Poland

I recently returned from Warsaw, where I was speaking about the role of media in a world of search, aggregation and social networking.  I was incredibly impressed at the entrepreneurialism of the team at IDG Poland. Poland has around 11MM internet users, approximately 37% of the total population. Spending on the Internet is still modest, around 3.6% of the total media spend but growing around 45% year on year with the major growth coming from the FMCG sector. Google is the number one site in terms of audience with 10MM users with the local portal Onet.pl not far behind with 9.5MM users. IDG Poland covering the vertical tech sector has 2.2MM users. Its largest sites being the top tech portal idg.pl with nearly 2MM users and PCWorld.pl with over 900,000 users.

Key IDG Poland sites include:
http://www.idg.pl/
http://www.idg.pl/tv/
http://www.computerworld.pl/
http://www.cxo.pl/
http://www.itpartner.pl/
http://www.networld.pl/
http://www.jobuniverse.pl/
http://www.pcworld.pl/
http://www.macworld.pl/
http://www.digit.pl/
http://www.gamestar.pl/
http://www.cyberjoy.pl/ (not what you think !)
http://www.digitallife.pl/
http://www.zoom.idg.pl/
http://www.fotografia.idg.pl/
http://www.kinodomowe.idg.pl/
http://www.internetstandard.pl/

What impressed me so much about the online team in Poland was their attitude. It was very much - can do, let’s try it to see what works.

They have some interesting experimentation with links from highlighted content launching text, graphic and video ads.  Video ads with user suppoted control, Audiobots (when the text on a page is spoken) and are actively promoting screencasts (see definition). They recognize now everything will work but the willingness to experiment is refreshing. They have embraced community participation including blogs

There was definitely concern over the power of the search companies, Google in particular and other key aggregators although an understanding that there was a sensible co-operative way to work with sites to drive audience to topic focused area with active audience participation.

My interview for those who can read Polish is here

Comments

[Mike]

Hey, thanks for the post-I'm from poland(I live in the uk at the moment though) and it was a nice touch to your blog:).However I qouldn't agree on your statement that polish companies have no chances in battling foregin ones on the innovation ground.
Just look at Onet.pl-it's a behemoth which covers almost all of the aspects of modern internet plus through stretegic partnerships with BIG media companies you can't really touch it, at least at the moment..