tag:,2008:/1/tag:72.47.210.69,2005://1.4691- 2008-09-24T12:26:23Z Comments for 2005 reflections and plans for 2006 Movable Type 4.1 tag:72.47.210.69,2005://1.4691 2005-12-30T12:17:18Z 2007-12-16T23:15:56Z 2005 reflections and plans for 2006 It's technically New Years Eve where I am, as I write this. I haven't done much blogging over the past week, because I've been re-charging my batteries and making plans for 2006. In this post I reflect on the year that's past and tell you a bit about my plans for R/WW in 2006. A... Richard MacManus http://www.readwriteweb.com It's technically New Years Eve where I am, as I write this. I haven't done much blogging over the past week, because I've been re-charging my batteries and making plans for 2006. In this post I reflect on the year that's past and tell you a bit about my plans for R/WW in 2006.

A year ago I set myself a goal to convert my hard work on Read/WriteWeb into real-world success, particularly career wise. The fact I was able to quit my day job in August and then earn a living as a self-employed Web Consultant -- I think that means I achieved that goal. Plus I visited America, a place I've long dreamed about, for the first time in October and met many of the people I'd gotten to know via blogging. At the start of 2005, Read/WriteWeb had around 500 RSS subscribers. Just before the xmas holidays I'd reached a shade under 8,000. Not quite the level of growth Techcrunch has enjoyed, but not too shabby ;-)

Since this is a personal post and all but the first 500 of my subscribers has by now tuned out ;-)... let me take this opportunity to thank some people. Marc Canter was the first person to give me ongoing work. Marc's the first at a lot of things, so keep an eye out for DLAs and Broadband Mechanics in '06. Susan Mernit has given me a lot of interesting work this year, which has kept me on my toes and sharpened my skillset. I've also done work for Rojo, Nooked, Aqute Research, ZDNet (blogging), New Zealand National Library, Idealog, O'Reilly Media. Also a huge thanks to R/WW's sponsors this year.

In 2005 I met a number of amazing bloggers in person. Too many to mention, so I won't even try to list them all! But a special shout-out to my Web 2.0 Workgroup co-founders Mike Arrington and Frederico Oliveira. Also I owe a big thanks to Havi Hoffman and Elizabeth Osder from Yahoo, who introduced me to the good people of Yahoo and showed me around the campus in October. Finally I must mention the spicy noodles dinner with Mike, Fred, Gabe and the one and only Dave Winer. An evening to remember.

2006 Plans

More travel beckons in 2006. I'm coming to Seattle at the end of January for Microsoft Search Champs. Also Ben Barren is trying to entice me across to Melbourne, to help him kick-start online media in Australia. So it'll be interesting to see how it all pans out career and life wise next year.

I'm planning to ramp up Read/WriteWeb in 2006, focusing on the intersection of Web technology and media. I really want to make R/WW a thoroughly professional site, where you can come to get the latest news and views relating to Web-based media. Just as one year ago I was excited by the possibilities of Web 2.0 (the Web as platform), now I'm excited by what I expect will be a huge year in 2006 for digital media. It's building on the Web as platform, taking it to the next level.

I like to be one step ahead of trends, so expect big things from Read/WriteWeb next year. Happy new year everybody!

]]> tag:72.47.210.69,2005://1.4691-comment:36812 Comment from Adrian McEwen on 2005-12-30 Adrian McEwen http://www.mcqn.net/mcfilter/ As one of the "first 500", is there a t-shirt? Congratulations on making the jump to self-employed stick, and Happy New Year!

]]> 2005-12-30T13:49:28Z tag:72.47.210.69,2005://1.4691-comment:36813 Comment from Paul Montgomery on 2005-12-30 Paul Montgomery http://tinfinger.blogspot.com Good luck with it Richard. I look forward to meeting you (and setting up a whirlwind media blitz) when you pop over the pond.

]]> 2005-12-30T14:02:09Z tag:72.47.210.69,2005://1.4691-comment:36814 Comment from susan mernit on 2005-12-30 susan mernit http://susanmernit.blogspot.com wishing all your dreams come true in 2006,richard! I have no doubt it will be a GREAT year for you.

]]> 2005-12-30T15:45:15Z tag:72.47.210.69,2005://1.4691-comment:36815 Comment from Ajit Jaokar on 2005-12-30 Ajit Jaokar http://www.opengardensblog.futuretext.com Great to know you in the last part of the year Richard. Look forward to working with you in 2006. Have a happy new year in sunny NZ.(its cold and miserable here in London!)

]]> 2005-12-30T21:29:32Z tag:72.47.210.69,2005://1.4691-comment:36816 Comment from Ben Barren on 2005-12-30 Ben Barren http://benbarren.blogspot.com Rock it for 2006. Australia is a whole continent of people wanting to meet the Father of Digital Media (im going for product extensions in a new geographic market)

On and upwards for RRW in 06 - whats up for NYE rich ?

]]> 2005-12-30T23:30:33Z tag:72.47.210.69,2005://1.4691-comment:36817 Comment from Giovanni Gallucci on 2005-12-31 Giovanni Gallucci http://www.theagencyblog.com Rich,

A hearty "congrats" for being selected for Search Champs! You're gonna have a ball I'm sure! When did the MSN team send out the invites? Do you know who else on on the list of attendees?

]]> 2005-12-31T19:11:52Z tag:72.47.210.69,2005://1.4691-comment:36818 Comment from Richard MacManus on 2005-12-31 Richard MacManus http://readwriteweb.com Adrian, hmmm a tee-shirt sounds like a good idea :-)

Giovanni, I got my invite just before xmas. I have no idea who else got them or when, apart from a couple of fellow bloggers in my neck of the blogosphere woods.

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