--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was at AOL, I was always on the…" description: "\"When I was at AOL, I was always on the web media side while much of the company was focused on the ISP business. We focused on big categories like cele..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/jim-bankoff-51036_always_when-i-was-at-aol-i-was-always-on-the-we_906045.jpg" --- # When I was at AOL, I was always on the web media side… ![“When I was at AOL, I was always on the web media side while much of the company was focused on the ISP business. We focused on big categories like celebrities and sports, and we created brands around that category like AOL Celebrities, AOL Movies and Fanhouse.” quote by Jim Bankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/jim-bankoff-51036_always_when-i-was-at-aol-i-was-always-on-the-we_906045.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/jim-bankoff-51036_always_when-i-was-at-aol-i-was-always-on-the-we_906045.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3d/jim-bankoff-51036_always_when-i-was-at-aol-i-was-always-on-the-we_906045.jpg) > “When I was at AOL, I was always on the web media side while much of the company was focused on the ISP business. We focused on big categories like celebrities and sports, and we created brands around that category like AOL Celebrities, AOL Movies and Fanhouse.” [Jim Bankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bankoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes how AOL’s media teams focused on celebrity and sports brands while the core business centered on internet service provision. **In simple terms:** AOL’s media side built niche brands separate from its ISP focus. Key Takeaway Recognize differing strategic priorities within a large organization. Themes media strategy brand building organizational focus Mood analytical reflective Type business strategic When to use this quote - marketing campaigns - media product development - cross‑department collaboration Key Concepts content segmentation brand differentiation internal silos Questions to Reflect On - How can media teams align with broader corporate goals? - What risks arise from operating in isolated silos? A Different Perspective Balancing niche media initiatives with core service demands can strain resources. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aol/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Celebrities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/celebrities/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Marketing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marketing/) [Media](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media/) [Movies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movies/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) [Web](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/web/) ## Related quotes > [Most companies that are great at something - like AOL dialup or Borders bookstores - do not become great at new things people want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/most-companies-that-are-great-at-something-like-aol-dialup-or-borders/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [We want to build things that encourage creativity and exploration. We're working to build a company focused on sustainable, creative and fulfilling game development.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hunicke/we-want-to-build-things-that-encourage-creativity-and-exploration-we/) Robin Hunicke > [Revenue is not where the focus of the company is at. We are focused on pushing out cool products like our analytics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-schaaf/revenue-is-not-where-the-focus-of-the-company-is-at-we-are-focused-on/) [Alan Schaaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-schaaf/) > [In the early 1990s, Americans used their home phone lines to connect their desktop computers to the Internet via ISPs like AOL, Earthlink, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-ammori/in-the-early-1990s-americans-used-their-home-phone-lines-to-connect/) [Marvin Ammori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-ammori/) > [I finally got a gmail account but I never use it. I like AOL because its so embarrassing. People look at you like youre…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/i-finally-got-a-gmail-account-but-i-never-use-it-i-like-aol-because/) [Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/) > [AOL was a roller coaster ride. I was lucky and privileged to be a part of it, both the ups and the downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bankoff/aol-was-a-roller-coaster-ride-i-was-lucky-and-privileged-to-be-a-part/) [Jim Bankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bankoff/) > [Until the company believes in itself, AOL didn't have its own space and identity in the marketplace. The opportunity is to get out from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-armstrong/until-the-company-believes-in-itself-aol-didn-t-have-its-own-space/) [Tim Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-armstrong/) > [Prior to email, our private correspondence was secured by a government institution called the postal service. Today, we trust AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo, Facebook, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/prior-to-email-our-private-correspondence-was-secured-by-a-government/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [We have people who pay to use our products and services, and they are heavily engaged in our content. If you erase the brand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-armstrong/we-have-people-who-pay-to-use-our-products-and-services-and-they-are/) [Tim Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-armstrong/) > [I think if the average person that uses AOL can't physically see the changes in the company, we've failed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-armstrong/i-think-if-the-average-person-that-uses-aol-can-t-physically-see-the/) [Tim Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-armstrong/) > [I'm a person who likes to tackle challenges. Google was a challenge when I got there. I think AOL's a challenge. The way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-armstrong/i-m-a-person-who-likes-to-tackle-challenges-google-was-a-challenge/) [Tim Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-armstrong/) > [AOL invented social networking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bewkes/aol-invented-social-networking/) [Jeff Bewkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bewkes/) > [I haven't tweeted once in my life, but I'm sick of hearing about it already. What once may have been the cool way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-haven-t-tweeted-once-in-my-life-but-i-m-sick-of-hearing-about-it/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [The fact of the matter is that the true hits of AOL have always been its easy-to-use services, such as AIM, email, and Buddy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kara-swisher/the-fact-of-the-matter-is-that-the-true-hits-of-aol-have-always-been/) [Kara Swisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kara-swisher/) > [At Time Warner, I had ten percent of the stock after the merger. But when we merged with AOL, I was diluted down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/at-time-warner-i-had-ten-percent-of-the-stock-after-the-merger-but/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) ## More by Jim Bankoff > [I would imagine that if you had a media brand that is solely focused on publishing 5,000-word stories with beautiful proprietary photographs and highly-produced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bankoff/i-would-imagine-that-if-you-had-a-media-brand-that-is-solely-focused/) [Jim Bankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bankoff/) > [I think it's even more important to have quality in this era of Web media than it has ever been. The fusion of platform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bankoff/i-think-it-s-even-more-important-to-have-quality-in-this-era-of-web/) [Jim Bankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bankoff/) > [When you're talking about capital and financial things, which I certainly pay a lot of attention to, I base those decisions on one question…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bankoff/when-you-re-talking-about-capital-and-financial-things-which-i/) [Jim Bankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bankoff/) > [I've always said that if you can get the best people who are good at what they do, but more importantly are passionate about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bankoff/i-ve-always-said-that-if-you-can-get-the-best-people-who-are-good-at/) [Jim Bankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bankoff/) > [AOL was a roller coaster ride. I was lucky and privileged to be a part of it, both the ups and the downs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bankoff/aol-was-a-roller-coaster-ride-i-was-lucky-and-privileged-to-be-a-part/) [Jim Bankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bankoff/) > [When you invest in high-quality brands, it pays off with high-quality audiences and, ultimately, high-quality advertising rates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-bankoff/when-you-invest-in-high-quality-brands-it-pays-off-with-high-quality/) [Jim Bankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bankoff/) [Explore all 7 Jim Bankoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-bankoff/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was at AOL, I was always on the web media side while much of the company was focused on the ISP business. 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