Archive for March 4th, 2009
Remembering the (Internet) Titans
The year was 1997. The Internet was changing how we communicate. Print newspapers were worried about readers moving online. The Dow Jones was above 6500. Wait, that sounds an awful like today.
The difference between 1997 and today is the state of the economy. Back in 1997, the economy was growing at such a fast pace, while today, it’s shrinking just as fast.
I remember landing my first job in PR right out of college in 1997. I joined a PR/advertising agency that handled mainly food and beverage clients. It was a boutique agency, which I didn’t know back then meant, sweatshop. The company had one email address and a dial-up Internet connection. Phone pitching was the norm and blast “fax,” yes,”fax” was fairly standard.
With the Dow Jones figures at 1997 levels, I’ve become somewhat nostalgic for the years leading up to implosion of the dotcom bubble. Here are some of the things I remember from the era:
1) Mahir-I Kiss You! — The first example of viral marketing on the Web.
2) VC Funding — Build a Website and you get money.
3) Dotcom Bust — Ten of the top dotcom flops.
4) Urban Legends — Remember the one about the chihuahua from Mexico.
5)Netscape vs. Internet Explorer — The browser wars.
If you’d like to join me in reminiscing, please feel free to comment.
