Written on October 6th, 2005 at 09:10 pm by Darren Rowse
Weblogs Inc Sale to AOL Confirmed - Here’s the Inside Word
Blog Networks
I’ve just been forwarded an email which was sent from Weblogs Inc Co-Founder Brian Alvey to Weblogs Inc’s bloggers. It was sent to me by WIN blogger who wants to remain nameless. I won’t publish it in full here as its a private email - but here are the main highlights which shed light on the deal between WIN and AOL.
- AOL is acquiring Weblogs Inc
- WIN are selling to increase the resources that they couldn’t provide otherwise (offices, technology, people, infrastructure) as well as extra traffic.
- AOL are moving to an ad based model which fits with WIN.
- Nothing is changing - Brian, Jason and the same management will continue to run WIN as an independently operated AOL company
- WIN headlines will start appearing on AOL home page, netscape, AIM etc
- Bloggers will need to sign a new contract shortly
- The new contract will allow bloggers to own their own content for offline use
- The contract will contain other features yet to be announced that are favorable to bloggers
- Blogging will continue as per usual
- There is no increase in pay mentioned but allusions to more money in the network due to the deal
- There is mention of AOL getting into video content and WIN playing a part in this
Wow - looks like an exciting time for Weblogs Inc bloggers!
More on the deal from Reuters
Update: My source tells me that the reaction from WIN bloggers is for the most part very positive with the news that Jason staying on, increased payments and traffic causing some real excitement.
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37 Responses to “Weblogs Inc Sale to AOL Confirmed - Here’s the Inside Word”
Andy Merrett
October 6th, 2005 10:13 pm
>WIN headlines will start appearing on AOL home page, netscape, AIM etc
That’s huge! Let’s hope it does remain truly independent. I wonder if any of their blogs have or will ever criticise AOL…
Allen Heat
October 6th, 2005 11:11 pm
Very interesting indeed, it’s great to see these gigantic companies investing in blogging networks :)
A.H
» AOL Paying $25M for Weblogs Inc. by Blueprint for Financial Prosperity
October 6th, 2005 11:14 pm
[…] I don’t usually post much about the blogosphere but this is pretty substantial news: Weblogs Inc Sale to AOL Confirmed - Here’s the Inside Word from Duncan at enternetusers.net. Reuter’s picked it up too. […]
Tim Hitchings
October 6th, 2005 11:54 pm
AOL Moving To An Ad Based Model
I read today that AOL is buying Weblogs and read over here in Darren Rowse’s blog excerpts from a email…
Mark Daoust
October 7th, 2005 12:30 am
I personally think its great to see a blog network getting this sort of attention from a major company. I am really beginning to think that blog networks are the future of the news industry.
I wonder if AOL will attempt to control content at all in the future…
Ariston Collander
October 7th, 2005 12:34 am
I foresee some stifling of free speech. If the network is owned by AOL, then most likely any anti-AOL (or any of its holdings) blogs and posts will be promptly removed. This prevents bloggers from freely talking about whatever is on their mind. I have a further blog about this on my site:
http://www.frenetictech.com
Migs
October 7th, 2005 1:02 am
Hope it’s not another Nullsoft.
Business Opportunities Weblog | Buys Weblogs Inc.
October 7th, 2005 1:32 am
[…] just a rumor. Kevin has more. Posted by Dane on October 6, 2005 | 1 Comment In Blogs, News Email This Post Possibly Related Entries Weblogs Inc. Makes $600 Per Day from AdsenseBloggerConThanks to Dave WinerThe Big List of Business WeblogsNo More ISSN For Weblogs!?Yahoo → Weblogs → BusinessEntrepreneurship: Thinking And DoingHow to Become a Celebrity in Your FieldHow To Find A Telecommute JobFlipping On EbayIntellectual Capital Comments […]
_In.pix.we.trust. » Blog Archive » Lo que vale una buena idea
October 7th, 2005 2:31 am
[…] Los blogs que para muchos a"n no valen un peso, bien administrado, puede resultar en un gran negocio. Seg"n Reuters la transacci"n es de $25M y estos ser"n algunos de los hechos [v"a]: […]
John (SYNTAGMA)
October 7th, 2005 2:32 am
I was interested in the point : “The new contract will allow the bloggers to own their own content offline”. This is something I’ve been pushing for all networks to adopt since it’s a win-win situation.
