By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-02-11 11:30:10 | Word Count: 664
So, apparently MySpace is up for sale. I almost forgot MySpace existed until this news hit today so forgive my shock to learn that the decision makers are NOW selling it. In an earnings call today, News Corp COO Chase Carey stated “now is the right time…the plan to allow MySpace to reach its full potential may be best achieved under a new owner” Now? Really? It is no secret that MySpace has long been a thing of the past. Facebook moved in, MySpace moved out, quickly. Apparently there have been several attempts to change formats, reconstruct staff and implement new strategies but it’s obviously been to no avail. These changes have been occurring over the course of years so again, why now?
I needed to know more because I just didn’t get it. I had to do more research. The first place I started, of course, MySpace. My how that site has changed since I visited about 9 years ago! For starters, it’s no longer MySpace. It’s now My______. Clever, isn’t it? It may be difficult to notice the name change at first glance because there is so much going on there. My_______ has undergone a ground-up redesign that has totally repositioned it as a media company rather than a social network. It looks like a bunch of stuff (that’s the best way for me to articulate it). It’s a bunch of stuff (movie clips, music info, album info, Hulu links, games, etc) jumbled together that you click on to take you to more stuff. Oh, and to add to the confusion of the “stuff” on the homepage, there is also a link to connect to Facebook. Yes, Facebook. Excuse me, My_____ but isn’t Facebook public enemy #1? Have I missed something here? You seem to be confused My______ so yes, it is time to sale. Which brings me to my next question. Who would want to buy My_____ and why?
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According to Carey “There’s been a lot of interest…it could be a sale, it could be an investor coming in to it…the interest to date has ranged from A to Z – from industry players, financial players, foreign to domestic.” I’m thinking this is highly doubtful. The name My_____ alone is damaged. My suggestion would be to dead the whole thing and try again with something else. At this point an attempt at revitalizing is redundant and fruitless. Don’t be naively ambitious, My____. You’d be better off starting from scratch. Beat everyone to the punch with a fresh, new, innovative take on social networking. Look at Twitter, they simply gave users a space of 140 characters to ramble and it’s been a hit! Take that as an example. Do something, anything, make it seem cool and the people will flock. You’ve done it once before, perhaps you have what it takes to do it again (just with a new name).
Take this advice from someone who knows a little but has seen a lot. If someone is willing to buy it, sell it, but implement a strict no refund or exchange policy. It’s been a good run My______ but here is where it ends.
