Congrats b5
It’s bouncing around the echo chamber as we speak so you’re probably hearing the news: b5media has recieved venture capital funding of $2 million.
Well done guys. This is the feel-good news of the year for me cause all involved in b5 are great folks and totally deserving. And 3 of them are Aussies.
Aussie. Aussie. Aussie. Oi. Oi. Oi.
b5media is the blog network run by Jeremy Wright, Darren Rowse, Duncan Riley and Shai Coggins that was started last year. It boasts around 150 blogs with approx. 2million unique visitors a month. And I hear they have plans to grow and grow - still waiting for the business division to start.
Announced via Rick Segal, one of the partners you can read further details at The Blog Herald.
This is great news for the b5 guys because I know how hard they have worked. They’ve taken a lot of crap along the way (sometimes from yours truly) but have quietly gone about their way and developed a real blog network company … with actual revenue as the new chairman, Rick Segal says.
It is also great news for the blogosphere in general because it validates the notion that blogging is viable (are you listening, John!).
See folks of the b’sphere. Look at the big picture - look at the long term. For many, 12 months is way too long but if you want to succeed in any measureable way you need to run a steady ship with a solid business plan that looks to the future and not just the next AdSense cheque (cheque is Australian for check)…
Good luck, guys … I expect a b5 party in Melbourne one day.
October 5th, 2006 • 
Martin Neumann • 
comment | October 5, 2006 at 13:44 | individual comment-link
It really is great news, and very exciting!
I’m surprised you don’t mention the lack of the word ‘blog network’ in the media release though!
comment | October 5, 2006 at 21:53 | individual comment-link
Thanks, Martin. You never know, that Melbourne party might just happen. :-)
comment | October 5, 2006 at 22:19 | individual comment-link
Simone - I better check up on that “lack” of mentioning blog network - I’ll have a word with Duncan.
Shai - firslty, I’m absolutely thrilled for this great day in b5’s history - so well done and keep on going.
As I said to Duncan - if you party in Melbourne Duncan said he will shout the first round and I’ll follow suit - please don’t day your favoutite drink is some $15 dollar cocktail! ;)
comment | October 6, 2006 at 14:36 | individual comment-link
I feel the need to say some more about my comment about not using the term ‘blog network’, especially after seeing John from Syntagma’s comments!
First of all, I should have put a :p behind it!
Secondly, I think ‘new media network’ sounds much better ‘network magazine’(or whatever it is now).
And I don’t agree that b5media are ‘dropping the blog network tag’. They still mention blogs, bloggers, and on the main site they are still a ‘blog network by bloggers…’. That’s quite different from John’s ‘network magazine’ and ‘authors’.
And what do I actually think about Syntagma not wanting to be blog network… it’s a bit wierd, but I do understand where they’re coming from, certainly with my ‘blog’(sometimes I even feel bad about calling it that!) attracting a lot of people who will have never heard of blogs (I’m in Perth, and I get most hits from google). Still, I’d rather just ‘teach’/show them what a blog is, instead of giving it another name.
Ok, I’m starting to ramble and my thoughts aren’t that clear in my head(as usual on both counts!), so I’ll end here. Oh, and then there’s the fact that this post might not be the best spot for this ‘discussion’!
:)
Simone
comment | October 6, 2006 at 22:44 | individual comment-link
Simone,
This is the perfect place for this discussion. You make some good points.
Personally, I think so little of John and his continually crapping on that I won’t bother with it any more. Needless to say that yep” “new media network” sounds better that any “magazine” silliness.
I don’t think b5 intentionally left out the term “blog network” in any concerted effort to distance themselves - no matter what pompus Johnny might think.
Anyway, b5 and syntag are miles apart - b5 is all class and syntag is a train wreck right before our eyes. ;)
I encourage John not to comment here - but he probably can’t help himself. I think he’s still selling/flogging his “concept” to himself via all the comments he makes around the b’sphere. ;)
comment | October 8, 2006 at 04:06 | individual comment-link
lol and ‘hear hear’ to…well…most of that! ;)
And see my latest comment on his blog here: http://www.syntagmamedia.com/2006/10/05/2m-vc-funding-for-b5media/#comment-17507
Warning, it’s longer than ever!
comment | October 9, 2006 at 00:25 | individual comment-link
Hey Simone … I can guarantee you that John will come up with something to defend his stance - always does. His usual way is to say that blogs are unprofessional and have little to no credibility - but don’t get him started or you’ll see a bunch of posts and comments from him on the issue. ;)
comment | October 9, 2006 at 00:39 | individual comment-link
Simone - HaHa, just had a quick read of your comment and John’s response.
You noticed the header design as well, eh! ;) that”ll be you and many, many others.
I think what John doesn’t understand in his attempt to turn his network of blogs into a “blog magazine” is that traditional magazines usually have a very clean, slick design.
So what’s laughable is that Syntagma is probably the ugliest designed blog network going around today. Look at the side bar and those 101 fonts and color schemes going on. My eyes, My eyes ;) Oyyy … this “magazine” is in serious need of re-designing. :)
comment | October 9, 2006 at 13:48 | individual comment-link
He he!
And I’m not responding again, dammit! I’ll just keep going round in circles with him… why did I ever mention it in the first place… I’m good enough at wasting time as it is, argh!
pingback | January 28, 2008 at 01:36 | individual pingback-link
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