If the blogger gives World Website Rights to the network, the subsidiary rights (books etc) are available to the author, who retains copyright, instead of being sat on by the network. The network doesn’t need them so why generate resentment and lose potential prestige by witholding them? It makes sense to both parties to adopt a more flexible line. I hope b5 and others move to this model.
PaidContent.org
October 7th, 2005 2:34 am
AOL-Weblogs Inc: It’s Official
: As we reported first last night, Weblogs Inc. is joining the AOL family. The deal is expected to close next week. Financial terms were not disclosed, etc. From the Press release:– “Weblogs will become a wholly-owned, stand-alone subsidiary of…
Software Only
October 7th, 2005 2:44 am
M
Crazy! Rafat Ali just pinged me pointing to a breaking news (actually breaking leak): AOL has reportedlyacquired Weblogs Inc. The deal should be confirmed this week, accorning to this piece. Congrats to Rafat for the exclusive, of which Iextracted this…
AOL compra Weblogs Inc - Bio XD
October 7th, 2005 2:52 am
[…] En enternetusers hablan del correo que recibieron los bloggers de WIN donde se les informa de la compra y las repercusiones de esta. Parece que las cosas no cambiaran mucho y la red de blogs seguirá a cargo de las mismas personas. […]
Daniel Neamu Weblog
October 7th, 2005 3:14 am
AOL - Weblogs Inc Deal Revisited
As day passed, news started to flow, making Weblogs Inc. buyout by AOL the news of the week at least, but certainly a story that will keep the blogosphere busy for a while and will throw bloggers in long debates on the subject. First of all, some more in
Aol kauft Weblogs Inc. - Webmaster & SEO Blog
October 7th, 2005 3:20 am
[…] Donnerstag, 06. Okt 2005 (19:17) gsyi document.write(”) Weblogs Inc., ein hochqualitatives, amerikanisches Blog-Netzwerk, gegründet vom Jason Calacanis und Brian Alvey, soll laut paidcontent bereits vom AOL aufgekauft worden sein. Laut paidContent.org ist der Deal bereits abgeschlossen und wird im Laufe dieser Woche angekündigt, was Kevin in einem Post auch bestätigte: * AOL is acquiring Weblogs Inc * WIN are selling to increase the resources that they couldn’t provide otherwise (offices, technology, people, infrastructure) as well as extra traffic. * AOL are moving to an ad based model which fits with WIN. * Nothing is changing - Brian, Jason and the same management will continue to run WIN as an independently operated AOL company * WIN headlines will start appearing on AOL home page, netscape, AIM etc * Bloggers will need to sign a new contract shortly * The new contract will allow bloggers to own their own content for offline use * The contract will contain other features yet to be announced that are favorable to bloggers * Blogging will continue as per usual * There is no increase in pay mentioned but allusions to more money in the network due to the deal * There is mention of AOL getting into video content and WIN playing a part in this Die Reaktionen der Weblogs Inc. Blogger sind positiv. […]
Blog Marketing, Blog Promotion for Newbies » Blog Archive » “The Man” Says - “It’s True!”
October 7th, 2005 3:31 am
[…] Others have a different take on it. Darren has written that it looks like Jason is staying on to “continue to run WIN as an independently operated AOL company.” […]
Kevin C. Tofel
October 7th, 2005 5:47 am
I don’t know, (nor do I care) if you have a nameless source, but as a current WIN blogger, I gave my $.02 on my personal blog. Overall, this is a positive development for both the blogosphere and MSM. Of course, it could be detrimental too, but isn’t that up to all of us who make up the blogosphere?
Corporate America could learn much from the WIN business model as well as other blog network models. We might be focusing on WIN today, but there are plenty of other good blog networks that contribute quality content as well.
