Bob Riha, Jr. for Glamour
Despite the attention surrounding the recent announcement that Portfolio had hired web designer Chris Jones to head up its website — launching in April 2007 — the rollout of new Condé Nast websites in 2006 has proceeded quietly and with little fanfare. Former Fairchilder Janemag.com was one of the first to get up and running, followed by Domino.com and Self.com — all featuring video and blogs. Glamour.com, originally scheduled for launch on August 8th, also rolled out quietly, going live on August 2nd in a softened launch (though by August 4th they'd already been discovered via the debut column from Mariane Pearl). Today, though, they make some noise with the launch of "See Alyssa Date" — a dating blog that will not only be interactive, but uniquely imperative.
Former Us Weekly nightlife reporter Alyssa Shelasky will be open up her social calendar to Glamour readers via the blog, sharing the details of her various dating adventures with her readers — who will in turn share their opinions on what she should do next. Taking this a step further than garden-variety comments, "See Alyssa Date" will specifically poll readers, inviting them to vote on what she should do next. Translation: Alyssa, honey, if they vote it, you date it.
Within reason, of course (obviously), but Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive says that Shelasky will have to "take their counsel seriously," as though she were talking to her girlfriends. "There are so many young women out there who basically do this with their friends anyway — get updates on dates, find out how it went, etc. This is that phenomenon writ large." Except here, Glamour readers will enjoy the added bonus of finding out whether that advice actually works.
This does not address the pesky problem of Google, and the fact that now when her dates search for "Alyssa Shelasky" they'll be able to find out who else she's dating, and whether or not the most recent dream date was the result of strenuous lobbying on the part of NYChick473. On the bright side, the screenplay should write itself.
It should be noted that there is precedent in the blogosphere for this model: a few years back, Blaire Allison launched a website geared specifically toward finding a husband, MarryBlaire.com, wherein she solicited reader advice before proceeding (hat tip: me). Okay, fine, so she's still single, but still. Look at our Alyssa! Who could resist her, oy, such a punum? We think she'll do great. We're not as sure about her readers, but it should be interesting to watch.
Additional Glamour blogs include a beauty blog, a fashion blog, and "Life With Cancer" by resilient editor and (luckily) former cancer patient Erin Zammett. In other news, Glamour will also be releasing Glamour's Big Book of Dos and Don'ts on Sept. 7th. I'm sorry, but I stand firm behind the fannypack.
