The Long Tail

The Long Tail by Chris Anderson.

The Head is red.  The Tail is yellow.  Hits are vertical.  Niches are horizontal.

Do you know why The Long Tail resonates with me?  Because it's me.  Tom Peters resides in the Head.  Dave Rothacker hangs his shingle out in the Tail.  Thanks to the Internet I am able to do so. 

Today, I'd rather not get into a "what The Long Tail is about."  For that please visit 800-CEO-READ and Steve Sherlock who  writes a clear and concise review of the book.

Chris Anderson talks about the three forces of The Long Tail:

1. Democratize the tools of production
2. Democratize the tools of distribution
3. Connect supply and demand

My computer (and Typepad) allows me to produce this blog.  The Internet allows me to distribute it.  And someone referring me to another person allows supply to be connected with demand.  As Chris says, "A Long Tail is just culture unfiltered by economic scarcity."

As stuff gets driven down the Tail, choice increases exponentially.  Amazon inventories 3.7 million books.  How does one choose what books to buy?  A filter is one way.  I am a filter.  I read books and then talk about them here.  I filter out the noise.  Phil Gerbyshak is a prodigious filter.  He filters out noise and brings us interesting sites to visit.

For me, The Long Tail represents freedom, and opportunity as an underdog.  I abhor being told what to do.  If the Internet didn't exist and I wanted to talk with others via writing, I'd have to face the possibility of losing my voice to an editor.  I'd rather eat worms.  Today though, I can be who I want* and have the chance for expression and discussion.

According to Chris, the secret to creating a thriving Long Tail business is to:

• Make everything available
• Help me find it

Going forward at Rothacker Reviews, I am concerned about the help me find it part... as I think anyone who has plans to continue blogging should be.  That is, if you want a clear method of content retrieval. 

*This is not entirely factual.   I choose to exercise great caution when it has to do with anything work related.  I will never mention my company nor will I ever talk about work.

About seven or eight years ago I was working for another company.  I was scheduled to attend a trade convention when management told me I wasn't allowed to talk about or mention my personal Web site to anyone.  Keep in mind, this was the site that the Starship Cruiser was formed around.  Our mission was to improve the industry.  Anyway, this sort of thinking runs rampant in my industry.  It is best for me to let them do their thing, and I do mine.

Comments

[Steve Sherlock]

Dave, thank you for the reference. The long tail is a big place and it helps to connect the right dots. I look forward to more Starship Cruiser expeditions.

[Rosa Say]

I too have been thinking about content retrieval quite a bit lately Dave. There is so much we have to learn about optimal blog design ... Prolific posting can give a blogger lots of Google-love, but it also buries so much in its quicksand.

And I agree that you and Phil are terrific filters!
Rosa

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Dave - I love the Starship Cruiser concept, and have learned a lot from your tours around the blogosphere. You do a very wonderful job of filtering, and I'm honored to have you include me in conversation with you.

And mahalo to Rosa for the kind words. Makes my heart do good to know people appreciate the filtering. It's my pleasure to do so.

[dave]

Probably something to consider at JJLN, eh Rosa?

Thanks Phil!

[Rosa Say]

Yep Dave, that's the beauty of JJLN; with learning, we can consider virtually everything and anything!