Another sign that we’re living in a Seth Godin digital universe and not a Ries & Trout analog world occurred last week when Rupert Murdoch put up a “for sale” sign on MySpace.
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing was a guidebook for media and marketing pros everywhere back in the ’90s. And what was Rule #1?
1. It is better to be first than it is to be better.
Of course, that was the case for many brands – General Motors, Kodak, TWA. If you got in first, you could dominate for decades.
But as we’ve learned over the past decade or so, just being first in is no guarantee of long-term success.
Yahoo! was the first search engine – not Google.
Palm’s Treo was once the hot smartphone.
And now the first mega-social network, MySpace, is on the scrap heap as News Corporation looks for a new buyer. Their explanation?
“The new MySpace has been very well received by the market and we have seen very encouraging traffic figures. But the plan to allow MySpace to reach its full potential will be better realised under a new owner.”
Right.
The fact is that in this Wild West digital environment, being first doesn’t mean much. That’s’ why Steve Jobs, the Google team, and Mark Zuckerberg are working themselves and their teams in hyperdrive to stay sharp, cutting edge, and innovative.
There are a lot of chips out on the table for companies that have the passion, desire, and bandwidth to be great.
For those mailing it in, “same as it ever was” is the fastest path to an obituary.
Just ask Rupert.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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Smart take as usual Fred, thanks.
I remember way back in the old days when Lee Michaels was at Burkhart/Abrams. He was our consultant at Rock 103 in Memphis. The one thing he kept telling us over & over again was “surf the trends.” Try to anticipate, be the first there, but know when to bail and find the next trend while everyone else is just getting around to what you’ve already beat in the ground. I remember it well. I don’t think that’s changed. Once you go to “hyperdrive” it’s hard to slow down to the speed of sound. Trendsurfing is alive & well in Messrs., Jobs, Zuckerberg & the Google Team.
Paul & Art, thanks for taking the time to comment. I saw that “Guitar Hero” has been cancelled, following the demise of “Rock Band.” Even in the rapidly-moving gaming world, that’s a fast exit. Appreciate you both reading our blog.