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How TechCrunch must change to stay relevant to the startup community

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Re: How TechCrunch must change to stay relevant to the startup community

#12
They shouldn't completely change what they do but focus on quality valuable content. When I read something on AVC, Paul Graham's Blog or Ben Horowitz' blog I find direct value. I learn something new or how to fix a problem I'm facing. Many TechCrunch posts are "Is Instagram for Video a big market?" or "Why the internet is dead?". You sometimes get clicks but it devalues the content.

I don't mind funding announcements when they're mixed with product announcements or are an overall profile. I like how Sahil did it with Gumroad, he announced Gumroad has raised X amount of money and has launched our product and the article included a video interview. Copying a press release or quoting a company blogpost doesn't add value.

Many people still value TechCrunch, it's source for investors and influencers too, to track companies they may be interested in investing in. If TechCrunch just became editorial it would lose this and most of the value.

Re: How TechCrunch must change to stay relevant to the startup community

#13
post #9
post #3

Why should I care whether they are relevant?

Because the tech industry, like all others, has a large element of fashion - and a lot of people (like it or no) are followers of fashion. The New New thing, etc.

That has nothing to do with Techcrunch per se. People will find something else if TC dies. Big whoop.

Re: How TechCrunch must change to stay relevant to the startup community

#15

I formerly read TechCrunch for Arrington and MG Seigler, since they were both pretty "entertaining" (read: ridiculous). With them and that drama gone, there's little reason left to visit.

I drifted away after they left too. There's not much personality there. It feels like Mashable, a list of announcements and articles that don't provide much insight. No soul.

Re: How TechCrunch must change to stay relevant to the startup community

#16
post #12

They shouldn't completely change what they do but focus on quality valuable content. When I read something on AVC, Paul Graham's Blog or Ben Horowitz' blog I find direct value. I learn something new or how to fix a problem I'm facing. Many TechCrunch posts are "Is Instagram for Video a big market?" or "Why the internet is dead?". You sometimes get clicks but it devalues the content. I don't mind funding announcements…

You can say "add value", but a press release that was posted on my site reposted on TC word for word is adding value - or at least, potentially adding value - to me. Just because it's published doesn't mean anyone had seen it - getting it in front of a lot of eyeballs is a certain amount of value in itself.

Re: How TechCrunch must change to stay relevant to the startup community

#17
post #12

They shouldn't completely change what they do but focus on quality valuable content. When I read something on AVC, Paul Graham's Blog or Ben Horowitz' blog I find direct value. I learn something new or how to fix a problem I'm facing. Many TechCrunch posts are "Is Instagram for Video a big market?" or "Why the internet is dead?". You sometimes get clicks but it devalues the content. I don't mind funding announcements…

You can say "add value", but a press release that was posted on my site reposted on TC word for word is adding value - or at least, potentially adding value - to me. Just because it's published doesn't mean anyone had seen it - getting it in front of a lot of eyeballs is a certain amount of value in itself.

Adding value to the reader. Why the reader should read their post vs the Venture Beat quote. As writers that should be their aim.
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