So I got my first ‘official’ piece of hate mail today.
Woohoo!!
It came right on the heels of Danny Brown’s post and my comment lamenting the fact that I wasn’t prolific enough to be receiving hate mail. I spoke too soon (though I’ve realized it has nothing to do with being prolific).
The anonymous writer told me that I am,
“a business troll who comments on social blogs only to lure what I refer to as ‘traffic’ to my site.”
Hmmm….I’m not quite sure what to make of that.
The writer goes on to say that,
“people on social sites represent nothing more than potential customers to you.”
Apparently, according to the writer, I should be ashamed of my ‘reprehensible’ practices.
I pretty much dismissed the email as spammy and histrionic, but I have to admit, it did get me thinking a bit about content marketing and authenticity.
So thank you Ms. (she did indicate she was a ‘female blogger’) Hate Mail – you’ve given me fodder for this post, and I appreciate your feedback.
Why I write this blog
Just to set the record straight, and in the spirit of transparency, I write this blog in order to:
- Establish an online presence and build credibility amongst my existing clients and others in my industry
- Network with thought leaders, industry experts and like-minded bloggers
- Hone my writing skills
- Inspire other freelance copywriters and content marketing aficionados
- DRIVE BUSINESS
I don’t feel ashamed of that last bullet.
Should I?
How is a blog any different in that regard than a website? Rather than offering just static content, I’m providing my prospective clients and stakeholders with dynamic information that hopefully, they find meaningful. In fact, nowadays, most successful businesses boast blogs with marketing reps that tweet and interact on social networks…for the purpose of driving business.
Is content marketing corrupt?
Okay, so now my cards are on the table. Part of my agenda is indeed to grow my business (although incidentally, I don’t currently make much money from this blog – but it does serve as a sales pipeline for my freelance copywriting business).
Leaving comments, tweeting, interacting on Facebook, Google+, these are all ways to push the content that I have generated on my blog – in order to realize the goals that are bulleted above.
Ms. Hate Mail lady was really miffed about this strategy.
Essentially, her complaint was that I was misleading my readers by making them feel that all I cared about was their welfare and interests (which I do), when in fact, I have this hidden agenda of growing my business (which…in case it was hidden…is no longer).
Content marketing (and let’s just move away from The Freelance Writing Blog for a moment and talk in generic terms) is a vehicle for revenue generation.
What about conventional advertising?
Conventional types of advertising (print, television, radio, billboard) have been effective at generating revenue for decades. They are tools used to drive business. And sometimes that pursuit is not even so apparent.
For instance, the Pepsi Refresh project (a great crowdsourced campaign, by the way) is all about giving back and building community and doing good. But really folks, it’s about making Pepsi richer. Should Pepsi be MALIGNED because while trying to grow their business they also happen to be helping others and spreading great messages about charitable giving?
I personally think that online content marketing is going to eclipse conventional types of advertising (print, television, billboard, radio, etc.) in the years to come. And that’s largely because it’s an effective business tool.
Takeaways
So you see, I actually agree (to some extent) with Ms. Hate Mail. I am trying to grow my business. I hope that in the process, I’m helping others and building relationships and leaving an itsy bitsy mark here in the blogosphere.
But I think there are some content marketing lessons to be learned.
- Be as authentic and transparent as possible. Gratuitous comments and tweets, without any substance whatsoever, are probably unnecessary.
- While content marketing is indeed about cultivating meaningful relationships with your stakeholders, it is also fundamentally a business tool. We don’t just want friends; we want customers and clients.
- Care. If you are not invested in your business (beyond the prospect of making money), then you are not likely to succeed. Not to mention, you may just hear from Ms. Hate Mail.
Your turn
Have you ever received a hate mail that got you thinking? How did you respond? What do you think about content marketing and corruption? Do we have a responsibility and to genuinely care? Am I a horrible person because I want to grow my business?
Share your comments below, and don’t forget to tweet, like and share this post if you found it mildly amusing.
{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
I share the advice that was posted in a comment to me today on a guest post I had done on someone else’s site (does that make me a “traffic” troll?) *trembling*
“When someone criticizes you, it says more about them than it does you.”
Gaining value from all the experiences of life (as you have from this one) and turning that around to create value for others (again, as you have with this one) is powerful. It should be rewarded by greater credibility, increased business, and yes, even possible financial gains!
