Valleywag
Jason Calacanis, in search of a full-fledged strategy for his flailing "human search engine" Mahalo, wants you to work for him. For free. The wealthy Internet tycoon is using Linkedin to ask: "Lots of discussion as to the value of Facebook for startups.... wondering, how would you market Mahalo on Facebook?" Calacanis's Facebook bankruptcy has left the Internet millionaire downright poor — in ideas about how to use social networks, at any rate. Our favorite answer, after the jump.
From Clark Gaines of University Media Group:
Why in the world would you waste time marketing on Facebook? Don't be another cautionary tale like the 100's of other companies that have tried and failed miserably to "brand", "Market" and "promote" their business on Facebook. The users don't care what you are offering.Sounds like Clark is experiencing a little Facebook bankruptcy himself. Not that Calacanis should have expected any better. A similar plea for help on LinkedIn reaped scant rewards when Calacanis first launched Mahalo. But if you'd like to volunteer your consulting services to the owner of a Santa Monica estate, feel free to volunteer. Literally.Facebook users are so focused on the task at hand (messaging, wall posts, stalking, friend adding) that they could care less about anything else you have to offer them unless it directly enhances the experience or functionality of one of the above mentioned activities. It would be like walking into a strip club and trying to sell encyclopedias to the customers while they're getting a lap dance.
Applications aren't the answer either. They're simply competing for the same face-time that those other tasks I mentioned are (and are losing in a blowout). Give Facebook Apps another few months and they'll be as popular as Marketplace (bomb), Facebook Share (whiff) and virtual cans of whoop ass.
Comments
I said this same thing when I was on CalacanisCast - the continual seeking of free advice makes him look like he has no idea how to be a CEO and lead. What would a VC who is funding a company think if their CEO has no idea what to do with the company? I think it's a poor move for Jason. He should hire consultants and protect the image. I would say the same to anyone, not just him.
I wonder if the "how-to" page idea came from linkedin discussion :)
Calacanis doesn't care what you say about him or his ventures, only that you say it. "Please, talk about me."
He doesn't care about any answer that he gets through LinkedIn. He's more likely using it to get the word "Mahalo" in front of all of his "3rd degree" connections.
Nope, no Facebook Bankruptcy for me yet. We haven't done any apps or marketing campaigns on their website to date.
Mahalo is "flailing"? How about failing instead?! look at their traffic: [traffic.alexa.com]
It's going downward.
Mahalo Bankruptcy!?
There seems to be a set of camps, those that want to see Calacanis succeed and those that are desperately seeking his failure. Um, how about some real discussions on the strengths and weaknesses of the site? So, is Mahalo weak? Yes, it is. But it isn't 'dying'. I'm actually bullish on Mahalo. Even though a casual search on the site turned up no entries for "Monte Carlo" or "John Law", except those supplied from "our friends at Google" (Understandable...but a bit of a gyp). The entries for "Alexander Hamilton" were great but for "Ween", it was a little thin.
So, give JC a break. He seems to have built a boat in search of an ocean. The way we have all seen the internet landscape shift over the years, Mahalo may prove to be the "fat part of the tail grabber" for which it was designed...
" a boat in search of an ocean"
I think you've summed up over 50% of the websites launched in the last 2 years. Web 2.0 baby!
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