Monday, May 24, 2010

Competition. It's a beautiful thing:)

Once in a while, we Google ourselves. We search for "neigh*borrow" and other keywords not only out of curiosity but also to see how well our pages are being indexed and what our SEO campaign looks like. Sometimes we are pleasantly surprised to find a nice blog post that we hadn't seen before. Rarely do we find an unpleasant surprise as even criticism helps us learn and improve.

The other night, we found the ad below in the sponsored links section. Not only did swaptree use "neighborrow" as a keyword that they bid on (a borderline move itself) but they used our copyrighted name as the HEADLINE in their ad, basically purporting to be us! We were flattered that they feel as if they need to resort to these antics, but also annoyed. And confused (did they not think we would see it?).

You need not be familiar with Google's algorithm to see, unequivocally, the organic search results on the left and the sponsored links on the right.


Anyway, rather than waste time sending them a letter, we wanted to use this opportunity to focus on something positive. We at neigh*borrow have always tried to reach out to the brave and bright people trying to solve the same problems that we are. It's not easy to start a business from scratch, especially in an infant industry. We have nothing but respect for the fine folks at NeighborGoods, Loanables, and others attempting to use this unprecedented human interconnectivity to save financial and natural resources. We even talk to Micki and Ryan from time to time on Facebook, Twitter, etc. To them we say, keep up the good, important, difficult work!

Using a copyrighted name without permission in advertising copy such as the one above, is not only illegal and fraudulent, but a tad classless as well. We encourage our readers to Google the term "neighborrow" and click on the top organic link and the top paid link to see which one is more useful in finding you something you need to use. Enter #stcopyr along with your search!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Things you should be neigh*borrow-ing


neigh*borrow a BOOK instead of buying one. It's more fun, it's cheaper than buying, it's easier than going to the library. It saves paper. END OF STORY!

neigh*borrow SOMETHING FOR A VACATION. A CAMERA, TENT, A MEMORY CARD, A DVD PLAYER. We guarantee you will save money. We are not TRIPPING! 

neigh*borrow a VIDEO GAME or BOARD GAMES or a BOCCI SET. It's really easy. You don't get stuck buying something you will get board of. We are not TOYING WITH YOU! 

neigh*borrow BABY ITEMS. BABY TOYS, BABY CLOTHES. These items are the epitome of temporary use. Borrow the things you need from people close to you. Keep the things that are sentimental and lend out everything else. NO KIDDING!

neigh*borrow SOMETHING FOR A PARTY or HOUSE-GUESTS. An AEROBED, EXTRA TABLES AND CHAIRS. These are definitely things you need once in a while. They are things you need, but don't need to own. ISN'T THAT FUN!


Launching "B&W and read around the world"

PHASE I - neigh*borrow offices in NYC to stickybits offices in SF!! REQUEST THE BOOK HERE 

We have flushed out the details and are pleased to announce the launch of this exciting project. For the sake of simplicity, we will start with phase one, getting the book from here in NYC to stickybits offices in SF. The only rule is that you can't put the book in the mail. We are reaching out to the neigh*borrow and stickybits communities for the very first borrower and all subsequent borrowers!

**UPDATE - THE BOOK IS IN LA. Dembo is getting antsy, help the book travel up the coast to SF!


The book is in Irvine Ca, from NYC!  After phase 1 is complete we have borrowers lined up from SF, to SEATTLE, to ALASKA, then around the world she goes!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Read Around The World in ??? Days...:)



READLAY RACE AROUND THE WORLD WITH STICKYBITS AND NEIGH*BORROW

"BLACK and WHITE and READ around the world" is an exciting project brought to you by neigh*borrow and stickybits. "Around the world in 80 days" is on a Journey around the world, that started in New York City.  The goal of the project is to send the book on a journey around the world using the technology and communities behind neigh*borrow and stickybits!



THE RULES: 
  1. The book can only be lent to someone who is west of you 
  2. The book must be lent to the next borrower in two weeks or returned to the lender
  3. The borrower must agree, by scanning the stickybit, to the rules of the project
  4. The book cannot be mailed (Options: bring the book to work, school or a coffee shop west of where you received the book...lend it to someone west of you... bring it on a plane with you...???) 

Things to think about for PHASE II and future projects. (comment or add your own)
  1. Should we make a minimum number of countries scanned? 
  2. Should there be a maximum distance for each segment?
  3. Should we ban air travel?
  4. Should we race one book we take out from the library with one book originated by a member of the community to see if people are motivated by our potential fine?!! 
  5. Should we enforce a rule that you have to read the whole book? Should we send around a book of quotes instead and ask each person to scan in their favorite quote? Should we send around a book in another language?
  6. Should we add checkpoints of members in the community who opt in to the project or just let the item go with the wind (as long as it goes in one direction)
The potential is endless...

    HOW IT  WORKS:
    1. Go to www.neighborrow.com and find the book or just cheat and click HERE.
    2. Click BORROW IT and enter your email address. 
    3. Based on your location we will contact you when it's your turn to borrow the book.
    4. When you receive the book, scan the STICKYBITS STICKER (for instructions click here) we placed inside the first cover, this will acknowledge you accept THE FINAL RULES. (if you do not have an iPHONE or a droid supported smart phone, try and borrow a friend's or check the stickybits site to learn about other ways to interact with sb - as released)
    5. Read "Around the World in 80 Days" (or at least part if it) in less than two weeks.
    6. Update the comments section on the item page and add a "BIT" to the barcode at www.stickybits.com.
    7. When you are ready to pass the book along, send an email to atw80@neighborrow.com or post it to facebook to find the next borrower; or locate one on your own (just make sure they follow all the steps and agree to abide by The Rules - you are still on the hook until it's scanned again:))
    8. Send the book off on its journey....
    9. ***After the first item gains some traction, users will be able to start their own races and send different items around the world or just around the neighborhood. 

    MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT
    This promotion aims to do more than illustrate the fantastic technologies and communities behind stickybits, neigh*borrow, and the other organizations helping to make this possible.

    Read Around The World... 

    • Will reinforce how the web and our online worlds can influence and enrich our offline connections and experiences.
    • Will show how something can be hyperlocal and genuinely global all at the same time.
    • Will help bring global awareness to important issues like re-using, recycling and literacy.

    SPECIAL THANKS TO

    ****UPDATE*****
    PHASE I - neigh*borrow offices in NYC to stickybits offices in SF!!

    CURRENT LOCATION- ST. Cloud, MN

    PREVIOUS LOCATIONS- NYC, NY; PRINCETON NJ;
    CHECK OUT THE HISTORY AND CURRENT LOCATION OF THE BOOK ON STICKYBITS.
    JOIN THE FUN AND REQUEST THE BOOK ON NEIGH*BORROW