Thanks for sharing this great reminder. Hope the fact that I read and am commenting on a blog that has nothing to do with my niche (and the fact that I’m not a copywriter) doesn’t make me a comment troll!
This could be fun…how many types of troll can you be? Sounds like a new social media game!
Have a great weekend, Ruth!
Steve Rice recently posted..Why Do “What If’s” Still Scare the Sh*t Outta Me?!?
Adorable (and helpful) comment Steve! Thank you. The more I thought about the ridiculousness of the email (and trust me…it was beyond ridiculous), the more I actually realized that buried deep beneath the nonsense, there was a kernel of usefulness. I really believe strongly that every setback, every challenge and arguably every judgment presents opportunity for learning and growth. I try to embrace that point of view in this blog and in life. Certainly, I’m looking to make money and grow my business. DUH! But I really do try to share my challenges and setbacks to help my readers grow their business interests as well.
Here is a whole list of interesting troll species – I don’t think you’re any of those trolls. Okay..maybe you’re a bit of a white knight
by validating my feelings here.
Thanks for the affirmation!
Meh, sooner or later, you will come across these “one-sided” individuals. Writers like you who are not afraid to voice their true opinions are getting rare. Keep up the good work.
Jim Syyap recently posted..Website Critique For A Gaming Website
Thanks for the support Jim! You’ve made my day.
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I like this line “a business troll who comments on social blogs only to lure what I refer to as ‘traffic’ to my site.” You are absolutely true. “People on social sites represent nothing more than potential customers to you.”
The problem is that for every successful blogger, there are hundreds of copycats. The whole industry is turning into an imitation-merry-go-round. Those with first mover advantage, or genuine talent, rise to the top, and everyone else scraps it out for the crumbs.
Content marketing has been hijacked to a certain extent by people selling dreams. The “it’s easy, just do what I did and be as rich as me formula” is bound to make people mad! Eventually, the merry-go-round-in-a-bubble will burst, but until then, expect more and more people to snap as their inboxes fill up with dross.
If you are getting hate-mail, then you are doing well enough to get make people jealous, or sounding like you are doing well enough. Laugh it off!
Alex Bramwell recently posted..Make Millions Selling Weasel Juice To Suckers
It is also the psychology that bloggers use to sell. Look at your front page for examples:
One link says “most bloggers suck”. Now by most bloggers, you are sort of suggesting that I, or any other reader, sucks.
Then you make me, or anyone else feel inadequate with “Reason You’re Not Earning at Least $100/Hour”.
Then, you tell me to “stop looking like an idiot”.
I know the “establish a problem, then solve it” model has worked since the first sales letters, but on-line it is ubiquitous. I suspect that your hate-commenter is just saying what a lot of people are feeling. They are sick of people who are, or pretend to be, richer than them, preaching down at them, preying on their weaknesses, and making them feel bad.
Alex Bramwell recently posted..Make Millions Selling Weasel Juice To Suckers
Hmmmm…you raise an interesting point Alex that I will think about. My goal is not I make people feel bad – its the opposite! I want to help them SOLVE problems (that I’ve encountered as well!). Everything I write about is a function of my own struggles and blunders but perhaps I need to let a bit more vulnerability show through. Thanks for sharing your point of view.
Thanks Alex! Both of your comments have given me food for thought. I don’t want to be on a merry go round! I want an upward trajectory of growth and I want to help people along the way.
Hi Ruth,
That’s funny almost. You’re going to meet a lot more people like this I think. There is a percentage of them, small thankfully, who think that everything is a scam, everyone else is trying to take their money, they are the only professionals in the world etc.
Look on it as a positive sign. You have now expanded your network to the point where it is large enough to represent society at large – nutjobs and all.
Not sure about your new profile photo mind you. The last one really was much better.
Hamish recently posted..Free Nook Simple Touch From Barnes And Noble
Lol- you made me laugh Hamish. That’s true – perhaps the hate mail is a reflection of my widespread impact! I thought of using the troll as my gravatar, but decided against it
. Have a great day Hamish.
I have never received hatemail. I sometimes wonder if anybody is reading my blogs. LOL!
