You’ve Got Mail – Is Facebook The NEW AOL?
Hard to believe that just 15 years ago AOL ruled the world of the internet huh? Nope, there was no rumors of this Google thingy and Yahoo was just a bunch of links. However AOL was the place where you went to market to users, on AOL internet marketing ruled.
You wanted to get your brand on the internet, then you simply HAD to have a www.AOL.com/MyWidget address back in the day. You wanted to tap into the gigantic user base of AOL registrants? You would create an app using their proprietary platform…sound familiar?
Want more similarity? OK…My Mom, who is now over 70 years old now, got her first taste of computing by using AOL. For her, AOL was the INTERNET. She would say. "I saw thus-and-so on the internet", not understanding that what she was in was the AOL universe. She would NEVER click a link that brought up the standard warning message "You are about to be taken off of AOL to an unknown link" that would stop her dead in her browsing tracks.
Fast forward to 2009 and I am seeing the same thing. My family and friends who are FAR from technophiles are now using Facebook and for them, that "IS" the internet. This is their walled protective environment, but this time around the prison has a few windows to see out by linking to good stuff.
But what I find, by looking at their profiles, is that for the most part, they stay pretty much in the walled red zone. Almost NONE of them have links to stories outside of the safe domain of Facebook. The are simply not net savvy and Facebook is about the only place they desire to explore.
So John, what are you saying? …. Nothing, just contemplating the similarity….for now (stay tuned).
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YES! YES! YES!
I thought I was the voice crying alone in the wilderness. So good to be validated! For my $$ look into paid advertising on FB yes, makes sense, tap that walled in market, Having a FB page for the business? Can't see a worthwhile ROI.
OK, here's where you're wrong.
AOL was a closed garden by design. By AOL's design. AOLs customers soon discovered there was much more world to see and the closed garden withered. And died.
Facebook though, is a closed garden because that is the way the subscribers like it. For some people, Facebook fulfills their web needs without the exposure to icky spam and shyster marketers.
If you're going to reach the Facebook loyalist you're going to have to walk in their garden. And don't step on the tomatoes or there will be hell to pay.
Awesome post John,
I was a HUGE AOLer at one time. Folks don't realize how much of an impact AOL had on the Internet. AOL was Social Media back in the Dial-up Days..;-) I still remember the day I got my first “YOU'VE Got Mail” How thrilling it was and then over time how annoying..;-)lol AOL really paved the way for all social media and really does not get its just due.
Again great post
JB
Awesome post John,
I was a HUGE AOLer at one time. Folks don't realize how much of an impact AOL had on the Internet. AOL was Social Media back in the Dial-up Days..;-) I still remember the day I got my first “YOU'VE Got Mail” How thrilling it was and then over time how annoying..;-)lol AOL really paved the way for all social media and really does not get its just due.
Again great post
JB
well, If you have a passion for You've Got Mail, sign up and we'll let you know … on the trademark greeting that