Random Groupings of Words |
The inconsistently written ramblings of a man called Fajitas (@ajitfoldsfive) |
Schmownce is an app that we wrote just for fun to replace Pownce. Of course we were sad when Pownce was bought out and subsequently dismantled by SixApart last December. And a lot has been made about Pownce vs Twitter and how Twitter won the battle, blah blah blah. I’d like to spend a minute telling you what was so special about Pownce, and what we are trying to continue with Schmownce.
Schmownce is “clan”-based media-based communication. That’s the missing link. So let’s take a look at what that means:
A “clan” is small group of people, not one gigantically interconnected mess. Clans are how we communicate naturally. We have groups of friends in the single digits or teens that we hang out with, not in the hundreds or thousands. Having a huge group of people that we communicate with is fun when we are sending witty quips and short updates, but not really for conversations. And while e-mail seems like it would be more conversation-based, it isn’t really meant for that either.
And when we communicate with our actual friends, we generally do it with the option of more than 140 characters, and with the option to add media such as pictures, mp3s, links to websites, videos, and the like.
And comments would be nice. When my friend sends me something, I want to be able to comment on it or subscribe to it and easily follow the comment thread. But if I’m not interested in it, then I don’t comment or unsubscribe and I don’t get updates on it. That’s useful communication, and with very little waste.
The best way to use a site like Schmownce is actually in conjunction with Twitter and your blog. Schmownce is the perfect midway point between a tweet and a blog. Tweets are the those short, spur of the moment quips that come off the top of the brain. Blogs are deeper topic based editorial-type opportunities. Where is the in between? A community-based platform centering on thoughts too long to tweet and too short to blog about.
One other natural thing about a clan-based community. It’s difficult for spammers and marketers to infiltrate clans. They are typically too small to get mass traction.
But probably the biggest thing I like about Schmownce is that it’s fun. People send fun things, make fun comments, and always surprise me with what they say and do. I’m glad we created Schmownce. I hope it grows to serve a ton of little clans, and mimic what happens in nature.