Spaces on the Wall

Why We Killed Our Company Blog

Companies jump on the blog band wagon for a variety of reasons. The ones I hear most often have to do with developing content in hopes of prospects (and search engines) thinking that your stuff is relevant. While I commend those that try to attempt such a daring feat, let me remind everyone that hope springs eternal.

The fact of the matter is that blogs are ridiculously easy to setup, but much harder to maintain. I knew that going in, but I (conveniently) ignored the truth.

What I learned from this exercise in futility was that blogs should come from the heart - not from a content schedule. And that posts should come from passionate and knowledgeable people inside the organization - not from interns or employees learning as they go. As you'd expect, we didn't see any direct (or indirect) results from having a company blog, so the decision was made a few months ago to completely scrap it.

I'm sure there were plenty of things we could have done to make it one of those half-way decent blogs chock full of web design tutorials and freebies, but then we'd be following another set of played-out formulas just like every other fucking web design shop out there. We drew a line in the sand and decided that we're about building great websites, not teaching others how to do it.

Then there's the issue of transparency. The entire UG team already engages with social media - but more on a personal level. So we plan to promote more of our personal properties since that comes very naturally. I'm sure this direction will open up a whole new can of worms. However, by doing it this way, you'll see first hand how our people really define our culture and produce some pretty awesome solutions. In my mind, this supersedes the need for even having a company blog in the first place.

So if you're gonna have a company blog, then the one thing I would challenge you with is to post something with teeth. If its about a product, then tell me why I should pay for it. If its about a process, then show me how you do it better than anyone else. Don't copy and paste a bunch of bullshit I can find on Google and expect me to agree with it. If you can't do that, then there isn't any need (or value) in having a company blog.

Word.

Are You Better?

If you can beat box better that than these guys, I'll give you a $100.

The Downward Spiral

Most of us love Apple. Trent doesn't. But that's because he has a reason not to (right now). Personally, I think he's over reacting a bit, but his point is a valid one - Who should be allowed to create things for others to consume? Since the gatekeepers have become us, the natural answer is "us".

However, that's really not the case when creating iPhone applications. Remember guys, that Apple is on a closed network. Always has been, always will be - and they've been pretty consistent about that (shaken baby app anyone?).

Check out the Downward Spiral iPhone Blog Post and tell me what you think.

But It Sounds Nice

A few weeks back, I attended a small, local networking event. Usual suspects: Financial Planners, Life Coaches, and Local Business Advertising Reps.

I've noticed the latter growing exponentially (and their really scummy too). They see the popularity of online lists, and online categorizations of businesses as the next Internet Goldrush - ready to sell false hopes and inflated impressions. EVERYONE of these reps claim their directory is the biggest in the county, and that their directory is going to be the next Google killer.

Let's be honest.

The 1,000,000 hits you claim a month are not really "hits". Hits are the amount of times a server request gets pinged. This could be a for a piece of text, an image, or whatever. After some probing, I find out the real answer. The unique visitor count actually equates to about 500 a month. That's like 12 people a day. A far cry from how you originally framed it. His response: "1,000,000 hits sounds better right"?

It just upsets me when someone like that pollutes in my environment.

You Can Do It Better

If you know what you want to say and know precisely how to say it - why would you need a professional production house to delay the transmission? The boys at NIN captured a live rehearsal, made a few edits and posted the video straight to the fans in a matter days - not months. We're getting craftier with our technologies.

Using Viral To Win

You win when you know how to use the medium properly. Period.

Getting Lighter

I got a pretty bad case of the flu this month and knocked me out for two whole weeks. I'm trying to pin point where this could have been contracted, but it's pointless now. It seems as though it's getting harder to combat each year too. Anyhow, I'll be back to posting regularly...

Nine Inch Nails Marketing

Trent Reznor has some really good ideas. Back in 2007 he released Zero One, and put together an elborate easter egg hunt to tease and engage his most loyal of fans. Now... He releases an impromptu 36 song soundscape album on YouTube defying his fans to come up with creations to supplement his music. Then he improves his lesser offerings and releases 9 songs for free, all you need is an email address and he'll send you a download link. But of course the real fans are going to want the whole thing (the better stuff is on the works 28-34 anyways). That runs you $5. But the hard core followers are paying $300 for the limited edition package set of 2,500 (which just got sold out at the time of this posting).

Do the math, that's $750K in 2 weeks. All because he put his thinking cap on and tapped his hard core fans the right way. These fans become mini marketers spreading the good word. All for free. Brilliant.

We Can Do It Better

Movies like Be Kind Rewind really appeal to me. Not so much for the story line (although the plot was highly unusual which I always dig), but for the message it touts - We can do it better than the pros.

Hollywood has provided the formula(s). Technology has provided the means to creation and distribution. The beauty of this self created user generated work is that it means something to the user or in this case the community. All have a part in the the making and re-enactment of the story, which means much more than polished production value.

Wouldn't you pay more to see yourself in a movie?

Seth on DVD

I think it's worth it. The things this guy has to say really motivate the hell of me (and a slew of others I'm sure). $800 is asking a lot, but then again, you get a ton more - GOOD IDEAS.