So that Emurse article by Kim Komando keeps getting picked up by a different metro papers. I'm not sure where it was yesterday, but a user mentioned to me that something ran in the Denver Post. For a site such as ours, getting paper coverage metro by metro is absolutely great. It helps us build mass in each of our target geographies. Something like the Komando article, which was unexpected/unsolicited, is a total blessing. Even a slight mention in an article, like the C|Net's Top Websites for Students, brings in a slew of traffic for us. I wonder if its directly proportional to how many words are written on us? ;) If we hire a publicity person, is that what they do? Get things written about us? No idea. Maybe one day we can have a "blog relations" person, with slight press responsibilities. I think that's probably more our speed. Maintaining solid % growth day after day is a tough thing to do (linear and all), but between the excellent word of mouth and the coverage we've been getting, we're continuing to meet our goals. I think we've been spoiled by all of it to some degree. I heard the other day that Kiko, a site that garnered a ton of Web2.0 press within the community echo chamber, only had a few thousand users. Seriously?
I tend to remind myself that we're not really a web business. We aren't out to leverage the long tail or create a social network or do everything 100% automated. We're looking to fill the need of the every day job seeker, something that after 12 years, the web community has still failed to do. If we happen to strike a web2.0 chord along the way (like we've done with our use of Ajax), then rad. Bring on the hype. Other than that.. It's the traditional job seeking folks in Denver, reading their paper, that we'd like to attract ;)
Comments...
(Page 1)1. Per a buddy's thoughts, Have you thought about making arrangements to integrate with sites like Dice.com or Monster.com? That might be the next logical step since you obviously have credentials and could sell them on the ame functionality...even perhaps an import API?
11:56AM on Aug 29th 2006 by Rob
2. We've talked to/met with a bunch of job boards and search engines. The general reaction has been a bit apprehension, but there are a few we are actively developing integratons for.
Basically, we see the data as something that belongs to the user. Something they should be able to take with them easily from one site to the next, etc. It's becoming more and more of a commodity (with things like hResume, especially). Our vision is the tools and services around the data, not the data itself.
You'd be surprised (or not) at how many of the big players do not feel this way. There are a few who even pay lip service to it openly with their users and the community, but behind closed doors have a different plan and a (in our opinion) overall anti-user attitude.
Expect a few initial integrations in the relatively soon future though. Once we get a couple out there, I think people will start to warm up to the idea. :)
12:04PM on Aug 29th 2006 by Alex Rudloff
3. You've got the right idea for sure. Once the hype machine has powered down, we'll be left with (a) sensical ajax that works for the user, and (b) tools that people need. And that means stuff like Emurse, not 5-letter photo sharing site #87.
And you're right that after 12 years it was overdue. Now it's time for a decent web-based white pages.
2:10PM on Aug 29th 2006 by Mike