Your incident reminds me of what Bill Cosby once said, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”
Not everybody is going to be your fan, and in the end, I wouldn’t even engage somebody who reaches out to me only to criticize something I’m allegedly doing (online or off-line). It’s their opinion.
In urban slang we call that ‘hating on somebody’. I admit it would bother me if somebody wanted to ‘hate on me’, but then again I think that the anonymity of the internet makes people braver than they really are. I doubt this person would say this to you face if they knew you personally
being bloggers, writers, etc…we’re bound to attract critics…just let it roll of your back, and keep going : )
Zac Vega | Free Copywriting Education recently posted..A Million Dollar Lesson In The Profitability Of Self-Publishing From Louis C.K
I read your blogs Zac! I can leave you a little hate mail if you like
. I love that Bill Cosby quote – thank you for sharing.
You have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, Ruth. You want to attract clients and make money – and that’s OK! Anyone who doesn’t understand that is an idiot, and you don’t need to pay any attention to them. Let it go, move on, and keep doing the great work you’re doing.
Kay Ross recently posted..In Your Marketing, To Thine Own Self Be True
Thanks Kay for the validation! It’s important for me to consider my readers’ feedback but this was a bit ridiculous! I feel very reassured by the comments I’m getting. Thanks!
Right on, Ruth! Sometimes all you can do is give your email a bewildered look, and move on to something more constructive…
Danny recently posted..5 Reasons Why You Should Give Referrals: How it Creates the Best Leads You’ve Ever Had
Thanks Danny. It was bewildering! But it made for a good blog post
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Now I’m really curious about why that hater blogger is blogging. So she has no intention to use her blog to connect with others, market her business, learn from others and teach others? Interesting. And does she get angry when someone retweets her because that is just a superficial attempt to get on her good side? Does she dismiss likers and tell them to go to hell?
I’m sorry, but hate mails are just hilarious. Sure, I get pissed when I get them. It does bug you a little bit, even though you know they are actually signs that you have done something right. But seeing something vicious does piss me off anyway. Why not work on your own business instead of distracting others? The same goes for spammers. In 2012, they still don’t know we are not going to approve them!
You know I first got my hate comment because the commenter disagreed with my movie taste (I run an entertainment blog). Right, because art is absolute and only his opinion matters, right?
I also “don’t deserve to blog about movies because my sense of humor is different than some of them”.
Most people prefer bashing instead of learning how to voice their opinion respectfully and confidently. But ironically they end up helping the writer they “hated”. They make our skin even thicker, make us more ambitious and even more eager to connect with our readers who do know how to agree or disagree properly.
I learn a lot from your “trolling”, so keep on doing it, please:)
Great comment Pinar! I guess bloggers are bound to attract haters no matter what they blog about. Ya, I didn’t get it either – she clearly identified herself as a blogger. I guess she does it for catharsis or therapeutic purposes? I definitely feel emboldened and validated as a result of the hate mail so it was a positive thing – you are right!
Hi Ruth,
Yep, there are a number of faultfinders among the populace, aren’t there?
Recently a reader gleefully commented on one of my Vine reviews at Amazon that I had misspelled a word, along with “You’re a Vine reviewer?”. (One of those -tion verses -sion nasties. I should have looked it up, and I repent in sackcloth and ashes!)
But in the very next comment, another writer pointed out that my critic in his comment had himself misspelled a word. Sweet. But then he had go on and claim that I should not use words to try to “sound intelligent.” Hey, they both could have added that I used the word correctly.
What did I do? I let it go
Oh well.
I save all of your enlightening posts, Ruth.
Bill Polm recently posted..Do you wonder if you have enough writing talent?
I’m confused Bill; should you use words that rather make you sound stupid? What on earth is wrong with using intelligent writing?!?! I certainly agree that you should write authentically and accessibly, but that’s just silly feedback. And no need for sackcloth and ashes – I did an entire post about poor grammar, only to be called out by someone who picked up 2 or 3 mistakes in that very post! We all make mistakes. I think what’s important is CARING about those mistakes and working to fix them when they are brought to our attention.
I suppose you can never, ever please everyone. I’m very grateful to count you amongst my loyal readers Bill; thanks for your honest comment!
