Web software makes sexy headlines, enterprise software makes bottom lines

Robert Scoble says the reason bloggers and journalists don't write about enterprise software is because it isn't sexy, and doesn't generate page views...which drives revenues. He is right. Bill Gates says "The business computing market, which is way bigger than the consumer computing market, no one pays attention to it. Even in the Wall Street Journal, and you think, oh, this is the paper they're going to tell me about business computing; no, it's all about consumer computing."

To which I say - Consumer web stuff makes sexy headlines, but enterprise software makes great bottom lines. In business bottom lines matter. Given a choice between fame and fortune...I would take the fortune and leave the headline fame to others. Bill Gates has plenty of both. Maybe it is respect he is looking for. Hey Bill, you have plenty of respect too.

Donna Bogatin at InsideChatter does a great job covering enterprise software. So does Dan Farber at ZDnet.

Must be a slow news day for bloggers. Get a life guys. Hey, the New England Patriots just crushed the Steelers. And I am going to the Patriots - Jets game next week! Now that is living! Have a great weekend!

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Comments

[Travis Stoliker]

"Consumer web stuff makes sexy headlines, but enterprise software makes great bottom lines."
You're absolutely right!

It seems similar to the linux vs MSFT "debate" between computer geeks. It always seems to devolve into the linux expert detailing why free GPL software will always fundamentally be better than anything that makes money. Why? because things that make money suck, obviously.

Geeks love to trash anything that isn't bleeding edge. Enterprise will never, ever, be bleeding edge therefore it won't rate in the blogosphere

[Adam P]

Thanks for links to enterprise SW bloggers. I have been looking for a couple of those recently.

[Zander]

Wow, I enjoyed this post but then was seriously disappointed by the links to blogs about Enterprise apps. One blogger was almost entirely about fearing/hating Google, another was a single post speculating about why Consumer sites get more traffic than Enterprise sites. Neither blogger was concerned with how or why Enterprise software might be different in fundamental character from Consumer software (a topic which I'm in the process of researching, which is why I paid attention to this). Don, I love your blog, and your zest, including your confident presentation of this point, but -- wow, this post was somewhat self-discrediting for you.