Dany,
Thanks very much for your comments. I don't know, I could be way out in left field on this one, but I've been thinking about it a lot, lately.
This morning when I opened up my browser to Go2Net (I always keep a Go2Net window open because I like their watchlist), I noticed the window header "The Go2Net Network" (it seemed to me that it had changed - I can't remember the word "Network" being there before, but it could just be my imagination). Anyway, I started thinking about the word network. Here's the "dictionary" difference between portal and network:
portal: a doorway, gate, or entrance.
network: 1. an arrangement of parallel wires, etc. crossed at intervals by others so as to leave open spaces 2. anything like this, as a system of interconnected roads, individuals, etc. 3.Radio & TV a chain of transmitting stations.
Fundamentally, and by definition, a portal can only be accessed from one point, while a network can be accessed from many points. Using AOL for comparison again, the manner in which you connect is the cornerstone of their business model (up to this point, anyway), while I've never seen any evidence that Go2Net gives a rip about how you connect. If you like the homepage, fine. If not, feel free to go directly to SI, Hypermart, etc.
The best recent example I can think of is the acquisition of Dogpile. Subsequent to the acquisition, it was a matter of a days before the Dogpile site was revamped with links to other Go2Net properties and a prominent G02Net logo at the top (much like a television "network affiliate" would display the network logo). Meanwhile, last time I checked, the Go2Net homepage still didn't have a link to Dogpile. They (GNET) don't seem to care whether you get to Dogpile through the homepage. An AOL acquisition would work quite differently, I think, as it would become a part of AOL properties accessed only through the portal, or would at least have an AOL address (I don't use AOL, so someone correct me if I'm wrong here.)
If you accept (or at least consider) the network concept, it puts some of our recent topics of conversation in a little different light. Take, for instance the recent discussion re search engines returning Go2Net properties at or near the top. From a network-minded perspective, you might feel it more advantageous to use your resources to link users from your network-affiliated sites, rather than spending time and money goofing with your homepage search engine. As another example, take the discussion about the Media Metrix disparity between the Go2Net web properties (network) ranking and the Go2Net site (portal) ranking. From a network-minded perspective, this makes perfect sense.
Maybe Go2Net has always intended to be a network and never a portal; maybe we just projected the portal model upon them because it was so easy and comfortable to accept in our (short-sighted) near-term frame of reference.
All FWIW,
PM |
