It is interesting to contrast this overwrought, half-baked, tone-deaf Powerpoint vaporware against a minimalistic and already successful product, Community: htt

It is interesting to contrast this overwrought, half-baked, tone-deaf Powerpoint vaporware against a minimalistic and already successful product, Community: https://www.fastcompany.com/90439032/why-your-favorite-celebs-are-ditching-twitter-for-an-app-youve-never-heard-of https://www.fastcompany.com/90439032/why-your-favorite-celeb... It is a perfect case study in how product ideas can veer in completely opposite directions. On the surface, they both target "awesome celebs" who are accomplished and have a big presence. The core idea is a social network that strips away cruft and is more useful/impactful for famous people. Ok, let's go through it. First, the audience. Column doubles down on signing (or anticipates signing) the most influential people with big ideas about saving the world. People who sound impressive. Get 'em all in a room and Davos it up! Community focuses on a key metric, people who have a large following of devoted fans. They narrowed it further for launch, specifically focusing on popular musicians. The difference is in why. Column wants to sound impressive to VCs and to celebs themselves. Let's congratulate ourselves! Community focuses solely on the key metric that their product hinges on. It doesn't need explanation or reasoning, it is straightforward and intrinsic. As for the product, what is it and why is useful to famous people? Column... well, here's the impressive team. You can mark comments as "truth" or "false" which is more impactful than "like". And most importantly you can chat with other awesome people and feel awesome. Everyone will give you money, not sure why. And maybe there will be a search engine someday where you can Google how to fix climate change which would be cool. Community's product is as simple as possible: direct text messaging between fans and celebs. Why bother even having an app? Community enhances the connection and gets the hell out of the way. Ok, give me a use case. Why are famous people going to use it? They are super busy, you know. Column's solution? Everybody has SOME down time. Hey, why not use our app while taking a shit? You can solve climate change with Thiel while waiting for your limo or taking a dump. Community's approach? Celebs control the dialog AND they control the audience. Their magic is in selective controls: Text only the fans in Toledo and let them know about a new concert date or pass them a secret coupon. Or ask everyone in Boston where you should go get a burrito. That gives celebs real marketing power AND provides individual and personal value. And fans are interested because hey, they might get to tell Beyonce where to stop for a burrito while she is in a car to get one. Real connections, real value. Community is an idea that improves the relationship for everyone involved and gets out of the way as much as possible. Column is grasping for reasons to exist and it shows.