Forbes Recognizes That There Are Better Business Models Than Pure Advertising

from the about-time dept

We’ve been making this point for years (and living it with our Insight Community offering), but it appears that other media providers are finally recognizing that there really are other business models than “advertising” or “subscriptions.” There’s been this theory out there for the longest time that those were the only possible ways to make money in the publication space. Thankfully, it looks like more and more publications are recognizing there are other options as well. A few folks sent over news that Forbes appears to be making the same point, noting that advertising is a commodity, but services are not. Thus, they’re launching a “reputation tracker” for companies.

While Jay Rosen was kind enough to compare Forbes’ new offering to our Insight Community, I’m not sure it’s quite there yet. It looks like Forbes’ offering is more just about getting feedback from people, rather than really leveraging the strengths of the community. Frankly, it still amazes me that more media publications don’t do more for their community (and in some cases, actively fight their own community). The whole reason media works as a business is because it brings together a community, and then does something with that community. The traditional model was to just sell their eyeballs — which only gets you so far. I think models that focus on actually using the intelligence in that community to do something useful seems a lot more powerful. Hopefully, Forbes’ step in that direction is an indicator that more media publications are realizing there’s more to a business model than advertising and subscriptions.

Filed Under: , , , ,
Companies: forbes

Rate this comment as insightful
Rate this comment as funny
You have rated this comment as insightful
You have rated this comment as funny
Flag this comment as abusive/trolling/spam
You have flagged this comment
The first word has already been claimed
The last word has already been claimed
Insightful Lightbulb icon Funny Laughing icon Abusive/trolling/spam Flag icon Insightful badge Lightbulb icon Funny badge Laughing icon Comments icon

Comments on “Forbes Recognizes That There Are Better Business Models Than Pure Advertising”

Subscribe: RSS Leave a comment
7 Comments
John Pagonis (profile) says:

Non ad-based revenue models are too frightening to media

Not basing their revenue models on ads is too frightening for big media, so they are in denial.

Apparently they hope that the environment that allowed them to command the margins they once had from controlling access to those eyeballs will return back after the recession.

If only they realised that their function as a media company is to acquire, maintain and monetise audiences, they could look into alternatives. Some of which we very recently discussed in a workshop at the Media Camp Athens event http://www.pagonis.org/dialogue/MCA2010.html.

Anonymous Coward says:

forbes is not implying anything is ‘better’, only that there are other parallel business opportunities that exist within the scope of being an information provider. if the model was that much better, they would drop the poor model overnight, which they are clearly not doing. business add potential revenue streams all the time, not that these new streams are better, only that they compliment the existing business, use the existing infrastructure, or allow them to leverage their existing strengths without nearly as much cost. then again, someone with an mba should know that, right mike?

what is yacon (user link) says:

what is yacon

Forbes is not implying something is actually ‘better’, solely that we now have some other parallel work at home opportunities which exist from the scope of being a great info service provider. when the product had been very much greater, they might decrease poor people product right away, that they can are obviously not really performing. organization add prospective profit channels on a regular basis, not really the particular brand-new channels are greater, solely that they accompany the present organization, utilize the active structure, or allow them in order to power their own active benefits with out nearly as much charge. nonetheless, somebody by having an mba should be aware of that will, appropriate scott?

Add Your Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here

Comment Options:

Make this the or (get credits or sign in to see balance) what's this?

What's this?

Techdirt community members with Techdirt Credits can spotlight a comment as either the "First Word" or "Last Word" on a particular comment thread. Credits can be purchased at the Techdirt Insider Shop »

Follow Techdirt

Techdirt Daily Newsletter

Ctrl-Alt-Speech

A weekly news podcast from
Mike Masnick & Ben Whitelaw

Subscribe now to Ctrl-Alt-Speech »
Techdirt Deals
Techdirt Insider Discord
The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...
Loading...