Can Twitter co-founder take an 'evolutionary leap' into storytelling?

Collaborative publishing website Medium, which aims to reinvent the blog, secures first external investmentMedium, Twitter co-founder Ev Williams's online publishing venture, has no shortage of ambition – to reinvent the blog as a digital storytelling format and match the impact of the microblogging service, no less.Williams, who launched Medium in August 2012 with Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, has said their aim is "re-imagining publishing in an attempt to make an evolutionary leap" by building a new platform from scratch that would put an emphasis on ideas, stories and collaboration. To achieve this, however, the company will have to get over several hurdles, not least addressing the confusion over Medium's perceived strategy and business model, summed up by Reuters media commentator Jack Shafer, who describes it – while not lacking potential – as up to now being "a mystery wrapped up in a hashtag concealed by a catchy URL".This uncertainty has clearly not put off investors: Medium, which employs 50 full-time staff, announced last week that it had secured its first external investment, a $25m funding round led by Greylock Partners, with participation from Google Ventures and individual investors. Initial funding for the platform came from Williams's investment vehicle The Obvious Corporation.Perhaps this enthusiasm shouldn't be a surprise. As well as co-founding Twitter, Williams launched blog publishing service Blogger in 1999 and Medium is, ostensibly, similar – with... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #move forward

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Hachette turns to Twitter to sell books

Hachette is selling three of its titles, including Amanda Palmer's new book 'The Art of Asking,' using buy buttons on Twitter. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sell books #buy buttons


Hachette to sell books through Twitter

Hachette Book Group in the US has partnered with Gumroad to sell books directly through Twitter. From later this week (11th December), tweets from certain authors will contain buy buttons allowing customers to buy the books without leaving Twitter. The first book to be offered this way will be... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sell books #amanda palmer


Hachette Tries Selling Books via Twitter

The Hachette Book Group is partnering with native commerce platform Gumroad in a special promotion to sell print books by Amanda Palmer, Chris Hadfield and The Onion via Twitter beginning December 11. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #selling books #special promotion #amanda palmer #chris hadfield


Brands Are Wasting Time And Money On Facebook And Twitter, Report Says

"Stop making Facebook the center of your relationship marketing efforts," says Nate Elliott, VP and principal analyst at Forrester.Today market research firm Forrester published a report for brands titled "Social Relationship Strategies That Work."Read Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wasting time #principal analyst


Storytellers Inc offers illustrators' calendar

Lancashire-based indie bookshop Storytellers Inc is looking to partner with other booksellers to sell the latest edition of the Illustrators Calendar.   The Illustrators Calendar 2015 features work from Emily Gravett, Steven Lenton, Tim Hopgood, Mini Grey, Chris Haughton, Lucy Cousins, Chris... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mini grey #lucy cousins #chris judge #rebecca cobb #lydia monks #indie venture


Digital storytelling for HoZ Carnivia campaign

Head of Zeus has launched a “fully immersive, story driven” digital marketing campaign to mark the release of Jonathan Holt’s The Abduction in paperback. The novel is the second in the Carnivia thriller trilogy, and the marketing campaign will be hosted on the Carnivia website, with Head of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital storytelling #marketing campaign #drive sales


PLR Twitter campaign sees 70 new authors sign up

A Twitter campaign to encourage more authors to sign up to Public Lending Right has been successful, according to Tracy Chevalier. Seventy authors registered for PLR in the first week of the campaign, led by Chevalier - an increase of 400% on the same period the year before. Chevalier, chair... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors sign #tracy chevalier #public lending #regular basis


Tamblyn takes to Twitter to give his views on Amazon

Kobo’s president has launched a Twitter tirade about why indie authors should beware of Amazon’s supplier negotiation tactics. Michael Tamblyn, president and chief content officer of the Canada-based ebook company, took to social media today (17th October) to warn self-published authors in 32... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stephen Fry seeking digital makers for global YourFry storytelling project

Publisher working with WeTransfer to make text, audio and images available for creators alongside new autobiographyStephen Fry is the new Slash from GunsnRoses. But not for reasons related to chemical overindulgence, hats or windswept guitar solos.Slash was one of the first individuals to have... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Storytel and Mofibo look for new markets

Two Scandinavian companies offering ebook subscription services, Storytel and Mofibo, are going... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: George Blagowidow, Hippocrene Books Founder

George Blagowidow, founder of Hippocrene Books, died on September 18. He was 90. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Innovating to Enable Storytelling in a Digital Age

The CEO of Beneath the Ink, a former Time Warner Cable executive, delivers lessons learned from the digital transformation of the cable industry. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fox’s Maria Bartiromo Follows Everyone From Matt Damon to Matt Drudge on Twitter

Specs Who Maria Bartiromo Claim to fame: Global markets editor, Fox Business Network; host of Opening Bell With Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business (weekdays at 9 a.m. ET) and Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo on Fox News (Sundays at 10 a.m. ET) Base New York What’s the first information... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Brilliantly Witty Book Mined From Twitter’s Wannabe Novelists

For the last several years, the New York artist has fastidiously tracked the phrase "working on my novel" as used on Twitter. His new book, Working On My Novel, collects hundreds of these tiny declarations of literary intent. It's a clever conceit, but it's also something more. Taken together,... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How to automate your Facebook and Twitter posts with Buffer

So you've got "a friend" who is a social media addict. They check in to every location, Instagram every meal, even use "hashtag" in conversation. Well, Buffer can help them keep their social media feeds flowing with content without chaining them to a phone or laptop. The way Buffer works is... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-09-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Frederick Ruffner, Founder of Gale Research, 88

Frederick Gale Ruffner Jr., who founded the Gale Research Co., passed away on August 12 at the age of 88, following a long illness. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Quadrille founder Cathie steps down

Quadrille founder and m.d. Alison Cathie is stepping down from her role. Cathie founded the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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David Mitchell tells Twitter story

Novelist David Mitchell is to tell a 6,000-word story on Twitter, beginning today (14th July).... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Game of Thrones': Twitter users put a Westeros twist on children's books

Twitter users are subbing in 'Thrones' themes for famous children's book titles. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s All About Storytelling

"Storytelling” was the most frequently cited buzzword among the 400 exhibitors at this year’s Licensing International Expo. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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