Impossible Dreams Media » business news

Playboy: Not Too Big To Fail

Chris Jones — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:59:10 +0000

I’ve said here many times that the most important factor for keeping your business relevant and successful is the ability to change with the times. You cannot allow yourself to become entrenched in a certain way of doing business as others around you begin doing things another way.

You must have a business model that allows you to quickly shift gears when necessary and begin moving in a different direction.

For instance, companies that foolishly dismiss social media as nothing more than a fad are likely to find themselves out of business in five years.

Even well established brands known the world over are not immune from the winds of change. There is no greater modern day example of this than Playboy.

Playboy was an iconic brand. Hugh Hefner built a media empire that at one time included a magazine, TV show, nightclubs, movies, jazz festivals, and of course his world famous mansion parties.

Then the Internet happened — and it was all downhill from there. The once mighty empire is about to be sold off for a gruesomely low $300 million to Iconix.

Renay San Miguel has an excellent piece about the downfall of Playboy over at TechNewsWorld.

Everyone should carefully study what happened to Playboy and the mistakes that were made. If it can happen to Playboy it can sure as hell happen to you (unless you’re GM, Chrysler, or Ford).

(hat tip Adult FYI)

Google To Acquire Twitter?

Chris Jones — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:00:08 +0000

According to TechCrunch, Google is in the late stages of negotiations to acquire Twitter. This news comes on the heels of Twitter’s recent rejection of an offer from Facebook.

It makes total sense that Google would want to get their hands on Twitter, because of the growing power of Twitter search. Twitter search is well on its way to becoming the most important search engine in the world.

Obviously, Google’s mantra of “don’t be evil” is starting to ring a little hollow these days especially if they end up acquiring Twitter. Google is amassing an unprecedented amount of data and power over people’s lives.

What do you think? Is it a good or bad thing for Google to acquire Twitter?

Microsoft To Aquire Yahoo — Again?

Chris Jones — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:26:55 +0000

Rumors are flying around once again that Microsoft may be on the verge of acquiring Yahoo again.

The deal, according to the Times Online, would see Microsoft injecting a new management team into Yahoo! with Jonathan Miller, the former chief executive of AOL and Ross Levinsohn, the former president of Fox Interactive Media at the helm.

Regardless of whether or not Microsoft is successful this time around, I’m betting that sooner or later they’re gonna get Yahoo.