TikTok reached 1 billion users faster than any other social network.

I continue to be fascinated by TikTok due to its incredible consistency in delivering entertainment customized to each individual user in a manner that requires very little from each user.

TikTok’s artificial intelligence enables it to rapidly learn what you like without explicit input.

Zhang, ByteDance’s founder and CEO, has stated his primary strategy is to eliminate the need for search – how Google and Amazon serve their very profitable advertising products – and immediately serve users exactly what they want.

Josh Constine has some thoughts and an interesting story here on ‘Why influencers are replacing fans with cults’.

The fast feedback loops of micro-entertainment apps like TikTok let leaders quickly turn community input into fresh content that makes their cults feel seen. And by fostering a sense of fellowship through peer-to-peer communities, influencers can keep their cults satiated even when they’re not churning out videos.

I also recommend this wonderful, long piece by Turner Novak: The Rise of TikTok and Understanding Its Parent Company, ByteDance

Amazon is now the 4th-largest delivery network in the United States.

Love this product advice from Ryan Singer at Basecamp…

Next time somebody comes to you with a feature request, try this: ‘Can you tell me a story about a time that you wanted to do that and what you had to do instead?’ The first part of the question gives you proper context. The second lets you evaluate the loss.

I love (love) working in an office, but I’ve also had the luxury of working remotely for two years with the option to go into an office whenever, however I please.

Offices are necessary for some, preferred for many, required for most.

From Matt Mullenweg:

The salespeople who will win during lockdown/quarantine are those with the most empathy.

Your prospective customers are stuck at home, working from home (most for the first time), many with children (who need quality time and attention), and all concerned with simply trying to stay caught-up in their responsibilities.

They are attempting to balance personal and professional responsibilities and stress during a pandemic and record unemployment.

“Circling back” to “see if you received my last email” isn’t empathy. Take an other-centered approach and throw out most of your old playbook and process.

Facebook surveyed 86,000 people who own or work at SMBs on the effect of Covid-19 on their operations.

31% of SMBs have stopped operating in the last three months

52% of personal businesses have shut down

36% of SMBs reported conducting all of their business online (which is something Shopify and others have seen)

74% of surveyed employees said they did not have paid sick leave, but that number jumps to 93% for hotel, cafe, and restaurant industries

45% of owners/managers at small businesses said they’ll rehire the same staff when they reopen (yikes)

11% of operating businesses predict they’ll fail in the next three months given current conditions (this seems unreasonably optimistic)

I originally shared the following on LinkedIn.

– – –

“Silicon Valley faces tech exodus.”

No it doesn’t.

San Francisco and Silicon Valley will continue to be the global startup and tech hub. It’s where the medium and large tech orgs are based, it’s where the VCs are anchored (or have a satellite office), and it has a massive pool of talent to fill all roles of a company of any stage.

I’ve not even touched on the amazing weather, food, views, events, and the mix of cultures.

The Bay Area is amazing. For every person wanting to move out, dozens are wanting to move in.

The cost of living is high, but so are the salaries, the benefits/perks, the work experience, and the likelihood that you can not only find a tech company you love (and when you want to change tech jobs your options are seemingly endless), but a job that you love which *also* has a high likelihood of success (e.g. IPO).

Also, this isn’t a zero sum game. The Valley/SF can be incredibly important *while* other cities also exponentially increase in their importance.

We’ve already seen this happen in Boston, Seattle, Austin, and New York City.

I’m typing this from Atlanta, an incredible tech hub that I moved to after leaving SF a year ago.

Some interesting numbers from a poll conducted by Veem of U.S. SMBs.

• 90% of small businesses are bracing for an economic slowdown

• 81% of small businesses think COVID-19 could impact them for 12–16 months

• 65% of companies said they had either submitted an application for the federal aid or planned to do so in the near future

• 59% of companies are applying/have applied for loans

• 52% of companies are cutting operational costs

• 55% have already experienced some significant impact to revenue

• 50%+ of companies reported moderate to high supply-chain disruptions as a result of factory shutdowns, border restrictions, and industry furloughs

• 30%+ are now setting up regional supply chains or changing their supply chain

• 30% are optimistic, taking the stance that they are better positioned to thrive in the current environment (e.g. ecommerce)

• 13% of companies have not taken any measures to prepare for a slowdown

• 54% of the companies are freezing hiring

• 23% are downsizing staff

• 18% said they plan to increase staff training and support

71% of Americans are worried that coronavirus restrictions are being lifted too quickly

29% said that restrictions aren’t being lifted quickly enough

14% said they think it is safe to end stay-at-home orders

9% of those surveyed said they think “it is safe now” for schools and universities to reopen

Source: The Hill