New, Improved, User-Defined iCiNG?

[ 23 February 2007, 11:48 ]

I read quite a lot about the future of online publishing & the possibilities within it, & every time I read anything on the topic I find myself completely amped up, super-excited & wondering how I can make iCiNG bigger, bolder, better.

For example, I recently read this, from Ultramobilegeek (an interview with Violet Blue):
Q: Technologically, globally, and philosophically: What would you like to see come out of 2007?
VB: People making media on all levels; self publishing (news, entertainment, reporting) to totally, completely upend mainstream media. I want a total information and entertainment revolution; no more studio systems ripping off talented people and only giving us what’s deemed “safe” by things like the MPAA, and no more filtered news from corporations. mainstream media has all the money and hundred-year histories; we have type and click publishing and relationships with our readers and subjects. I’d like to see that change things.

(In case you haven’t noticed by now, I think Violet Blue is pretty great.)

I am very, very happy with how iCiNG has grown in the two months it has existed — yes, only two months! I started this on December the 16th last year. I recently finished my first e-book & since I did, I have re-evaluating a bit. I absolutely love iCiNG & what we have here… but I have always been a girl with big visions & I find myself wanting more.

I recently wrote up a press page & as I wrote it, I came up with some reasons why I think iCiNG is different to a lot of fashion websites.

Really, I want to know your thoughts. How do you think I could improve iCiNG as a project? Do you want more interaction, a forum, a Flickr group, a Myspace group, a conversational mailing list (in addition to Cupcake which is more a secrets-from-me list)? What do you want to know more about? What do you not really care about? I mean, do you REALLY want to see my daily outfits? Would you like to see reader-submitted articles? Interviews with fashion icons? More videos? Podcasts? Longer or shorter articles? More menswear information?

I have always intended for this to be a community, rather than just a platform for some girl in her platform shoes! At the same time, I want iCiNG to be more dynamic, more compelling, something akin to a religious experience.

This is your baby too. The whole point of it is that I give you what YOU want. So whatcha whatcha whatcha want?