Kevin, I think that MySpace is already suffering from this. I rarely respond to friend requests anymore because they are almost always spam. I’m sure more Social Networks will also fall prey to this.

I’m a huge fan of Gladwell’s Tipping Point and I remember the passage Kevin is referencing quite fondly.

Tac, you say New Media is a channel encompassing blogs, forums, podcasts, etc. I’d say that each are a channel in and of themselves in this new era of the information age.

People can use one or a mix mediums to relay their message. You see this now in the traditional media. Look at Idaho Business Review and how they incorporated blogs into the way they do business and present the news.

It will be interesting to see how things shape up for them by the end of the year. Personally, I think the way they changed their approach to their publication will be very successful for them.

I’m a huge fan of Gladwell’s Tipping Point and I remember the passage Kevin is referencing quite fondly.

Tac, you say New Media is a channel encompassing blogs, forums, podcasts, etc. I’d say that each are a channel in and of themselves in this new era of the information age.

People can use one or a mix mediums to relay their message. You see this now in the traditional media. Look at Idaho Business Review and how they incorporated blogs into the way they do business and present the news.

It will be interesting to see how things shape up for them by the end of the year. Personally, I think the way they changed their approach to their publication will be very successful for them.

Justin,
I totally agree. Each application is its own channel.
My question for the Idaho Business Review is “what’s next”. John Foster has made some great changes in the right direction, but I think that they need to strike while the iron’s hot. One blog is a great *start* but is not even the tip of the iceburg.

Justin,
I totally agree. Each application is its own channel.
My question for the Idaho Business Review is “what’s next”. John Foster has made some great changes in the right direction, but I think that they need to strike while the iron’s hot. One blog is a great *start* but is not even the tip of the iceburg.

Justin,
I totally agree. Each application is its own channel.
My question for the Idaho Business Review is “what’s next”. John Foster has made some great changes in the right direction, but I think that they need to strike while the iron’s hot. One blog is a great *start* but is not even the tip of the iceburg.

The “what’s next” question for John and IBR should be - How do we keep subscribers to the paper and how do we get new subscribers?

Here’s the problem: I just got my renewal notice for my subscription. I asked myself, “Do I want to pay the renewal? I get more from their website and their blog than I do the actual paper.”

Don’t get me wrong. I love the IBR, but they might loose me as a subscriber because I’m finding greater value in the new medium, or channel, they are using — and using quite well I might add.

The “what’s next” question for John and IBR should be - How do we keep subscribers to the paper and how do we get new subscribers?

Here’s the problem: I just got my renewal notice for my subscription. I asked myself, “Do I want to pay the renewal? I get more from their website and their blog than I do the actual paper.”

Don’t get me wrong. I love the IBR, but they might loose me as a subscriber because I’m finding greater value in the new medium, or channel, they are using — and using quite well I might add.

The “what’s next” question for John and IBR should be - How do we keep subscribers to the paper and how do we get new subscribers?

Here’s the problem: I just got my renewal notice for my subscription. I asked myself, “Do I want to pay the renewal? I get more from their website and their blog than I do the actual paper.”

Don’t get me wrong. I love the IBR, but they might loose me as a subscriber because I’m finding greater value in the new medium, or channel, they are using — and using quite well I might add.

Justin,
I totally disagree. I think that newspapers (and all media industries) have to get out of their traditional revenue generating models. Because as you point out, people are going to quit subscribing and there’s nothing they can do to stop it.
There are so many more ways to monetize content other than through subscriptions. There are so many more opportunities on line. They just need to think creatively. They need to think about how they can add value that people are willing to pay for. “News” is a commodity, we won’t pay for it anymore.

Justin,
I totally disagree. I think that newspapers (and all media industries) have to get out of their traditional revenue generating models. Because as you point out, people are going to quit subscribing and there’s nothing they can do to stop it.
There are so many more ways to monetize content other than through subscriptions. There are so many more opportunities on line. They just need to think creatively. They need to think about how they can add value that people are willing to pay for. “News” is a commodity, we won’t pay for it anymore.

Justin,
I totally disagree. I think that newspapers (and all media industries) have to get out of their traditional revenue generating models. Because as you point out, people are going to quit subscribing and there’s nothing they can do to stop it.
There are so many more ways to monetize content other than through subscriptions. There are so many more opportunities on line. They just need to think creatively. They need to think about how they can add value that people are willing to pay for. “News” is a commodity, we won’t pay for it anymore.

[...] few weeks ago, Tac Anderson posed this question for us on his blog: My question for the Idaho Business Review is “what’s next�? John Foster [...]

[...] so many communication channels available to us I think voice mail is loosing favor. Most people I know are so busy they hate [...]

[...] I have to agree.  If people used Twitter, instead of email, for short messages to me it would make my life easier and probably guarantee a quicker response, but that’s a whole post unto itself. [...]

Malcolm Gladwell talks about the problems with email in his book 'The Tipping Point'. He references a concept coined the fax effect. The first fax machine was expensive and useless. With every additional fax machine sold the network became more valuable, and the cost of the device less so (relative to the value), until they are plagued with overuse (ie - reach a tipping point). Same think has happened in the past with phones and is happening with email. It the price of success and is bound to happen to other new media types given enough time. I think the same could happen with large social networks as well.