My main problem with Posterous imports is that they don't preserve the URLs of my previous posts. I have custom domains set up, so redirects are broken. I was hoping that with the latest Tumblr import they had fixed it, but no go.
Posterous takes on Tumblr
71–80 of 100 posts
Re: Posterous takes on Tumblr
#72This is a really low blow. This is what companies do when they are clutching at straws - they spread misinformation. Considering: * Most tumblr themes have Disqus integration, and the "tumblr way" to comment is via reblog. * Multiple people can contribute to Tumblr blogs, I can also submit posts even if I'm not a user, and ask the authors questions (formspring style) * I can also password protect my Tumblr. They also…
I'm really confused about their product positioning. Ning was a white-labelled social network, what good will a "simple blog" do to its users?
Similarly, Tumblr is a micro-blogging platform -- people are on it because they precisely DO NOT want a full blog. I remember Posterous founders specifically saying they don't want to be compared because Posterous is not that (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=680087), why go after these people now?
Wordpress? So far, all they've been doing are incorporating features that Wordpress already has and not really changing the experience all that much either... which then begs the question, what's the big goal and how is it different?
It seems to me that their moves align with getting on AS MANY USERS AS POSSIBLE -- and if that means attacking all peripherally similar services, then so be it. It seems that their only goal is a large exit due to a large user base, not really product vision.
I see a couple of takeaways here for fellow hackers and Posterous:
- Really think about what your product is and what your big vision is. Are you really just creating yet another Wordpress.com?
- Is it the post by email that is the uniquely awesome thing about Posterous? Someone should put together a universal "Post by Email" service and test this theory. Have it connect to Wordpress.com and Tumblr and see if people buy.
Re: Posterous takes on Tumblr
#73I absolutely LOVE this whole campaign (one service a day with auto-switching imports). It's good, creative PR and will probably get them as many new users as it converts from other services. [edit: one service a day, not week]
On the other hand, when they really have something meaningful to say I will have gotten long past the point where I click on posterous stories on hn. imo the interestingness quotient on posterous stories has been running pretty low off late.
Re: Posterous takes on Tumblr
#74no import from picasa, google reader, last.fm, rss means no tumblr/posterous for me :F I find soup.io just the perfect tool for me, btw ;)
thumbs up for http://soup.io
Re: Posterous takes on Tumblr
#75This is a really low blow. This is what companies do when they are clutching at straws - they spread misinformation. Considering: * Most tumblr themes have Disqus integration, and the "tumblr way" to comment is via reblog. * Multiple people can contribute to Tumblr blogs, I can also submit posts even if I'm not a user, and ask the authors questions (formspring style) * I can also password protect my Tumblr. They also…
I'm really confused about their product positioning. Ning was a white-labelled social network, what good will a "simple blog" do to its users? Similarly, Tumblr is a micro-blogging platform -- people are on it because they precisely DO NOT want a full blog. I remember Posterous founders specifically saying they don't want to be compared because Posterous is not that ( http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=680087 ), why…
this might imply their original concept of blogging via email had too small a market, and they needed to expand to be more general purpose?
Re: Posterous takes on Tumblr
#76The only advantage Posterous has is built-in comments. Yes, you can use Disqus on Tumblr, but it's a bit of hack, and Disqus has it's own issues. Regardless of your opinion about comments, it should at least be an option for a blog.
But here is where Tumblr wins, you can't include any JavaScript in your Posterous theme (http://posterous.com/theming/porting). So if they don't support a feature you want (like comments or TypeKit), you can't add it on your own like you can with Tumblr.
Re: Posterous takes on Tumblr
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'm really confused about their product positioning. Ning was a white-labelled social network, what good will a "simple blog" do to its users? Similarly, Tumblr is a micro-blogging platform -- people are on it because they precisely DO NOT want a full blog. I remember Posterous founders specifically saying they don't want to be compared because Posterous is not that ( http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=680087 ), why…
this might imply their original concept of blogging via email had too small a market, and they needed to expand to be more general purpose?
I can think of better strategies for attacking the blogging market. Instead of creating a generic blogging system that just copies Wordpress' features, create the "starter" blog for a set of verticals.
Create a 'starter' blog that has the right bells and whistles for each of these individual targets:
1. A startup looking to promote their story (have it pre-set with a "About Us" page, a sidebar section to explain their product(s) and what they do, and Twitter/Like buttons to promote the posts
2. An author looking to promote his/her (e)book. Have an "About the Author" section, have excerpts/reviews on the sidebar, and a way to profile sample chapters as blog entries along with a super easy big call to action for buying the book from amazon.
3. A small business trying to attract locals. Have a clear display on the sidebar for location, maps, hours, and phone number. Have a section showing off pictures of the business. Have custom post types for Sales, Events, and special SEO sauce optimized for the given zip code.
(you get the idea...)
With an offering like this, not only will you solve a real problem (people like these having to create and customize these sites from scratch AND having to figure out what the right things to show are -- even though its well known), you 'll be solving a problem that people are willing to pay for.
Re: Posterous takes on Tumblr
#78Free service number 1 with no business model in sight wages war against free service number 2 with equally no business model in sight. "web2.0" is the new "New Economy".
Tumblr does have a business model, or at least the start of one: http://www.tumblr.com/themes/premium
Re: Posterous takes on Tumblr
#79This is a really low blow. This is what companies do when they are clutching at straws - they spread misinformation. Considering: * Most tumblr themes have Disqus integration, and the "tumblr way" to comment is via reblog. * Multiple people can contribute to Tumblr blogs, I can also submit posts even if I'm not a user, and ask the authors questions (formspring style) * I can also password protect my Tumblr. They also…
Kudos to you for keeping it civil; I personally have a lot of things to call the people, none of which are as restrained as your comment.
Posterous is already inferior to Tumblr technically, aesthetically and in many other regards, and now they can add morally to the laundry list.
Re: Posterous takes on Tumblr
#80They're not going to get many new blogs from this. People use Tumblr because of the community, and most users spend a lot of time reblogging content from other blogs that they like. Posterous doesn't offer that. This may be good for people actually using Tumblr as a traditional blog, but those people are in the minority.
This is actually the most relevant argument. I don't think any self respecting Tumblr user would contend that they speak in a vaccuum. The dashboard is central to the UI, and it's for this reason that they probably have yet to release a full API or even an RSS publicly.