Khurrum
October 7th, 2005 6:55 am
Why didn’t they just hire all the bloggers who were writing for weblogs Inc.
There was hardly anything innovative going on at WebLogs Inc that they needed to be bought as a whole company.
I don’t understand why the word “blog” gets people excited. It is mainly posting a message on a website. That has been happening since the beginning of the internet and only now has it gotten a catchy word.
blog, square, ink » enternetusers has more on the WIN
October 7th, 2005 7:12 am
[…] A Bloggers dream come true. Cashing in on all the hard work. enternetusers has and update on the AOL buy of Weblog Inc. here. […]
Fly Girl
October 7th, 2005 7:36 am
The rights portion of the new contracts sounds like a fabulous deal for both sides. It ensures that the network continues to get top quality work (no holding stuff back for the book deal), and the writers have incentive to put out their best stuff without having it gone forever. I think most of us writers think we have a book inside of us somewhere.
KOB
October 7th, 2005 8:02 am
Is it really an exciting time to be a Weblogs Inc. blogger? I’m not convinced. I don’t have the facts, and maybe I’m wrong but this is how it looks to me:
The employees of Weblogs — the bloggers in this case — are probably part-time and make modest wages by newspaper standards. (This is a guess on my part, but probably a good one) Does that change — do they make more money as a result of the sale? Your memo seems to allude to the potential of an increase but no fortune.
Do the bloggers — who helped make Weblogs successful — get any of the proceeds from the $25 million? Maybe they have, and if so — that’s wonderful, but if not read on.
If you were working for an e-commerce start-up and the company was sold or went public, chances are you made money because of stock options.
What I see happening is this: Writers — bloggers — are taking *jobs* for no money or scant money with start-up firms that happen to be blogs. They are contributing ideas and copy with no promise of reward, nothing akin to a stock option or a piece of the business if they help build something valuable.
The Weblogs Inc. sale ought to be a wake-up call to bloggers. The message from this sale seems to be that their contributions and efforts may be worth more than they realize.
If I was working for a start-up, contributing time, effort and ideas for little pay or no pay, I want to be certain that if I helped build a valuable property that there would be a significant reward for that effort. I think some writers might be bitter if owners pocket millions and the people who were asked to give their all to help a new business are left with nothing or little.
Again, I don’t know the details of the Weblogs Inc./AOL agreement, so these comments are general.
But the $25 million sale price is an eye opener and should prompt bloggers to assess the value they bring to a start-up and whether they should have the same potential for reward as those who work for other companies.
(Regarding the contract terms for writers.. I LOL over this one: “The new contract will allow the bloggers to own their own content offline” — big whoop. Is there any evidence of an offline blogging content?)
B.L. Ochman's weblog - Internet and corporate blogging strategy, and online marketing trends, with news and commentary
October 7th, 2005 8:14 am
Who’ll Get Rich From AOL’s Buyout of Weblogs Inc? Not the Bloggers!
Bloggers who work for Weblogs Inc, newly acquired by AOL for $25 million, soon will have ownership of their content; vastly increased exposure through AOLs subscriber network; and other favorable terms yet to be announced. But there’s no more than an …
thomas gigold, Story: AOL Weblogs.Inc
October 7th, 2005 8:56 am
[…] Und mal wieder ein Deal im Web, der für Rummel sorgt: AOL kauft Weblogs Inc. Für 35 Millionen Bugs. Die haben offenbar noch immer zuviel Geld beim Blauen Riesen. Na da bin ich dann aber mal gespannt wie das mit denen weitergeht … Beglückwünschen muss man Jason Calacanis natürlich trotzdem, man muss erstmal jemanden finden der eine solche Summe für ein Projekt auf den Tisch legt. [via GadgetMania] […]
BlogNetworkWatch » Blog Archive » The AOL-Weblogs Inc Wash up
October 7th, 2005 11:32 am
[…] enternetusers has a post which outlines an email recieved from an anonymous Weblogs Inc. blogger that Brian Alvey, CEO of Weblogs Inc. sent off to all their bloggers. […]
TheSMSGuide Blog » Five Reasons AOL wants to buy Weblogs
October 7th, 2005 11:33 am
[…] From enternetusers : I’ve just been forwarded an email which was sent from Weblogs Inc Co-Founder Brian Alvey to Weblogs Inc’s bloggers. It was sent to me by WIN blogger who wants to remain nameless. I won’t publish it in full here as its a private email - but here are the main highlights which shed light on the deal between WIN and AOL. […]
» Calacanis/ Avery to stay on at Weblogs Inc. The Blog Herald: more blog news more often
October 7th, 2005 1:08 pm
[…] More details have emerged about the AOL acquisition of Weblogs Inc., with Darren over at enternetusers getting the scoop with an internal email leaked to him from Jason Calacanis to Weblogs Inc’s bloggers. […]
Mostly Muppet Dot Com
October 7th, 2005 1:09 pm
AOL acquires Weblogs, Inc.
