Ben Parr (Mashable) at Startup Grind Silicon Valley | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Ben Parr discusses his journey from being an entrepreneur to becoming a tech journalist at Mashable and shares insights on the future of technology and digital media.

Key Insights

• 💗 Mashable has grown exponentially since Ben Parr joined, and its diverse reader base includes marketers, digital influencers, entrepreneurs, and technologists.
• 💁 Social media platforms like Facebook are shifting the focus towards sharing more information and deemphasizing privacy.
• 🤗 Mobile technology has opened up new opportunities for startups and continues to advance with interfaces beyond touch screens.
• 👻 Paywalls can be effective if implemented correctly, striking a balance between monetization and allowing access to valuable content.
• 🥇 Machine-generated news content has its place, but human-created content with analysis and reasoning remains essential.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Did Ben Parr plan to be an entrepreneur after graduating from Northwestern?

Yes, Ben originally planned to pursue a career in entrepreneurship and even built Northwestern's entrepreneurship curriculum and competition.

Q: Can you share an example of a dark day in Ben Parr's entrepreneurial life?

Ben recounts his experience with a Facebook application startup that failed due to changes in how apps went viral on the platform. He learned the importance of providing instant value to users.

Q: How has Mashable evolved over the years and what is its focus now?

Mashable has expanded beyond just technology news and is now a source of information for the digital world, covering various topics such as social media, technology, business, entertainment, and U.S. news.

Q: What are Ben Parr's thoughts on privacy in relation to hiring and sharing personal information online?

Ben believes employers have the right to screen candidates using publicly available information. He suggests being mindful of what is shared online and maintaining a balance between being authentic and aligning with the values of a desired workplace.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ben Parr talks about his background in entrepreneurship and his transition to becoming a tech writer at Mashable.

• He discusses the importance of providing value to readers and the expansion of Mashable beyond just technology news.

• Ben shares a key insight from his experience with a failed startup, highlighting the importance of instant value for users in a product.

• He also talks about the growth and evolution of Mashable, including its focus on social media and the launch of new channels.