Comments on: The stupidest thing Seth Godin ever said. http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/ Social and Digital Marketing for the New Reality Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:35:28 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jo http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2328 jo Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:18:54 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2328 While I completely agree with Ari about the joys of having a discussion, it seems a lot of people are missing the point, discussing parallel subjects or asking the wrong questions. The question I hear is: do most landing pages suck? When you click on an ad, are you, as a visitor, really looking to navigate some company's homepage only to find the services they provide buried behind complicated menu's and corporate rhetoric? Are landing pages addressing the right audience? Are they putting thought and effort in it? Are they doing it right? To me, it seems like most of my questions would be answered with a big fat NO. While I completely agree with Ari about the joys of having a discussion, it seems a lot of people are missing the point, discussing parallel subjects or asking the wrong questions.

The question I hear is: do most landing pages suck? When you click on an ad, are you, as a visitor, really looking to navigate some company’s homepage only to find the services they provide buried behind complicated menu’s and corporate rhetoric? Are landing pages addressing the right audience? Are they putting thought and effort in it? Are they doing it right?

To me, it seems like most of my questions would be answered with a big fat NO.

]]> By: Ari Herzog http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2211 Ari Herzog Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:00:36 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2211 Looking at the past 26 comments through 50-50 vision, I see some people seeing the light before reading your post and other people failing to see why you're wrong. As for me, I'm happy seeing people having a dialogue about someone else and then seeing that someone else join the dialogue. Looking at the past 26 comments through 50-50 vision, I see some people seeing the light before reading your post and other people failing to see why you’re wrong.

As for me, I’m happy seeing people having a dialogue about someone else and then seeing that someone else join the dialogue.

]]> By: 7 sites to visit today. « Direct Marketing Observations http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2202 7 sites to visit today. « Direct Marketing Observations Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:10:36 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2202 [...] Kieff says that Seth Godin screwed up, I know it’s shocking isn’t [...] [...] Kieff says that Seth Godin screwed up, I know it’s shocking isn’t [...]

]]> By: Linda http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2185 Linda Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:17:14 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2185 The way I see it, I would consider it paid for in the currency of some-seconds-more-of-deliberate-attention. And the point is that the offer should be well targeted and relevant for the reader of the blog. The way I see it, I would consider it paid for in the currency of some-seconds-more-of-deliberate-attention. And the point is that the offer should be well targeted and relevant for the reader of the blog.

]]> By: Robert Merrill http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2131 Robert Merrill Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:13:03 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2131 I think you're reading a little more into this than there is. I think you’re reading a little more into this than there is.

]]> By: mike ashworth http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2126 mike ashworth Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:28:04 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2126 Perhaps the thinking behind Seth's idea is that if everyone does this then eventually there will be no more advertising on blogs as the advertisers wont trust it anymore. Perhaps that what Seth was alluding too that this would be a way to get rid of blog advertising altogether. Why not just say its a bad idea and the best thing to do is never click on an advert! Personally I think Chris is spot on for his critical view of Seth's idea. Isn't now the time to switch comments on at your blog so dialogue, debate, discussion can occur there? Perhaps things wouldn't be as heated over a mistake (we are all human) if there were a way to interact with him generally over his ideas. Mike Ashworth Marketing Coach and Consultant Brighton and Hove, Sussex, UK Perhaps the thinking behind Seth’s idea is that if everyone does this then eventually there will be no more advertising on blogs as the advertisers wont trust it anymore.

Perhaps that what Seth was alluding too that this would be a way to get rid of blog advertising altogether. Why not just say its a bad idea and the best thing to do is never click on an advert!

Personally I think Chris is spot on for his critical view of Seth’s idea.

Isn’t now the time to switch comments on at your blog so dialogue, debate, discussion can occur there? Perhaps things wouldn’t be as heated over a mistake (we are all human) if there were a way to interact with him generally over his ideas.

Mike Ashworth
Marketing Coach and Consultant
Brighton and Hove, Sussex, UK

]]> By: Gaurav Mishra http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2125 Gaurav Mishra Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:56:02 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2125 Even though I love the delicious subversiveness of the idea, I agree with the SEM folks. I have done CPC advertising both as a blogger and a brand manager and I have always had zero tolerance for websites (or keywords) with high clicks and low conversions. If clickthrough rates go up and conversion rates drop, marketers would shift ad dollars to search, away from content/ placement, and ad budgets available to bloggers would drop, instead of going up. Seth Godin’s “more clicks -> lower conversions -> better landing pages -> higher conversions -> higher budgets” hypothesis assumes that marketers can learn to design significantly better landing pages to convert disinterested (or mildly interested) leads. I’m not sure if I share his confidence. Even though I love the delicious subversiveness of the idea, I agree with the SEM folks. I have done CPC advertising both as a blogger and a brand manager and I have always had zero tolerance for websites (or keywords) with high clicks and low conversions. If clickthrough rates go up and conversion rates drop, marketers would shift ad dollars to search, away from content/ placement, and ad budgets available to bloggers would drop, instead of going up.

Seth Godin’s “more clicks -> lower conversions -> better landing pages -> higher conversions -> higher budgets” hypothesis assumes that marketers can learn to design significantly better landing pages to convert disinterested (or mildly interested) leads. I’m not sure if I share his confidence.

]]> By: Controversy: Seth Godin Asks Blog Readers to Treat Ads as the New Online Tip Jar and Click | Gauravonomics Blog http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2124 Controversy: Seth Godin Asks Blog Readers to Treat Ads as the New Online Tip Jar and Click | Gauravonomics Blog Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:53:49 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2124 [...] Procedure for people to do business on the web, if this becomes “an accepted online protocol.” (Chris Kieff) As an advertiser I don’t like the idea of people who have no intention of buying a product [...] [...] Procedure for people to do business on the web, if this becomes “an accepted online protocol.” (Chris Kieff) As an advertiser I don’t like the idea of people who have no intention of buying a product [...]

]]> By: Chris Kieff http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2122 Chris Kieff Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:49:38 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2122 Michael, Read Seth's follow up post. It's not an exaggeration. And clicking on ads for fun isn't supporting the blogger, it's click fraud. Google will react to the blogger by showing cheaper and less expensive ads. No one is infallible, and this time Seth has proven that he's human too. Michael,

Read Seth’s follow up post. It’s not an exaggeration. And clicking on ads for fun isn’t supporting the blogger, it’s click fraud. Google will react to the blogger by showing cheaper and less expensive ads.

No one is infallible, and this time Seth has proven that he’s human too.

]]> By: Michael Crosson http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-stupidest-thing-seth-godin-ever-said/comment-page-1/#comment-2119 Michael Crosson Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:54:14 +0000 http://www.1goodreason.com/blog/?p=268#comment-2119 This is WAY exaggerated. I'm sure that what Seth meant to say is, "If you like an ad on a blog post, then click on it." He clearly didn't intend to promote unmitigated click fraud - he is just reinforcing that the business model of blogging relies on advertising. So if you want a blogger to succeed and make a living at it, then support him. No different from any other ad-supported venue. Give the guy a break! This is WAY exaggerated. I’m sure that what Seth meant to say is, “If you like an ad on a blog post, then click on it.” He clearly didn’t intend to promote unmitigated click fraud – he is just reinforcing that the business model of blogging relies on advertising. So if you want a blogger to succeed and make a living at it, then support him. No different from any other ad-supported venue.

Give the guy a break!

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