Now, I do believe you know my experience with trolls, right? I had the one who left five comments under five identities on my blog, all trying to undermine me (and my self-confidence, of course)…who I ended up being able to definitively identify as my ex husband’s new wife? Who I ended up calling out on my blog? Who then STOPPED leaving comments after I called her out on my blog?
The takeaway: the most obvious source of this kind of comment typically is someone who is jealous of you and/or your success. This could be someone you know (as certainly was my case) or someone you don’t!
The sad reality is many people are insecure, and they get very angry when someone is not…or when someone experiences success (when they have not). So that drives hostility, which can drive resentment, which can be expressed in MANY ways!
So, yeah: You have the right attitude. Congrats on having hate mail, and embrace your success.
Your tips, by the way, are fantastic. RELATIONSHIPS are so important in this world of content marketing, so if you really were a troll — like the kind that lives under a bridge, or the chubby naked kind with bright pink hair that stands straight up — you would not succeed. Because people are afraid of under-bridge-dwellers and naked chubby people.
And, more importantly, because you know how to build relationships…
Mikalee Byerman recently posted..I am Such a Dick. (…and Other Eloquent Musings from my Award Show Acceptance Speech…)
Mikalee – please promise to comment on every single post that I write!?!?! Your comment makes this post all the better; honestly.
I only have one objection. Some people like chubby naked folks. Check out my naked interview.
Well i believe you should take it as an achievement rather than a setback. Apparently your work is getting noticed by people. And talking about internet marketing i don’t think there is anything wrong in that.
“I am trying to grow my business. I hope that in the process, I’m helping others and building relationships”
That’s a quote from you that i really liked. I guess this is all what matters. We all want to grow our business and if in this process if we are helping others its all good. I think that ms. hate mail doesn’t realize all the hard work involved in this process. She thinks you are trying to earn some free money which isn’t right at all..
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Karan – thanks for stopping by and sharing your comment.
I really do try to consider my reader’s point of view when I write posts. I don’t want to be sneaky about the fact that my blog ultimately serves as my business website, but the blog component is meant to be interactive and helpful. I’m glad you take it that way
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Looks like green eyed monster strikes again Ruth.
Keep doing all the great work.
Hugs,
Marya
Marya | Writing Happiness recently posted..5 Reasons to Unsubscribe from Writing Happiness (Please don’t!)
Thanks Marya for the support
. Have a great weekend.
very nice and interesting article!
everyone like it…
thanks for the information…
Candice swanepoel diet recently posted..Reese Witherspoon Workout And Diet
Looks like you were Ruth – less with the hater!
I haven’t got a single hate mail till date (yikes! Maybe I am next) but I really don’t write anything controversial on my site.
I did have one person coming to my blog and telling me what I SHOULD be writing about rather than wasting my time on “mundane posts”. Not such a hater I thought because he didn’t “strike back”. Also, long back, one person called me a terrorist when he knew I was a Muslim; but that was on HIS BLOG…. so I did report abuse and took my revenge
And no, you aren’t a horrible a person. I am new here so I can’t really talk about the extent to which you are normal
but yes, you write good stuff and that is all you need to be bothered about. There are people in the world who just can’t do anything good with their life so they try to create a fuss in others lives! Just smile and shine on.
Have a nice day! And yes, what a way to answer!
Hajra recently posted..Will they call you over for a bloggers party?
Hajra – That is a terrible story about having been called a terrorist. I guess that as bloggers, we expose ourselves very publicly and run the risk of attracting unpleasant attention.
My hate mail really wasn’t that bad. In fact, I’ve heard again from the author, and she/he pointed out that it really wasn’t intended as ‘hate’ mail. It certainly included some harsh words about my practices online and other bloggers ‘like me’ who engage in what she feels are objectionable activities. And it was written anonymously and I’m not convinced it was entirely truthful. I don’t mind debate – I just would have preferred that it be above board and constructive.
In any case, I’m glad that you think I write ‘good stuff’
. I appreciate your comments Hajra – have a great day!
Ruth,
I think it may have been a religious thing, or quasi-religious attitude.
Some people of various religious persuasions can look down on the market-place.
Of course, in this world we do, as you implied, exchange value for value most often with the medium of money.
It’s certainly what I would call judgmental and self-righteously prudish.
In heaven everything’s free, by the way.
