WARNING: This blog contains random thoughts on technology, software engineering, and general all-round nerdery. Read at your own risk. Nerd is contagious.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Have they hugged you today?

We had a meeting today with a big wig at AOL. It was mainly about his vision for the future of AIM. I mostly agree with what his vision is, but one thing in particular caught my attention.

Other companies like Google and Yahoo "hug" you for visiting them. When you visit their page, they're like "Hey! You're here! Great! Look at all the things you can do!" Whereas AOL has become complacent. "Oh hey. There you are. Here use these things we made."

This one of the things we need to change at AOL. We need to make our users feels that they are appreciated for using AOL software and not inconvenience them for trying to use AOL services along with services of our competitors. The "walled garden" that AOL made its business out of is going away. Let's hope AOL doesn't decide to create a "greenhouse" instead, just replacing its concrete walls with glass ones.

Have you been hugged today?

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hold me

2:18 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree, AOL even though we released a TON of stuff for Internet users it still like "Nope this is it...don't like it? Move on". Whereas we need to be "Enjoy the service, if you don't like it, click export...here you go".

Allow our members to come and go as they please and don't torture them in the process.

10:42 PM

 
Blogger ニューヨーク在住日本版パンダ said...

its been a while since ive gotten hugged, gimmie a hug tiger

11:15 AM

 

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