I'm delighted for my old friends Rafat Ali and Staci Kramer and the sale of Content Next to the Guardian Media Group for a reported $30million plus, but it also underscores how Guardian has something many traditional media companies in the US don't seem to have--a focused, outcomes based strategy on where they want to end up in the next 3 years.
First of all, the Guardian is acquiring talent. Not only do they have the wonderful Simon Waldman and others who have been there for a while, they recently acquired Matt MaAlister from Yahoo! to run the Guardian Developer Network.
Second of all, they seem to have a plan, not only can they support a developer ecosystem, but now they're building a base with a digital media trade news and conference company that has a global focus and that can help them increase CPMs in their online advertising business, as well as diversify their revenue stream.
And Rafat, of course, gets what many entrepreneurs come to dream of--economic validation for hard word, consistent execution, an ongoing focus--and the chance to continue to grow his dream with others picking up some of the work so that the 22 hour days, 7 days a week, can die down.
First of all, the Guardian is acquiring talent. Not only do they have the wonderful Simon Waldman and others who have been there for a while, they recently acquired Matt MaAlister from Yahoo! to run the Guardian Developer Network.
Second of all, they seem to have a plan, not only can they support a developer ecosystem, but now they're building a base with a digital media trade news and conference company that has a global focus and that can help them increase CPMs in their online advertising business, as well as diversify their revenue stream.
And Rafat, of course, gets what many entrepreneurs come to dream of--economic validation for hard word, consistent execution, an ongoing focus--and the chance to continue to grow his dream with others picking up some of the work so that the 22 hour days, 7 days a week, can die down.
