Kevin Rose is missing something

Kevin Rose did a guest post on techcrunch, in which he gives us his “10 tips for increasing your twitter followers.“  The list has received a ton of negative comments. Why?  Because somehow, he failed to mention that the main reason he’s got 88,000 followers, is that he’s the guy behind digg.com and Rev3.

None of what he has suggested, would get you or me anywhere close to the follower number he has.

I’m guessing that techcrunch founder Michael Arrington (Michael, you’re a genius), must have known that Rose was about to make a total tool of himself and turn the post viral. The post also inspired Robert Scoble to point out that Rose was ignoring the obvious!

Scoble’s alternative top ten twitter tips!

1. Survive a plane crash and Tweet it.
2. Get arrested and tweet from jail.
3. Have sex with someone famous and tweet that.
4. Start a famous company. Profitability not required.
5. Have Leo Laporte mention you on his show (worked for my son).
6. Have Mike Arrington tell you you’re addicted (worked for me).
7. Unfollow all your followers. Follow them back. Block them. Then unfollow them. (Worked for Loren Feldman).
8. Get into a movie.
9. Direct a movie.
10. Take pictures with MC Hammer at a TechCrunch party.

I think the number 4 on that list is a direct swipe at Rose; who’s Internet empire has proven far less effective at generating profits, than it has at generating twitter followers.

Twitter following is what counts

Of course, Rose is focused exclusively on getting people to follow him. However, as Scoble has pointed out on many occasions (and I agree) – the thing to focus on with twitter is NOT who follows YOU (which you can’t control) but who YOU follow, (which you can.)

Techcrunch publicly casts doubt on Federated Media

One of FMP’s best known clients, techcrunch, has taken the ‘unusual’ step of publicly casting doubt on the future of FMP. Michael Arrington (one of my favourite tech writers), writes that, among other things;

I’m nervous about our ad partner Federated Media, which supplies about a third of our total revenue. They’re going through layoffs (I read this on their blog), and payments from them have dipped substantially in recent months (which isn’t a surprise given market conditions).

The blog post Michael refers to does mention lay-offs, but it ALSO mentions that new people are being recruited in other areas of FMP.  It sounds like FMP are simply adapting the structure of their business, to fit the changing market for advertising.  That’s a sound business move, which should help to make them stronger and more profitable.

If a client has an issue with a service provider, surely it’s better to have a meeting and get it sorted – rather than trying to hurt the service provider with such potentially damaging public comments?

Natali Del Conte – The comments

The negative comments about Natali Del Conte were pretty-much about two things.  Firstly, that Natali referred to clothing too much, for a tech news Journalist.  Secondly, some suggested Natali lacked ‘tech knowledge’ when speaking, unscripted, on shows like Buzz Out Loud..

If you are Natali, looks matter!

OK – it’s a sad fact that much of the way we are ‘judged’ these days is by how we look.  This is even more the case for people like Natali Del Conte; who appear in front of the cameras every week as part of her job.  With Natali’s appearance such an integral part of her work as a presenter / broadcaster – it’s obvious she is going to focus on how she looks and what she wears.

Natali Del Conte is what I call a ‘real person.’  She speaks her mind – and if she has been figuring out what to wear in front of the cameras that day – that’s what you will hear.  It really is that simple!.

Natali’s ‘tech industry knowledge

I have followed the tech industry since the late 1970′s.  The comments about Natali lacking ‘tech knowledge must have come from people who know nothing about Natali Del Conte’s work or professional background.

For example, many people don’t know that before fronting the insanely popular Textra and Loaded, Natali was a highly respected ‘Tech Journalist at Techcrunch.  Natali has ALSO written for respected publications like MarketWatch.  If you want to know about the quality of her work, ask yourself how come she has risen so far, so quick!  There’s no magic here – it’s just hard work and talent!

I have been reading Natali’s stuff for years and can assure you she knows her subject REALLY well.  More than this, Natali allows her personality to come through her writing AND her comments when appearing on podcasts / videocasts etc.  This brings me on to my final point….

Natali Del Conte – 100% ‘real’

Natali appears on the Internet and your TV screens, doing something that NO OTHER ‘tech profesisonal I know does; other than perhaps Robert Scoble..

I have either spoken to or corresponded with most of the best known people in tech news.  Most are a total waste of space – real ass-holes!  They have an on-screen persona that’s often funny or down-to-earth, but in reality, most are total dicks!

I know from emails I have received from Natali, that she often works 16 hours a day.  Fortunatly for her, she can use all this time ‘perfecting her craft’; because she has no need to waste time perfecting ‘the role of Natali Del Conte.’

With Natali Del Conte; what you see, hear and read is very much what you get!  If you like that – great – if you don’t like it – at least respect the fact that you are not being fooled.

On a personal note, I would like to thank Natali for her emails and for being ‘real’ enough to get in touch with me BEFORE this blog started getting any coverage..

Photo credit: Natali Del Conte – natalidelconte.wordpress.com

“Go away – go back to Digg!”
Robert Scoble’s message to those who are ruining blogs

So, The Scobleizer wants us to go back to the way things were in 2003; when there were only intelligent, decent people commenting in blogs and when blogs were filled with intelligent debate…

HANG ON!
I have only been writing thetechnewsblog for a few months, but I have been a blog contributor for many years and I have no recollection of the ‘perfect past’ Robert is referring to.  I have a massive amount of respect for Robert Scoble and I LOVE his work – but in my opinion, he’s wrong on that one!

For as long as there have been online forums and before that, news groups, there have been ‘comment trolls’.  The flame wars of the 1990′s in various usenet groups were HUGE – we just used to call the comment trolls ‘Flamers’.  Same people, same shit – different name.

LEAVE SCOBLE ALONE!
The fact that Robert is so successful, means people will always want to ‘have a go’ at him.  He is a big target – and one of those rare ‘tech celebrities’ – who ALWAYS always takes the time to reply to people who contact him.  Whilst some tech cebebrities (like Natali Del Conte), will do anything to avoid speaking to their listeners / readers – Scoble is totally approachable – and he draws a lot of flack as a result.

SCOBLE WAS RIGHT
Robert made some very good points in his interview.  He is right that only the most motivated people ever comment in a blog – and that these are often the people with the biggest axe to grind!  He was also right that the use of anonymous posting to blogs does give cowards a screen, behind which they can insult people / companies.

Robert also makes a good point – that topics are not covered in any depth any more.  A subject can be a MASSIVE story one day and dropped like a stone the next!  We used to chew over stuff for weeks / months a decade ago!

Finally, I am watching with interest as Robert; “removes the assholes” from his blog.  As such, you may not see me posting there any more (just kidding!)

The Scobleizer – http://scobleizer.com