I hate to say I told you so, but…
<off-the-meds rant warning>
For those of you who are still guessing, I’m an anti-corporate, anti-marketing, plain-speaking individualist. I despise the affects of advertising in our everyday lives. I think that given accurate information, people can make informed decisions about what products suit their needs the best. Advertising and marketing play on the emotions rather than support rational decision making. It is better to have a “cool” product than one that actually functions as advertised. The idea that all entertainment, all public facing media whatsoever must be run through the corporate marketing filter is un-American, un-democratic, and the most blatant form of rule of the corporations that we have yet seen.
Corporations run the government, the arts, the environment, our health, our education, our waking hours, they control all the ideas that get into our minds, and the ideas that come out of our minds.
So when people argue with me that advertising on your blog does not turn your head, well, people are welcome to an opinion, even if it is wrong. I don’t care who you are, if you advertise something on your site, you give up the right to speak freely about it. If you accept freebies from a company, its the same thing. The recent ridiculous flap about the 3D connexion spaceballs, and previous ones about freebies doled out by SW Corp to bloggers who fit the harness, and even people who have complained about me putting their blogs on the “Commercial Blogs” section of my blog roll instead of the main blog roll I reserve for places you can go and not get inundated with the relentless commercial crap that drives almost everything. (whoa! now if I were a real media mogul, I could never get away with a sentence like that, but as an amateur, the sky is the limit!)
Well, I hate to say I told you so (not really, but let’s just say that I do), but , “I told you so”. So there. This is a hot topic with the professional press, and why shouldn’t it be a hot topic with the amateur press? Other than grammar, qualifications, education, and money, the main differences are usually passion and expertise in the topic they write about.
No doubt all of this individualism puts me on the outs with SolidWorks, other SolidWorks bloggers, the CAD media, and just about all other corporatized means of extorting money from the public or commercial worlds. We are all corporate zombies, or if you like, you could use the Matrix catechism. Fiscal growth is powered by population growth, which is the 800 pound gorilla that no one mentions that is killing every way of life we know except stacked on top of one another in concrete menageries.
Here are a few references to read. Bloggers, start your 1099s.
FTC to go after blogger freebies
Microsoft and free laptops to bloggers
It’s strange how we’ve finally reached this weird point where it’s hard to tell who’s a “journalist” and who’s a “blogger” sometimes. Look at something like DailyKos and try to argue that it doesn’t have more impact in some ways than traditional media. And a good journalist would never dream of not disclosing something properly. But do we really want to try to hold “a guy with a blog” to the same standards as a professional journalist?
One of the good (and bad, depending on your perspective) things about a pure blogger is that he or she is free to speculate, ponder, assume and infer to his or her heart’s content. It’s what makes blogs so equally fascinating and frustrating to read. If we start trying to hold bloggers to the same standards as journalists, what happens then? Is everyone suddenly a journalist? Do blogs get boring? Or does the quality of content go up?
I don’t pretend to have any real answers because I haven’t really had much time to think about it. But I do predict that this will be debated for quite some time before any real action occurs, mostly because someone will have to figure out who will be responsible for policing the millions of blogs out there.
That’s good insight, but I think what will happen is what should happen, and that will be that real independent bloggers will stop taking freebies, and people with a voice for sale will keep doing it. The only difference will be that it is easier for the reader to tell the difference between someone with an untarnished opinion, and someone who is one step from a salesman.
In terms of the content, you can’t police content. If you don’t pay for the content, then you don’t get any say in the matter. Corporations who want good blog PR might consider avoiding bully tactics, co-operation and acknowledgment for starters. Other than that, if the blog doesn’t strike a public nerve, the content will be self-policing: bad blogs fade into obscurity.
Wow, where did this all come from? Yikes!
I’ve got a little tucked-away blog (free account through Blogger) that I use to rant about all sorts of things. (For CAD-related stuff, I just use Matt’s blog!) But I don’t do this for readers, but for myself. It’s cathartic. It also helps my relationships if I rant in writing to nobody in particular rather than to friends or family about the subjects seen at my blog. (Cynics deflate parties.) Plus, it’s good practice in articulating thoughts clearly.
I’m not for policing or regulating blogs in any way by anybody. Why? Those taking some form of payola are often seen quite clearly by an alert reader as doing so. Besides, nobody needs anyone policing their verbal speech–why their written? (Because the pen is mightier than the sword, that’s why.) Anyone unfortunate enough to stumble upon my rantings understands I tend to take the side of freedom over power/authority, as I do with this issue. Caveat emptor.
