What would you build next? Which features or product direction makes the most sense for them? I was surprised to hear how young people were using them: medium.com (tl;dr as a photo consumption service, not a blogging platform).

And with regards to monetization, do you think they're heading down the right path? Personally, I'd pay a monthly fee for power user tools (like Analytics), though the math probably doesn't add up to their valuation.

Any other thoughts about the service? To be honest, I don't have an account (other than the Branch one) and I'm not sure why...

I think one of the biggest places were Tumblr missed the boat was to make tumblr blogs a bit Tumblresque. The only single cohesive thing that ties all Tumblr blogs is a Follow button at the top right corner, if you choose to display it, that is.

Some would argue that it is the best design decision, since it promotes the uniqueness of each blog. I think it led to a serious brand and product dilution in that Tumblr to most feels a simpler Wordpress, a CMS at it's core. While the community aspect on Tumblr is probably the strongest, yet it could have been so much more.

Medium on the other hand goes on the other extreme of what I am trying to say. It is too "Mediumesque" no matter whose "blog - profile" you are on.

Does this make sense?

Some low hanging fruit would be to add simple drawing primitives and text entry on top of images, so people don't have to use meme generators.

The other is that browsing the feed via dashboard and browsing an actual site on Tumblr feel so disconnected that I don't know how average people connect the dots that they are the same thing. But again maybe it is just me over-thinking this. Not sure.

We gotta solve their monetization opportunity. I don't think native ads is a silver bullet for them. Here are two I'd investigate:

a) Affiliate Programs like viglink.com. Essentially allows publisher to add their affiliate codes to organic commercial links if Tumblr owner didn't add their own code already. Would be invisible to readers - no change to current behavior.

b) Let Brands Sponsor Users. Increasingly brands needs to create content or lovingly wrap themselves around content. Create marketplace where brands can sponsor users, which means addition of some branding/attribution on the Tumblr. Tumblr creator can accept/reject and get some % of the $.

Tuhin, that's a great point. Though when I spoke with David Karp he said that fact — an early emphasis on being a tool for creatives (i.e. publishers — got them the (consumption) community that they have today.

Alex, I *really* like the idea of drawing primitives and text entry. MS Paint for posts?!

Hunter, I think the "sponsor users" concept is super interesting (see: "Idols" and Cobra Snake in my post on Medium). Viglinks also makes sense, in theory, though I doubt the return on that would be substantial?

@Josh - might be a minority contribution, but two years ago we calculated turning on Viglinks for Wikipedia's US traffic would be $16m/annually in revs

techcrunch.com

Oh, wow! Out of curiosity, Hunter, why don't you use Tumblr?

A description that has always stuck with me: Teens used to cover their walls with magazine clippings, now they do it on Tumblr.

But there is a group of users who post original (mostly visual) work. I used to post a bunch of illustrations (patrickmoberg.tumblr.com), and loved the response I'd get from the community, but saw diminishing returns over time.

Tumblr has tried a few experiments with people being able to pay to promote their own posts and blogs. But I'd love to see what happens if they experimented with viewers paying the creators:
· Produce the book deals they are spawning
· Pay to view posts
· Subscriptions / Tip jars

I'm approaching it optimistically. Are there existing cases that prove this approach wouldn't work?

@josh - i use a pw protected Tumblr for pictures/videos of my daughter that's accessed primarily by family and friends of my wife. We chose Tumblr bec of ease of publishing (esp via mobile) and ease of access for low-tech family.

I don't use it personally for my blog largely bec migrating hunterwalk.com to another platform (likely either WP or tumblr) is perpetually on my to-do list but never accomplished.

Wow, you knocked it out of the park with the magazine clippings/wall analogy, Patrick! It lines up with what my sister said, and explains the drop-off with age.

I've also felt that with my new apartment. In college, I had posters on my wall (of movies, bands, etc), but I don't feel appropriate putting them up in my *real world* apartment.

With that in mind, what should Tumblr focus on? Do most adults want to tack magazine clippings on their wall? They seem to like their artwork framed (h/t Jonathan Basker).

Josh - I think you should get a Tumblr and follow a dozen or so tech folks for a few weeks. Empirical understanding is best.