Associated Content Tip of the Day 23 March 2007: Jargon

Every business has its own jargon and acronyms. Working in a government environment, I’ve held entire conversations that sounded like a spelling bee. Associated Content is no different. Some of these are obvious, but let’s spell out some of the terms frequently thrown around Associated Content especially in their forums.

• AC = Associated Content (We’re starting off slowly).
• CP = Content Producer: A contributor of articles, videos, and audio content to the AC site.
• CM = Content Manager: An AC employee who reviews CP submissions.
• Offer = A monetary bid made by a CM to a CP for their submission.
• Rejection = A no-bid offer made by a CM as in “We can’t pay you for this, but you can submit for free.”
• CSO = Content Special Offer: an email or newsletter that AC sends out requesting/suggesting topics. Often the CSO will be accompanied by a minimum guaranteed rate, but not always.
• Taxes = Monies owed the government on income. Even a single dollar is taxable. Any money you earn with AC is taxable. Once you reach $600, the IRS requires the company to send you a 1099. If you reach $600, expect AC to ask for your SSN/EIN.
• PV = Page Views: A count of the number of hits your article has seen. See also “non-real-time counter.”
• Bonus = AKA PV Bonus: The amount of money your article(s) made from the number of page views. See also “non-real-time counter.”

These last few may or may not be accurate

• AC Ambassador = A long extinct mythical creature similar to the elemental of Leap Castle.
• Sam = The coolest CM @ AC because he actually talks to us and offers help.
• Jerk = A CP that posts in the forum under the name theBarefoot. He frequently bashes noobies and posts useless crap.
• Low Offer = Getting less than your previous offer. Usually the result of low keyword density or just being too lazy to roll with the punches and figure things out for yourself.
• High Offer = Another long extinct mythical creature similar to a meteorite.
• AC Video = Something that when it actually plays makes you feel like you won the lottery.
• AC Audio = Something submitted for free that still takes more than 2 weeks to publish.
• Submission = Anything you submit to AC. A CP that makes a submission is also known as a supplicant.
• Beta = associatedcontent.com a web site in a constant state of flux both from a technical & business model point of view.
• BOL = Best of Luck: what you will need on your adventures at AC.

The Douglas Adams Experience

If you’ve read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy you’ll relate to my day. The book opens with the Earth being destroyed by an alien construction crew. When the humans complain that they were never notified of the impending hyperspace bypass, the aliens explain that a copy of the order was posted for public viewing for the last six months back on their home planet in the basement of a courthouse.

Today, in real life, in real time, I journeyed to the center of the government mentality.

I was checked at the gate of a secure military facility. You have to have a sticker on your car (check) and proper identification (check) that indicates you work there to get through the gate. Gate traversed.

I entered a secure building. You must display your identification at all times. In fact, your badge must be keyed correctly before the door scanner will allow entry. Badge scanned. Door opened.

I traveled to the heart, the dead center of this locked building, past the elevators, down the hall, to the object of my quest. Shining lights beamed from the the golden room, the prize I sought stood majestically before me. On the wall beside the door a sign as from the Lord indicated my journey’s end, a simple plaque that read, “Office of PUBLIC Inquiry”.

“He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.” — Douglas Adams, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”