#1 Combine the Talents of Media Veterans with the Technological Savvy of  Digital Natives

During the Q&A session, Tina Brown disclosed that The Daily Beast team is small (~35 people).  She spoke highly of her experienced editors formerly with The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), and how they work closely with a savvy technology colleague from the Comcast Social Media Division.

Even more importantly, she explained that these former WSJ teammates learned social media execution quickly by working frequently with heavily experienced New Media team members.

Ann Handley, the MarketingProfs.com Q&A moderator, described these technologically savvy young turks as "Digital Natives."  Brown remarked how her 20-year old interns at The Daily Beast can complete assignments quickly and efficiently because these "Digital Natives" are well-versed in social media and search engine technologies.  In Brown's mind, there's no question that the younger generation who grew up online have developed an "online subtlety and flexibility" over there older counterparts.

Her instincts are correct and are validated by this Forbes Insights Report titled: The Rise of the Digital Suite: How Executives Locate and Filter Information.  In this report, I would say that the aforementioned Digital Natives bear a strong resemblance to the segment described as Generation Netscape in the Forbes Insights Report. 

#2 Delegating Trust Allows Tina Brown to Directly Focus on Brand Extension Strategy   

In Brown's opinion, one of the challenges she routinely addresses at The Daily Beast is "frantically looking" at every detail to drive future growth.  Creating a viable brand extension strategy requires significant time commitments.  Brand extension strategies she shared during the keynote address included:

* A regular "This Week in Culture" segment on NPR News
* The recently announced Beast Books joint venture with Perseus Books
* Personal appearances by Brown on MSNBC's Morning Joe to promote The Daily Beast Cheat Sheet

I'm convinced Brown wouldn't be able to focus on brand extension if she were involved in every detail of operations.  Some these brand extension strategies require her direct involvement because of her business connections and sheer cachet and star power.  It sounds like she delegates trust and responsibility to her talented team members.  Delegating trust and  responsibility will need to increase so Brown can spend more time in creatively extending The Daily Beast Brand.

#3 Timing is Everything Because the Right Story at The Wrong Time is the Wrong Story

One of the guiding principles Brown instinctively draws upon from her journalism days is "The Right Story at the Wrong Time is the Wrong Story."

She explained that you have to understand when the "window of people's attention is open or slammed shut."  However, when the topic "hits the boiler" and people's attentions are engaged — this is your opportunity!  The speed of the Internet further fuels the opportunity especially if you can align the news moment with emotion.

The example Brown cited here was the Quentin Tarantino movie, Inglourios Basterds.  One of The Daily Beast writers knew the daughter of one of the 30 soldiers portrayed in the film.  The Daily Beast interviewed this woman who expressed her view that her father's life bore little resemblance to the one described on-screen.

When The Daily Beast published this interview, My Father, The Inglourious Basterd by Kim Masters, the story garnered significant traffic.  It was an emotional, 1st person account that intersected with an important cultural moment.  If The Daily Beast published this interview 3 months prior to the movie's release, expressed interest would be low.

Bottom Line:  Good old-fashioned timing that's informed by past experience and instinct can successfully guide when to act opportunistically.  Pay attention to the conversations currently engaging your audience because that determines if you can win.