soundalliance.blog

I’m excited to announce that for the first time in our ten year history, Sound Alliance has recorded total traffic of over 1 million unique browsers across our network of websites.

Nielsen Site Census figures showed 1,059,869 unique browsers visited Sound Alliance sites in July 2010 (Site Census, Total Traffic). The network includes inthemix.com.au, FasterLouder.com.au, SameSame.com.au, MessandNoise.com and the recent addition of one of the world’s most influential music sites Hype Machine. The number of unique browsers visiting Sound Alliance sites has doubled in less than two years.

I’m very proud of this achievement and our exceptionally talented team. It’s the organic, independent approach that we took to get here that I’m most proud of. We don’t spend money on paid search, we think outside the square with marketing and have used word of mouth, the strength of our communities and the power of our content to grow.

Read More

In April, I sent the below email to a group of smaller online publishers that operate in a similar space to Sound Alliance in an attempt to get greater transparency around website numbers.  I firmly believe that greater transparency will benefit the category as a whole.  I don’t mean this to be combative as I believe everyone can benefit by giving independent web publishing greater credibility.

The publishers were:

Pedestrian

Pages/Groupie

Conversant

Lifelounge

2Threads

(more…)

Read More

If you were watching TV and during a show (not in an ad break) there were six ads running simultaneously across the content and all over the screen would you accept that?  If you were one the of six advertisers, would this appeal to you as a way of  getting your message across?  I’d be guessing the answer would be a flat NO!  So why then is the online world is it almost common place and accepted for publishers to cram as many ads as possible onto the screen all desperately screaming for your attention?

I understand the pure economics of the WHY.  More ads per page = more ad impressions = more ad revenue. And for smaller publishers who don’t generate much traffic this can be the only way to keep taking bookings.  “We’re sold out!” someone yells.  “Don’t worry, just whack another ad unit down the bottom of the page…sweet!!!”

If none of your advertisers complain or seem to care about clutter then why change anything? And don’t for one moment think about the user!!

At Sound Alliance we’ve been asking this question about clutter and canvassing the views of agencies and advertisers. Some people have said clutter is an issue but there’s ZERO evidence to show that anyone is basing buying decisions on it.  The focus tends to be on CPM (even if the reality is that your ad is on a page with five others).

We are about to launch a new version of inthemix on June 6th.  The clutter conversation is heated here.  Do you go with the market and stick ads everywhere or do you make a stand?  If any agency or advertiser reads this who genuinely gives a shit about clutter then comment below… I’d love to hear from you.

Let’s see who wins the debate when we go live on June 6th!!

Read More

We’re hiring at Sound Alliance.

We’ve compiled our strategy and direction for the next financial year and it’s exciting. We’re investing in product, marketing and people. We’re adding new sites, we’re improving existing ones, our business is getting better.

We need 2 Group Sales Managers to each lead a business patch and join us in delivering unrivalled results for our advertisers.

We’re looking for senior sales people who understand how to bring together our diverse, unique assets to create interesting and effective partnerships.

We want a GSM who can speak with senior people in an agency about the industry and make it worth the agencies time.

We want people who can build relationships based on value. We want people who can actively contribute to the commercial direction of the group and deliver on the potential of the business.

The next 12 months will be exciting. Just in the past 3 months we’ve entered into a strategic alliance with Moshtix, taken on The Hype Machine in AU, our creative shop Thought By Them was in the BRW Fast 50 and we’re about to unveil a brand new version of inthemix which is simply stunning. We’ve seen solid growth in new advertiser categories as well and momentum is strong. On top of this, Sound Alliance was voted by BRW as one of the Best Places to Work in Australia.

What sort of person are we looking for?

- someone with strong media experience
- someone who can lead
- a creative problem solver
- someone with strong communication + negotiation skills
- someone who is looking to grow with us

Are you this person? Do you know this person?

If so – email me. bshepherd@thesoundalliance.net

Read More

In 2009, SameSame.com.au caused an internet sensation with the creation of an online reality series called Surf Camp.  In a nutshell, they took six hot gay guys and taught them to surf, with a contestant voted off each week by the SameSame.com.au community.  The show was a phenomenal success with over 500,000 views online and counting!

The sequel to Surf Camp is on its way.  Ski Camp promises to take things to a whole new, hilarious, eye-popping level.  Here’s the trailer to whet your appetite.

We have integrated brand partnership and product placement opportunities available with Ski Camp, so if you’re a brand that likes to stand out from the crowd, get in touch.

Read More

Sound Alliance, Australia’s leading independent online entertainment publisher, has formed a partnership with one of the world’s most influential music sites, The Hype Machine (www.hypem.com).

Sound Alliance will localise and represent the US-based online music site that aggregates thousands of Australia’s and the world’s most influential music blogs into one central place.  The site has achieved critical acclaim the world over, featuring on The Guardian’s list of The 100 Essential Websites and named “the master of music blogs” by Rolling Stone magazine. (more…)

Read More

Google has removed the personal blog of ITM’s Dave Ruby Howe from Blogger following supposed repeated complaints from labels and web sheriffs.  The blog, called Mass Hyperbole (which somehow Dave manages to keep going in the tiny amount of spare time his ‘real’ job affords him) is one of Australia’s best.

I’m highlighting this because I personally think that what Dave does shines a light on music that may not get a voice.  I see the net effect as being overwhelmingly positive for the labels and artists he chooses to promote.  I would argue that those labels and artists share my view.  (more…)

Read More

In addition to the well known and public facing media properties of the Sound Alliance there is also our marketing agency Thought By Them.

TBT, as it is more often known, is an accomplished brand strategy, digital, experiential, creative and events company working for the likes of Diageo and Virgin Mobile.

Today they were announced in the BRW Magazine “2010 Fast Starters” list for growing companies. (more…)

Read More

In 2010 INTHEMIX.COM.AU celebrates a milestone of epic proportions; their 10th anniversary. From auspicious beginnings tucked away in enigmatic founder djdrey’s (more…)

Read More

In 2010 inthemix will celebrate a monumental milestone; our 10th birthday! From auspicious beginnings tucked away in the enigmatic djdrey’s bedroom, to our position today as Australia’s leading resource and community destination for dance music, festivals and clubbing, we’re quite proud of all that’s been achieved.

To mark the occasion we have a lot in store over the coming months, and to get this rolling we thought we’d give you get a sneak peak of our brand new inthemix logo. Also coming soon, we will be launching a brand new version of the website, with a raft of new features and tools for you to sink your teeth into. (more…)

Read More