But we’re not there, are we? And here, we seem to be getting rather dangerously used to feebies to the extent that we expect them and resent it when people want to be paid for their efforts and goods. Not a good trend, I think.
Bill Polm recently posted..Write Powerfully Like the Pros
Hmmm…you may be right Bill, though she didn’t specify any religious point of view in her emails (she’s now written to me a couple more times). But your points are well-taken, and these are indeed things that I think about as I promote my blog and my business. Thanks for taking the time to comment Bill.
I think your angry lady is missing a key point…it is possible to want to promote your business, and care about engaging with and helping people, at the same time.
Tom Ewer recently posted..Life After The Rat Race – My First Impressions
Exactly Tom! In fact, that’s the magic equation, in my opinion. Should doctors not be paid for their services? Should entertainers create movies/books/artwork for FREE? Is it wrong for teachers to expect salaries? Are they misleading the public by sharing their contributions and expecting to make money in the process?
I’m a writer. I write for a living. This blog helps to promote my business. I don’t get it. Ms. Hate Mail thinks that is wrong. I sort of have the impression that she is more peeved by those bloggers who are more oblique about their commercial interests. I’m pretty clear whenever I’m promoting or selling something directly – so it would be strange if one of my readers was mislead in some way. I also provide a lot of advice and insight on this blog that according to many of my readers, is actually useful!
So hopefully Tom, I’m living up to that equation – I definitely care about my readers; and I definitely care about growing my business. And the two are not mutually exclusive, nor should they be.
Preaching to the choir Ruth!
Tom Ewer recently posted..Life After The Rat Race – My First Impressions
Venting is more like it. I knew I’d be safe with you
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Congratulations on your first hate comment! You’re obviously doing something right. We’re all looking to define and narrow our niche, knowing that we can’t please everyone. You know you’re on the right track when you piss someone off. I’m guessing this commenter either thinks everyone is out to get them (hence the hidden identity) or they think all blogs should be for personal journaling (in which case, they’re obviously in the wrong place here).
Whenever I have to deal with difficult people, be they commenters, bosses, people on the street or family, I’ve learned to say to myself, “That person has issues” and leave it at that.
Keep sharing your experiences! It helps us all to know that we’re not alone.
Paige – simple mindfulness recently posted..The Free Guide You Need to Make This Year Your Best
Expecting that all blogs should be for social purposes is like demanding that television be just for entertainment (with no revenue generation whatsoever). Or that all food products being sold should be 100% nutritionally sound. I definitely understand the frustration with scam marketing that underhandedly misleads readers into costly subscriptions that they don’t want or need. And those tactics exist in the blogosphere, no doubt. But I’m completely candid and upfront about the things that I promote and sell (which are very, very few and far between here on this blog). I’m baffled by the disdain.
I’ve heard again from Ms. Hate Mail, but I agree with your advice Paige. She (and I think she might actually be a he) has issues.
Thanks for your thoughts; have a great day!
I totally understand and agree with the sentiments of your post Ruth. The type of person who wrote to you might be someone who likes to read and engage with online content, but doesn’t appreciate the effort which creators have to go through to firstly create content, and then sustain it through websites, blogs etc.
Every so often I get comments from people claiming that I don’t even stutter, because they saw me in a video speaking fairly fluently, but of course are not there when I do stutter.
I understand that some people blog and hang out on social media sites for essentially ‘social’ purposes. But I’m still so confused about the outrage over wanting to make money online, and leveraging the commercial benefits of blogging and social media to that end. I dunno…I think I’ve been completely transparent and honest on my blog (and off) about my intentions. I don’t really actively ‘sell’ anything on my blog. I have a few affiliate products that I’ve listed under ‘shop’ – can’t get more obvious than that.
The emailer seems to be angry that I’m pretending to be something that I’m not. I’m glad you can relate Hiten – and that it is utterly absurd that someone would have challenged your stutter! Having worked with many people who stutter (in my previous job) I know that even if you learn how to manage it and overcome – it’s a lifelong struggle.
Thanks for your support Hiten, and for visiting my blog again
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Ruth,
I enjoyed the way you handled that bit of “spam”!
Your picture is on Adrienne Smith’s Blog. She lives about 50 yards away from my front door!! Avery charming person.
