Comments on: A Call for Writers to Renovate the Web http://www.creativedistraction.com/analysis/call-for-writers-to-renovate-the-web/ Jonathan C. Hall's blog / anti-blog. Thu, 15 Jul 2010 22:48:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: Bill Paquin http://www.creativedistraction.com/analysis/call-for-writers-to-renovate-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-2110 Bill Paquin Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:11:03 +0000 http://www.creativedistraction.com/?p=1#comment-2110 As a beneficiary of Jonathan's work on a project specific to this topic in the health arena, I can attest to the opportunities inherent in taking older content and building on it. We have found that this works extremely well when the asset is of high quality - which we define in health as being developed by experts in their fields, a cardiologist writing on cardiology. Jonathan, contrary to my prior hesitancy of developing a case, I think we should revisit the issue. Thanks for the insightful info. Bill As a beneficiary of Jonathan’s work on a project specific to this topic in the health arena, I can attest to the opportunities inherent in taking older content and building on it. We have found that this works extremely well when the asset is of high quality – which we define in health as being developed by experts in their fields, a cardiologist writing on cardiology. Jonathan, contrary to my prior hesitancy of developing a case, I think we should revisit the issue.

Thanks for the insightful info.

Bill

]]> By: Jonathan C. Hall http://www.creativedistraction.com/analysis/call-for-writers-to-renovate-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Jonathan C. Hall Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:21:17 +0000 http://www.creativedistraction.com/?p=1#comment-4 You put your finger on the hardest part, a part glossed over in this post. As with flipping houses, the underlying asset -- the house -- must be discovered, evaluated and acquired before the renovation can begin. The value of an existing Web property is likely <em>more</em> subjective than a piece of real estate, and acquiring one can require patience, tact, negotiation skills and money -- oh, and luck. Many decent-performing but under-optimized sites out there began as someone's labor of love, and that someone usually remains attached by pride, sentimentality, delusions of grandeur, etc. In many cases, to get to the point where you can even <em>start</em> to build on their work requires accommodating their desires and ego, not to mention their financial interest. A case study is certainly to come. I'm working as a consultant on a few projects in this vein which I'm not at liberty to discuss. But certainly I'll have my own story to share before long, be it a success or failure. I've been doing a lot of prospecting. You put your finger on the hardest part, a part glossed over in this post. As with flipping houses, the underlying asset — the house — must be discovered, evaluated and acquired before the renovation can begin. The value of an existing Web property is likely more subjective than a piece of real estate, and acquiring one can require patience, tact, negotiation skills and money — oh, and luck. Many decent-performing but under-optimized sites out there began as someone’s labor of love, and that someone usually remains attached by pride, sentimentality, delusions of grandeur, etc. In many cases, to get to the point where you can even start to build on their work requires accommodating their desires and ego, not to mention their financial interest.

A case study is certainly to come. I’m working as a consultant on a few projects in this vein which I’m not at liberty to discuss. But certainly I’ll have my own story to share before long, be it a success or failure. I’ve been doing a lot of prospecting.

]]> By: Ted Bongiovanni http://www.creativedistraction.com/analysis/call-for-writers-to-renovate-the-web/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Ted Bongiovanni Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:24:36 +0000 http://www.creativedistraction.com/?p=1#comment-2 As I read your post, the words of Larry Lessig echo in my head "all great culture builds upon the past," and I know he was writing about stories and such that entities like Disney have monetized and copyrighted (wronged?) but still, the notion of taking something that's rough, and making something better our of it is appealing--content development is hard work. Earlier versions of Web sites, from say, circa 2002 are arguably tougher renovation projects, but blogs built with RSS feeds in mind could be transformed in short order. I like the notion that you're putting forth--kind of like a media wiki writ large--now if only it were that easy to edit a site in need of renewal. Looking forward to reading more on this theme--perhaps a case study? As I read your post, the words of Larry Lessig echo in my head “all great culture builds upon the past,” and I know he was writing about stories and such that entities like Disney have monetized and copyrighted (wronged?) but still, the notion of taking something that’s rough, and making something better our of it is appealing–content development is hard work. Earlier versions of Web sites, from say, circa 2002 are arguably tougher renovation projects, but blogs built with RSS feeds in mind could be transformed in short order. I like the notion that you’re putting forth–kind of like a media wiki writ large–now if only it were that easy to edit a site in need of renewal. Looking forward to reading more on this theme–perhaps a case study?

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