Arnie Gullov-Singh of Ad.ly #177

TWiST #177 with Arnie Gullov-Singh of Ad.ly
Today on TWiST, we bring you the episode, “Like Opening a Doughnut Shop at a Police Station” (otherwise known as an interview with Arnie Gullov-Singh, CEO of Ad.ly). Jason and Arnie talk shop about how celebrities are profiting off Twitter and what it will take for Google+ to get in on the action, as well as tackle an ‘Ask Jason’ question from TWiST Backchannel AP Paul Peters.

0:00-1:00 Welcome to This Week in Startups!
1:00-2:30 If you want to influence the direction of the show and get on the rockin’ Google Groups email list, go to Twistlist.co to sign up.
2:30-3:15 Arnie Gullov-Singh from Ad.ly is with us today.
3:15-5:15 Thank you for GoToMeeting for sponsoring the show. Make sure you check out their new HD Faces product at GoToMeeting.com.
5:15-8:00 Explain the difference between the slimy, pay-per-post model and what Ad.ly does.
8:00-8:45 So in your experience, you wouldn’t take on an advertiser unless you wanted to be associated with them?
8:45-9:30 Have you had the electronic cigarette people approach you?
9:30-11:00 So people like NY Times writer David Pogue have a lot of conflicts. Have you gotten any notable journalists to join your network?
11:00-11:30 You don’t care about having a journalist’s endorsement?
11:30-13:00 How does it work with clients like TechCrunch and Newsweek?
13:00-14:00 We’ve had Bindu Reddy of MyLikes on. How do you pick who gets to join Ad.ly?
14:00-14:45 What’s the most someone has gotten for one tweet? Did Charlie Sheen get $100,000?
14:45-16:30 We’ve seen the click-through rate on Twitter going down. Is that because Twitter can’t keep up in real time?
16:30-18:00 Are people amassing more followers now than before?
18:00-19:00 Is Twitter going to get its ass kicked by Facebook and Google+?
19:00-20:00 You don’t think Google+ is becoming meaningful yet?
20:00-23:00 Why doesn’t Twitter themselves pay celebrities?
23:00-26:15 Thank you to Hiscox for sponsoring the show. If you need small business insurance, go to HiscoxUSA.com/SmallBiz.
26:15-29:45 Let’s talk about Facebook. Do you have a problem with the fact that they don’t share revenue?
29:45-32:30 So Facebook has basically banned you from their ecosystem. Short-sighted, no?
32:30-34:15 Can you tell me with a straight face that you haven’t considered launching your own social network?
34:15-35:45 Insight from Tyler: It feels like opening a doughnut shop at a police station.
35:45-38:15 Arnie demonstrates the new Ad.ly analytics package.
38:15-40:00 What’s the average penetration for someone like Whole Foods?
40:00-41:15 It seems like you’re either on a collision course with Klout or you’re headed to a merger. What do you think of them?
41:15-42:30 How do you compete against marketers who have greater amplification?
42:30-43:00 What’s the largest number of celebrities who have participated in a single campaign?
43:00-43:45 What was the largest number of sign ups that somebody got?
43:45-45:30 What’s the revenue split with your clients?
45:30-46:15 Question from EP Greg Berry: Do you do anything to verify that authenticity of the Twitter followers?
46:15-46:45 What metrics are you waiting for Google+ to reach before you’ll join in?
46:45-47:45 Question from Producer Rodrigo Fuentes: What makes Ad.ly a defensible business?
47:45-48:30 Question from EP Jeff Hoffer: What keeps you up at night?
48:30-50:00 Are celebrities looking to you as their representation in the digital space?
50:00-51:00 Arnie: Celebs are like stocks: Their dividends can go up and down.
51:00-53:30 Under what circumstances would you sell the company?
54:45-57:00 Has an agency ever reached out to you for an acquisition?
57:00-59:00 Do you even know what Izea is? Do they matter?
59:00-1:01:30 An ‘Ask Jason’ question from Associate Producer Paul Peters: How does my company uFollow.com get influential people in the tech scene engaged and willing to promote us?
1:01:30-1:03:00 What’s your advice for Paul, Arnie?
1:03:00-1:04:00 What do you think, Tyler?
1:04:00-1:05:30 Arnie: What’s the reach of uFollow?
1:05:30-1:09:15 Demonstration of what’s available at Linkedin.com/today.
1:09:15-1:11:00 Arnie: At what point does someone develop a tool set for someone who uses social media the way you do?
1:11:00-1:14:15 Do a lot of people do give-aways or contests on Ad.ly?
1:14:15-1:15:00 Is your advice to celebs to keep people at arm’s length or engage everyone?
1:15:00-1:15:30 Jason delivers a message for Tom Cruise.
1:15:30-1:16:45 Arnie, thank you for joining us today.
1:16:45-1:18:00 Thank you to Hiscox and GoToMeeting for sponsoring the show.
1:18:00-1:19:00 Everyone remember to join the TWiST Backchannel Producer Program at Twistlist.co.
1:19:00-1:20:00 If you’re an awesome developer, email Arnie at arnie@adly.com.

Support This Week in Startups and independent media by joining the TWiST Producer Program at TwistList.co!

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FOLLOW ON TWITTER
Jason: @jason
Tyler: @steepdecline
Arnie: @arnie
Ad.ly: @adly
Paul: @peters_paul

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