I am an amateur dowser. i am having some(I think) excellent successes with the handling of energy, for that is what a dowser does, he moves energy, in addition to finding things.
Recently I purchased a book on the chakra system, wanting to know if I could use dowsing and those cosmic power wheels for better health, wealth, and wisdom.
Still practicing yoga? Dose any of that relate to the chakras?
Best regards,
Jim
Jlibertycalling@Yahoo.com
Hi Jim, thanks for stopping by. I’ve never heard of a ‘dowser’ before, but I googled it, and I now I understand. Interesting stuff, and that’s great that you’ve been successful. I still do yoga; I practice a very traditional type of Ashtanga yoga called Mysore style. And it is indeed based in the chakras, though I’m not particularly expert on the subject. I just know that doing it every day has transformed my life and my health.
Is there really a question as to whether a person can both genuinely and passionately care about something and make money doing it. Isn’t that the concept our entire society is built upon– the reason that we are able to choose a profession in the first place. Should you be condemned because you chose to do something professionally (and make money from it) that you actually like doing and want to share with others?
If that were the case, then there would be no doctors who cared about their patients, lawyers who cared about their clients, teachers who cared about thier students…the list could go on and on. We all have to make a living doing something, and if you’re lucky (or hardworking) enough to get to do something you feel passionate about, then kudos to you!
I feel sorry for the person who wrote the hate mail in question; she must be terribly miserable due to her faulty belief that you either have to be poor or slave away at something you’re indifferent about in order to be a good person. Yikes.
What to me is sad, in addition to the lady’s misery, is the superficiality of her thinking. Regrettably, again from my own observations, too many are mentally lazy and hence can easily succumb to a lack of clear thinking and also legalistic faultfinding. Again, sad because I don’t see it as necessary, really. Maybe some people are born that way.
Bill Polm recently posted..Write Powerfully Like the Pros
Thanks Bill
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You said it so clearly and eloquently Melissa – perhaps you’d like to respond to Ms. Hate Mail on my behalf (though I know she’s reading these comments…). Again, I think (having heard from Miss Hate Mail a few times now) that what bothers her is really the covert efforts of certain bloggers and online marketers (and she’s since told me that I’m not the worst of the lot, thank goodness) to lure people to their sites, without being candid of their true motives (to make money). In the most extreme cases, I suppose I can understand her point.
I guess my issue is that more often than not, there is a blurring of these lines, for precisely the reasons that you’ve outlined. The desire to make money and be financially successful isn’t mutually exclusive from the desire to help people. I really LOVE helping my readers – I want to arm them with skills so that they can leverage the benefits of content marketing. I have never aggressively sold anything to my readers, and the few soft sell efforts that I undertake on the blog are always very clear and above board. However, my blog does drive my freelance copywriting business in a more oblique way. And I don’t feel guilty about that. It’s intended.
In any case, I really do appreciate your support Melissa – your comment made my day!
I don’t really get hate mail, just really vulger and nasty comments mostly on my videos. Oh, I’ve been called every name in the book actually. The first one I received I must admit really took me by surprise and hurt my feelings. I then had to learn that there are just some really nasty people out there who have nothing better to do with their time I suppose.
I’ve also been compared to a serial killer and bashed in a blog post. Yeah, the guy got mad at me because I didn’t follow him on Twitter. Imagine that!
I guess Ms. Hate Mail has a right to her opinion. I believe that you are very open and honest with what you are here to achieve online. I have a feeling we aren’t the only ones she sought out about this. Sure hope she doesn’t decide to build an online business in the future or she just may have to eat her words.
Either way Ruth, you rock! That’s right, you rock and from the other comments you’ve received, others seem to agree with me too!
Have a glorious week my friend.
Adrienne recently posted..Do You Have A Facebook Fan Page?
HAHAHAH – ya, you really give off that serial killer vibe Adrienne!
I do try to be honest when I’m selling my services, and most of my selling to this point has been very passive and oblique. So I’m surprised that I was targeted, but it did give me food for thought.
At a minimum, it got me thinking about authenticity and the importance of earning our readers’ trust…for the RIGHT reasons. And it’s something I really want to work to do. I won’t be apologetic about wanting to make money in the process, but I want my ‘brand’ to be perceived as valuable, reliable and genuine.
