Why No Network Branded RSS Readers?
Ok, here’s an idea I had a while back, when I had a lot of blogs on the go:
I was considering getting myself an RSS reader, branding it with my logos, loading it up with all my blog’s feeds and offering it as a free download, along with a detailed PDF of what RSS is and how people can use it to ‘listen’ to their favorite blogs and news sites.
To this day, I simply don’t understand why WIN, Gawker, 9rules, b5, etc. haven’t done this. After all, it would allow the network to get a legit desktop app on users computers - a branded desktop app that users would use every day.
I mean, look how many huge companies see the value in this. Google, with their desktop search, Microsoft with their OS and other software, spyware and adware companies, maliscious sites that hijack browsers, all the sites offering branded browser toolbars, the list goes on, and on.
Wake up people! You could have your brand right on a lot of people’s computers, built right into an app that will soon become as important to them as their email apps. Jump on this NOW for heaven sakes.
Anyone can do it for free with Feedreader, or with Tristana for a small fee, or is you chose to, you could have a custom program developed in a few weeks.
Blog Networks, Branded RSS Readers
+ Del.icio.us | + Furl | + Reddit | + Digg | Email this
February 11th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
I did this for a while last year - talked to a Windows Mobile developer company and they provided a branded version of their software (Newsbreak) for Pocket PC.
It was free, and the difference was a limit of 10 feeds instead of the unlimited on the paid version. Our feed was the default one.
It was a good thing, lots of downloads, and our RSS feed traffic increased considerably.
February 11th, 2006 at 4:29 pm
The main reason that 9rules doesn’t do it is because our #1 goal is to provide value to the 90% of people who have absolutely no clue what RSS readers are. If you surf around our site, you won’t find mention of RSS or Atom, simply because we don’t feel that catering to the extraordinarily small tech-savvy community is where we see our company headed. Too many startups focus their services on the smallest percentage of the population (people who live and breathe Ajax, RSS feeds, Google Maps, etc.) and miss out on the biggest segment of the population.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge RSS guy and use Bloglines exclusively to read blogs, however our goal is to provide value to everybody regardless of if they know their RSS from their RDF or not. By distributing a 9rules-branded RSS reader, we would be automatically alienating those who read 9rules and our members at work and can’t install new applications, as well as those who already use their own favorite RSS reader, not to mention those who just couldn’t be bothered to download a new app. An extension of the 9rules brand is normally a good marketing tactic, however a 9rules-branded RSS reader would probably be opposite where we’re trying to move our company and brand as a whole.
Best,
Mike (9rules)
February 11th, 2006 at 6:51 pm
I guess I see things a bit differently than you do Mike. Here’s why:
In the very near future, another big company is going to be dictating how more than 90% of your readers learn about and use the RSS feeds on your network’s sites.
The new version of Internet Explorer will be out within a year, with feed reading capabilities. MS Outlook will undoubtedly have those abilities in a future version as well.
Now would be a good chance to offer to educate (something I should have went into more detail on in my post) your readers on the benefits of getting access to your content via RSS, and get more brand penetration in the process.
Anyway, that’s just my opinion. No disrespect intended.
February 11th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
BTW, M Freitas. Glad to hear you had some success with your branded software.
February 12th, 2006 at 2:33 am
Haha, no disrespect at all Paul. My apologies as well if my comment came off as harsh, didn’t mean it.
I completely see the value in a 9rules-branded RSS reader, and to be honest if we weren’t so damn busy with new features and functionality than I think it would be a killer project for us to work on. We’ve taken on this mantra of 9rules being buzzword-free, so for some people I believe a 9rules-branded RSS reader (or maybe a 9rules-branded dashboard widget…. hmm!) might be overboard, however for others it might rock. From a PR standpoint, I highly doubt that it’ll tarnish the 9r brand in any way, so maybe we should give it a shot
February 12th, 2006 at 5:32 pm
Priorities. Managing, distributing and supporting software simply isn’t our business. We’re a content company, not a service company. If we ever become a service company, it’d be better to invest in aggregators, directories, search and plugins / tech than in a reader (in my opinion).
But, right now, we’re not a service company so the point is moot. And, even if we wanted to be, solidfying the platform, infrastructure, advertising, etc, is more important to me than extending who we are to a desktop app.
Not that it’s a bad idea, of course, it’s a good idea. But, it’s just not where we’re at right now
March 13th, 2006 at 5:32 am
[...] If you’ve been following along here lately, you’ve probably noticed I’ve been grappling with how to effectively merge or add new features and benefits to blog networks. I’ve mentioned and gotten feedback on network branded RSS readers, newsletters, etc. as spinoffs to blogs and I thank all here who offered their insights. Very enlightening indeed. [...]