I’m not so much about the policing, but I’m more talking about the fact that the gov’t agrees with the point of view that people should disclose if you’re on the payroll so to speak. There is a huge difference in credibility between “organic” endorsement and paid endorsement, which is what this is all about. People who are paid in goodies try to play that down and deny it for obvious reasons. The gov’t here is trying to be a customer advocate.
Ah—good point. I agree there’s a big gap between the paid and organic endorsements among blogger (or anyone). Too bad the government isn’t consistent in this philosophy in regard with which currency the legislators are paid with (votes or lobbyist money).
I’m glad you brought this topic up, Matt. This has been a very hot topic in silicon valley for quite a while now. Will there ever be a resolution to this issue? Probably not. All we as bloggers can do is keep posting quality content in a moral and ethical manner and hope that readers will discover the difference between paid corporate propaganda and true independent blogging.
I am not sure what got you off on this topic again at this time Matt.
Maybe SW are waving tantalising morsels over the heads of pet bloggers prior to the SW2010 launch?
Possibly it will be in the Bahamas this year where it will fit in well with the hosting of dead celebrities…
In times gone by I have been known to upset just about everyone in the olde SW universe with accusations of them being puppets, poodles and rent a crowd fanboys.
This was a lonely and galant mission but one without a satisfactory conclusion.
There is a narrow line to be walked between, being aware of and frustrated by the imperfections of the world or that we can do little about, and wanton fruit throwing at chumps trespassing on our stage.
I think ultimately it comes down to personal choice.
If you dont compromise your own standards you will feel better in yourself.
If you speak out there is the possibility you will save some but the souls of the sinners and the unrepentant will be trapped in the smokey grottos of marketing forever…
Still its really refreshing to find that there are other people out there who would boldly confront the stupification of the common man with an open thesaurus.
Dont be distracted by swine flu hysteria, progressive internalised marketing perplexity (PIMP) is the silent killer of our times.
Couldn’t have said it better myself Matt (no i rally mean it.. i’m no writer
).
hehe its funny. i put a comment on the previous topic and ranted about marketing and all that crapola. And i rad this one now and it echo’s those thoughts.
It is unfortunate in this world that smart people make up 5% of the population (and generally are smart enough to stay away from the crap as much as they can help to!). I hate the sheep.
@HoffY
About the sheep: http://xkcd.com/610/
Charles,
That’s too funny, and sooo true.
@Jeff Mowry
I’ve got to agree with this here. I think most people are smart enough to know the difference. I’m not for someone else coming in, ESPECIALLY government, and trying to crack down on this. Let the readers decide whether they’ll keep reading or will be turned off by the antics.
My question is, where are the statistics of how EFFECTIVE all of this is? I mean REALLY, how many times do you actually click on the links? And even if you DO, how often does it actually lead you to buy something. THAT’S something I’m curious to know. I just have a hard time believing it makes that much of a difference.
yep, I’m one with the ads. also a 3dconnexion ad, which they paid for. I’ve got nothing against ya Matt for bringing this up, cause I don’t mind talking about it. I’d like to do other stuff to fund my interests, but right now, on solidsmack, it advertising helping out.
For me, solidsmack is about publishing content. Content I love to talk about with others. Some of that inevitably spills over to companies that advertise on the site. If I did a post on an advertisers product, I’d be open and honest. I don’t feel the need to pander. people would know they advertise. some would care, some wouldn’t. Like Jeff and Bruce point out, people are smart enough to know the difference.
Anyway, Bruce, the stats are actually great. yeah, people click on the ads. (suprises me at times too) conversion rate? I’m not so sure about, but even at 1% it can work out well for a company. another thing about web ads that differs from pub ads, the advertisers can see the clicks, the cost per click and gage on their site what traffic lead to a sale. big benny for biz.
I’m always open to answer questions about this stuff. how it gets going, set up, why, what works, doesn’t work. same with 3d cad, tech, biz and web stuff. strange combination i know, but love learning about that stuff, and to build value and possibility for others.
Smack,
This was nothing personal against you. In fact, it was nothing personal against any individual. I’ve dabbled with the ads stuff, and I know I took the wrong route, and I know I didn’t stick with it long enough to see results, but the sell out just wasn’t worth it to me. I know your blog is different, you attract a more generalized group of folks, and hit more mainstream kind of stuff. Possibly you select topics based on what effect it will have on traffic. I don’t do that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you express a really strong opinion about anything, so I’m not sure how you could offend anyone with robots and kittens, but that’s not my style. Some people have said I’m hypocritical for advertising my own books on my site. I guess they don’t understand the argument. Obviously I believe in my own stuff. I don’t think I’d talk smack about my own books under any circumstances because I believe in them. Advertising is so often dishonest, in that people who don’t believe in products are still trying to get YOU to believe in them. Obviously people believe in their own stuff, which to me is the only really honest advertising anyone can do.
