Tim A gives AOL a much needed boost!

Yesterday AOL new CEO Tim Armstrong gave AOL employees a much needed boost in the arm.  First of all, instead of sitting in NY to give his first speech, he did what he should have done and headed down to Dulles to meet the troops.  For the first time in a couple of years, I talked with people from AOL who were excited, and can see someone who truly wants to build this company.  It's the right thing to do... have a leader who understands the industry you're in.

It seems that the cheering is continuing, from the announcement of Rondy's departure to the arrival of Tim A. Tim has his work cut out for him, but hopefully understands the main thing about AOL, the staff are simply brilliant, and when motivated can do anything!

So how do you turn it around?

First of all AOL has depended on sales tools and technology plays for the pst couple of years, and abandoned targeted programming.  Misguided acquisitions like BEBO need to be re-structured to play to AOL's audience. By the way, does AOL know who it's audience is?  In order to get a targeted high CPM base they need to develop sustainable habitual programming that they can drive long term large advertiser deals with.  AOL has done this before, and it can do it again through some amazing destinations like AOL music, Finance, Black Voices, and of course KOL and RED, (if it still exists). 

The big problem is talent. After the departure of Jon Miller, all of the senior executives and business innovators left the company.  Tim will need to find replacements to re-build the value proposition, because in the past two years, I cannot remember a single programming play that seemed to work, (please correct me here).

The game is on, and this next chapter of AOL will literally be make or break. The good news is, I think EVERYONE is rooting for Tim Armstrong.