Thanks for your continued support Adrienne. Much appreciated as always – and I love the Facebook page!
I have never received hate mail myself, but the picture got me thinking… there really are a lot of Trolls out there on the ‘introwebs’, and being able to mail them a real life troll doll would be awesome, although it could get quite expensive. So why not a monthly Troll round-up post?
As for content marketing, there is quite a bit of spam that you have to deal with as a blog owner, but with the recent changes at Google and other search engines, not to mention the potential SOPA and PIPA acts that are probably being brought in, I think this trend will soon disappear altogether.
So are you and I, not to mention countless others, horrible people because we want to grow my businesses? I think not.
Corey – Freelance Writer recently posted..Freelance Writer Survival Guide – Lesson 1: Budgets
Hi Corey – thanks for stopping by.
It will indeed be interesting to see what happens with SOPA and PIPA, though personally I think that it is ridiculous legislation! It may eliminate trolls, but it also puts really unconstitutional restrictions and well-meaning bloggers and businesses.
It looks like you are a fellow Canadian, so to some degree, we may be immune to the debate.
I’m hoping it won’t go through. And yes, for the most part we should be immune to its effects, except of course when it comes to our American clients that is. Fingers-crossed.
Dear Silly Person who wrote hate mail to Ruth,
Welcome to the Internet. You may think that there are sites that aren’t trying to sell you something, but they are difficult to find. Most sites, even free ones, are selling something. Check out Google and Facebook. They’re very popular sites, even though they have ads.
Just because someone is trying to sell you something doesn’t mean:
1) their site is bad;
2) they have nothing of value to offer.
Ruth not only offers her services for hire, but she is also willing to help out others without charge. She was very helpful to a friend of mine looking to get into freelance writing.
Silly person, I feel very bad for you. There is a whole world on the Internet that is full of riches. If you’re willing to overcome your aversion to sites that offer services for sale, your life will be greatly enhanced.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Nicander Mohr
Carolyn | The Wonder of Tech recently posted..What’s Your Business?
Thanks Carolyn!
How interesting. I went to see your comment on Danny’s site and I thought it was a quality comment, way better than 85% of what I get on my blogs. It’s amazing someone would decide to take the time and write you; had to be a troll of some kind.
I tend to take the view that marketing in and of itself isn’t evil at all. Some is over the top, some isn’t close to being enough. It’s a hard one to figure out. Of course there’s a time and place for everything, and some people haven’t learned that lesson; otherwise, no one gets to determine how we make our money unless they’re paying us, which isn’t happening.
Mitch Mitchell recently posted..Talking About Magic Jack Plus
Oh no – it was a real person. I received a few follow up emails – she had been reading the discussion and wanted to offer a few more thoughts. In the end, I she did trigger some interesting ideas and I was glad that she reached out to share her point of view. Ultimately, I want to inspire discussion; that’s what content marketing is all about.
Thanks for taking the time to comment Mitch; appreciate it!
Great subject here. Why do we do things? Yesterday, in a comment on the “Deep, dark, dirty secret” post, I suggested that there are things other than money that motivate writing on blogs – things like fun and for pleasure. You then neatly skewered my rather disingenuous argument by putting a link to my own site which, of course, I value. Thank you. I did not actually comment on your post because I was seeking a link but because it was a great topic. If I am honest with myself, I bother to write on other blogs for more than the fun and pleasure of it. Just, like you, I am advertising myself/my business which is holiday travel related. I wandered in to your site in the accidental way of the web because a link to your DDDS post was on a Linkedin forum. A pity your hate-mailer could only credit you with a purely self-interested motive. I could not imagine that you would have so many interested followers and well-mannered comments if that was the case.
Nick Marshall recently posted..Benefits of renting a holiday home
You see Nick, business interests and content interests don’t have to be mutually exclusive, right? They can work in tandem. And your description here validates that notion. Most business is self-interested at its core. How many of us are completely altruistic? Does my garbage collector do his job because he REALLY cares about keeping my house clean? Would my doctor continue to give me a physical exam if there was no financial compensation? Does my dog’s groomer care only that he should look adorable and smell clean, or would he also like to be paid at the end of the day? I’m a writer. I love writing. I want my content to be read. And I want to make money doing it. Shoot me
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