@solidsmack
Where do you get these stats? Are they from google analytics from your website, or are you talking about a published article with stats in general. If you have any links, that would be great. I guess I’m trying to figure out what makes people click (lousy pun, I know).
We used to call this back in the day as SELLING OUT!
Matt,
I have to say I largely agree with you, but how do you feel about sponsorship deals? If a usergroup gives a banner or two to some sponsors in return for money or benefits for the group (not just the leaders or specific individuals), are they “selling out”?
-j
If you had to ask I think you already know the answer.
@Sonicson
That seems a bit ‘hardline’. If taken to an extreme I can certainly see where banners and ads on a website can be come distracting, but I would disagree that an ad banner or two (the subtle kind – not the flashing/shaking/ridiculous kind)is “selling out”. If it helps support your group/blog and it’s activities (and is handled with some moderation) where’s the harm?
A great portion of advertisements are indeed slime (especially on the internet), but they must generate some kind of results, or else they’d disappear. At what point to we start pointing fingers at the sheep who bray to the ads?
It may sound hardline but the fact is, it may be seen by others as selling out. Whether the said website owner is actually committing such offense is only known by the perp. Do I care? Not really. Call it like it is….and I feel Matt has done exactly that over the years. That being said, I am sure he has generated some negative feedback. My point is, being truthful is not a crime and if you don’t like hearing the truth then maybe you need to go somewhere else. I feel that Matt gives us his unbiased, unadulterated opinion regarding issues with SW and other related products. If you don’t believe him then go do your own investigations and start yourself a website. Good day!
@skifter22
“Sponsorship”? Well, my opinion is my own, and I can’t really speak for anyone officially, but I think sponsorship of user groups is not something I would do. User groups should be completely neutral, and that includes advertising. The user group should not endorse any commercial organization beyond supplying an objective evaluation of the product.
In fact, I don’t even like SW Corp getting tangled up in user groups, because they are keen to enforce the point of view that user groups should be SW flag waving sessions, which in my view is 100% contrary to the spirit of INDEPENDENT user groups. If they could send the pizza money and then keep out of it, I think that would be best, but they are bent on imposing ideology.
Allowing SW to impose ideology for pizza money is selling out.
@matt
Thanks Matt, I hadn’t really thought of it that way. The decision to seek of sponsorship for a group has been rolling around in my head, and I appreciate the feedback.
I think maybe some extra elbow grease will get the group where it needs to be.
@Sonicson
Wow – I wasn’t aware you were the judge of such things. Frankly I think you’re drawing assumptions that are incorrect – and I don’t appreciate your invitation for me to “go somewhere else”. I never accused Matt of anything, I merely asked a question, and responded (politely) to your direct (and mildly rude) assumption. Your aggravated proselytism is (in my humble opinion) just as distasteful and disrespectful as flashing banner ads.
It seems like the “market” sorts this type of thing out. I don’t see it as a problem if a writer continuously publishes positive reviews of advertised product(Stereo Review magazine comes to mind) I just don’t put much faith in the reviewer if the data doesn’t support my experience. If a writer expects to believed then they need to be consistant and truthful (old school Stereophile comes to mind). Stereo Review is dead and gone, Stereophile is still publishing.
Call it selling out or just being practical in business. Ultimately, content will make the difference.
@Harold_B
I wish it were that simple, and it would be if people were honest, but I don’t believe marketing is a profession that values honesty very much. I think if everyone had the same values system stuff like this would be easier to figure out, but that’s not the way it is. I don’t think the market sorts it out satisfactorily. Sometimes the market rewards crooked marketing. In fact I would say that more often than not, the market rewards marketing over content. In most cases I think content figures in as a distant second. Some people expressed the optimistic opinion that people are smart enough to figure out the spin from the content, but I disagree. There is a lot of utter crap sold in all kinds of markets.
A lot of utter crap is an under-statement Matt! I do think the market sorts it out but it takes a longer period of time so (unfortunately) some of us pay the price to do the sorting. I no longer have my beta deck but I still have DVD-A and SACD players as well as boxes of cell phones and ipod interfaces. If popular culture is the measure (dancing with the Stars? American Idol? or the dreck that’s on the radio and has been since the 70′s) then absolutely the market rewards effective marketing. Effective, crooked, whatever it takes. I like to think I’m smart enough to recognize that marketing creates the “gotta have it” desire that… wait a sec my iPhone is ringing… that we all get. On some level, don’t you wish every coffee table had a copy of the SW Bible sitting on it?
Crocs and iPods. Relevance of content is inversely proportional to the perception of what is “cool”. Hence the rise of marketing folks in corporations such as SolidWorks.