Fuze Blog | © Bryan Landaburu (aka Willie Vega) | Reno-Sparks-Nevada Blogger

Reno Airport vs. Las Vegas Airport "Free" WiFi

So this is a post that came from a "Tweet".  Originally I posted these to TwitPic, but today, in an effort to get organized I was cleaning my desktop and came across these 2 photos that contrast the "free WiFi" in Nevada's 2 major airports.  It got me thinking that I haven't ranted enough on the topic.

Here at the Reno Tahoe International Airport (RNO), the local fishwrap (RGJ) has made it their charter to "monetize" free WiFi access at the airport...turning access into a profit center through the "magic" of abundant banner advertising. See ad's circled below:

In comparison, our friends to the South, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) have a version of "free WiFi" that is not littered with banner advertising. See below (notice no pink circles):

One must wonder how in the world Las Vegas survives and puts shoes on their kids without "monetizing" their free WiFi. Must EVERYTHING be a streaming ad? 

Speaking of RGJ...on the RGJ's redesigned site (which I think is a vast improvement over the previous rev) you are still served irrelevant ads non-stop - constant pop-outs, video ads, display ads, and random links disturb the user experience on the site. Other newspapers seem to manage without it (ex. TheGuardian).  So, if one must have ad's to keep ones publication alive, then cant one serve the ad's contextually and relevant?

The ad's on RGJ are rarely (if ever) served contextually.  Example: I am reading a story about Artown, so OF COURSE I am REALLY thinking about Carpet Cleaning (a video ad for Evergreen carpet care was served in the article).  An example of a good contextual ad here would be something for downtown bars/restaurants, art galleries, or something that GOES WITH ARTOWN.  My theory for the reason ads on RGJ.com are most often OUT of context and irrelevant is that they don't have enough advertisers to be contextual and relevant.  They just need to fill inventory.  To their advertisers, they call this Johnny Appleseed disbursement of advertising "value-add" but I call it "wasted-cash".

Anyway, I don't [necessarily] want to rant on our local news rag because they publish many (1) articles about Fuze and Me. I just think the free WiFi should be free.  Simple, no?

BL

More crappy emails: RealEstateProNews.com Advocates Firing Webmasters

From the world of crappy email, rises a new contender:  RealEstateProNews.com who in this crappy email suggests you "fire your webmasters".  Whoever sent this email for them should be fired:

Why you ask?

• They start with an accusational headline, but cant pay it off
• Images wont render in Outlook 2003 or 2007 (used by ohhh, most business users)
• No way to view online
• No text equivalent of the offer or the company - who knows who its from
• Even the dead images ARENT CLICKABLE

I assume this message is for a seminar of sorts where they are going to spew genius of template based web products and their "email systems" but who knows.  Now, RealEstateProNews, aka MortgageTrends, aka Verticalemail, aka who knows what else, is a typical ambiguous shell company that sells "services" to [unsuspecting] real estate agents. As an email provider, verticalemail.com (a namesake rip rip off of VerticalResponse) has shown that they aint got it together so, shame on them. Here is how they send such dynamic/compelling emails:

"This is accomplished utilizing our Patent-Pending    Database-Controlled Broadcast Email System developed specifically for    the commercial real estate industry" - taken from their website

Make any sense? No. I am not saying this company is unethical, or illegitimate, I am simply commenting on this email that I took some offense to.  The links to their websites should be a fair trade for this critique from an opted-in subscriber. Till RealEstateProNews/Verticalemail gets their shyte together, may want to think about firing them.

Enjoy.

BL

I've Been To Reno...err Greater Reno[dash]Tahoe

Was passed this today by some of my more creative friends and i am going to try to spread it "virally" to my 10's of loyal readers.  From Corey McAbee, comes this Sundance Short Film Entry on our fair city.  Lyrics are damn funny if you're from here.

Here is also a link to Corey's Sundance Institute interview on the concept.  It's cool, not just cause I said so.

Enjoy it a plenty.

BL