Tumblr: 'We're pretty opposed to advertising'

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/04/tumblr-ads.html

by jamesshamenski • 16 years ago

20 7 16 years ago

latimesblogs.latimes.com

The LA Times does a quick take with David Karp.

jasonlbaptiste2• 16 years ago

I just can't see this ending well. I actually <3 tumblr, but I don't know what their options are:

* They've raised a decent amount of money, which means they can't stay a strictly small 37 signals type company.

* 4,000 for virtual stickets isn't too encouraging.

* The themes are a nice revenue stream, but I don't think it's enough to keep them going.

* They've nixed premium accounts which could have been nice.

* They're 100% opposed to ANY form of advertising, even something that's innovative. I don't think they should be doing adsense, but I think there's actually room here for something innovative. They have an interesting audience and there's a certain sense of style on tumblr blogs. They could do advertising that doesn't suck.

iamdave2• 16 years ago

I slightly disagree, but I see your point.

Tumblr has done an outstanding job of building a community both on and off the web. They host and sponsor events in New York all the time, and they foster quite a creative harbor for creative individuals. That said, what I think tumblr will pursue for future funding involves tapping into that pool of creative talent.

Quite a few tumblrs have signed book deals, and if anything, I think tumblr could quite possibly end up partnering with publishing houses, and other mainstream outlets. In fact, they just recently had a partnership with Cartoon Network (through TimeWarner) to integrate cartoon characters of some new program into the design of their theme garden for a week.

Advertising isn't and shouldn't be a revenue option for every single web startup out there.

jasonlbaptiste2• 16 years ago

I definitely agree that advertising is a poor option for most web startups. Ironically, tumblr is the vibrant, engaged, and creative community where they could apply an awesome form of advertising.

blasdel• 16 years ago

That "partnership with Cartoon Network" is advertising!

rokhayakebe• 16 years ago

But they did not say they won't entertain acquisition offers.

jamesshamenski• 16 years ago

I suppose the existence of a Tumblr business model could actually get in the way of a larger entity acquiring them.

StackOverflow got caught with a model that didn't work for them and pivoting wasn't super smooth.

Tumblr: 'We're pretty opposed to advertising'

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