Rafat Ali of Paidcontent had the scoop last night that AOL was acquiring Weblogs, Inc.
Now we’ve got Jason Calacanis confirming the sale/purchase.
Other big blogs commenting:
Adrants
Sean Bonner
MarketingVox
gapingvoid
Blogebrity actually ha…
Dispatches From Blogistan » Blog Archive » blogs ca$hing in
October 8th, 2005 8:44 am
[…] The always astute Kevin over at enternetusers quotes from email sent from WIN to one of their bloggers saying, among other things, that “AOL are moving to an ad based model which fits with WIN.” That makes sense. Even AOL has come round to understanding that the walled garden is so last century. […]
pfadvice
October 9th, 2005 11:21 pm
I came across an interesting entry showing that AOL paid $500 to $900 per outside link - while there are other factors involved, it’s an interesting take on this purchase.
Keng.com : Everythings about Blog » AOL ซื้อกิจการ WebLogs Inc
October 16th, 2005 4:16 pm
[…] จากการซื้อขายครั้งนี้ นาย Kevin แห่ง enternetusers ได้วิเคราะห์ว่า […]
industry models and talent, industry model and talent
November 24th, 2005 4:40 am
I came across an interesting entry showing that AOL paid $500 to $900 per outside link - while there are other factors involved, it’s an interesting take on this purchase.
Stan
January 14th, surf zone.8:36 pm
From enternetusers : I’ve just been forwarded an email which was sent from Weblogs Inc Co-Founder Brian Alvey to Weblogs Inc’s bloggers. It was sent to me by WIN blogger who wants to remain nameless. I won’t publish it in full here as its a private email - but here are the main highlights which shed light on the deal between WIN and AOL
Kate
January 20th, surf zone.6:23 pm
I foresee some stifling of free speech. If the network is owned by AOL, then most likely any anti-AOL (or any of its holdings) blogs and posts will be promptly removed. This prevents bloggers from freely talking about whatever is on their mind. I have a further blog about this on my site:
Business Opportunity - Niche Blog Networks » Internet Marketing For Small Business - Entrepreneur’s Journey - by Yaro Starak
January 23rd, surf zone.4:14 pm
[…] With the recent big ticket ($25 million) sale of Weblogs, Inc to AOL the monetary potential of a blog network was highlighted. Anything with the word “blog” in it has become hot property. Frankly though, blogs are only just going mainstream and it’s early enough days that opportunities abound in the blogosphere. […]
Poker Guide
February 7th, surf zone.10:27 am
Its hard to believe that a web logging site is actually worth that dollar amount. Who would have thought back in the day that something the is intangible could be a gain in so much value?
Technology Evangelist
March 21st, surf zone.1:08 pm
How to Measure a Blog’s Value: What is a Link Worth?
How much is your website worth? That’s not an easy question to answer, but one way to measure the value is to look at the metrics of sites that have already been sold. One popular example of this is Weblogs, Inc’s sale to AOL last October.
Will Your Web 2.0 Company Make You Rich? | On Web Apps
May 16th, 2007 2:40 pm
[…] few: Google / Pyra Labs (rumored $20 million) Flickr (rumored $30M) del.icio.us (rumored $30M) Weblogs Inc. (rumored […]
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