Comments on: PleaseRobMe Highlights the Obvious in Terrifying Fashion http://www.locationmeme.com/2010/02/17/pleaserobme-highlights-the-obvious-in-terrifying-fashion/ news & analysis of the social location graph Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:58:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: perryevans http://www.locationmeme.com/2010/02/17/pleaserobme-highlights-the-obvious-in-terrifying-fashion/comment-page-1/#comment-331 perryevans Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:59:02 +0000 http://www.locationmeme.com/?p=418#comment-331 I remember going through this kind of media storm in the early launch days @ MapQuest. MapQuest & Switchboard were profiled on the "Stalker HomePage" and the story went from there straight into the mainstream press. We used the same arguments (you can find the same info out through other techniques, we're just adding convenience), and it worked. However, I'd argue that (in that era) MapQuest/Switchboard were such clearly useful tools for everyday use that the consumer didn't want to "go backwards". <br><br>To me, the risk and challenge is for these new gen services to prove enough application value/engagement to have this same natural consumer effect. IMHO, the apps have yet to find that "aha" moment in consumer's minds, so the risk to these services is indeed very real. Services with a mediocre value propositions could be seriously damaged by a media storm if it whips up. I remember going through this kind of media storm in the early launch days @ MapQuest. MapQuest & Switchboard were profiled on the “Stalker HomePage” and the story went from there straight into the mainstream press. We used the same arguments (you can find the same info out through other techniques, we're just adding convenience), and it worked. However, I'd argue that (in that era) MapQuest/Switchboard were such clearly useful tools for everyday use that the consumer didn't want to “go backwards”.

To me, the risk and challenge is for these new gen services to prove enough application value/engagement to have this same natural consumer effect. IMHO, the apps have yet to find that “aha” moment in consumer's minds, so the risk to these services is indeed very real. Services with a mediocre value propositions could be seriously damaged by a media storm if it whips up.

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