Disqus - Latest Comments for Rufus

Re: Is social media becoming a social mess?

Rufus — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:57:24 -0000

@Dave, I agree with you about the paradox of choice. Do less, join less, etc. Now, here is the [INSERT CLEVER PHRASE HERE] Paradox. If we who are SM savvy are less apt to shift brands, think about how hard it will be for us to entice new customers to shift to our brand.

Nobody will try or buy anything new because they are so fed up with trying to make things work with what they currently have. I should upgrade my laptop, but the pain of moving everything over, looking up my passwords, re-installing software.. arghhh it is more pain than using this one one more year (and it is MacBook Pro and Apple has one of the easiest migration tools around)

The challenge for existing services and new services is to be able to integrate into our existing work habits, to make it easier for people to try new things without scattering their lives all over the place. Few do because they have a "our way or nothing" approach. Their product will CHANGE THE WORLD instead of adapting it to work just a little easier.

And IMHO, the correct metaphor for what SM is becoming is not so much a pool of quicksand, but a room where everyone has a loud megaphone and earplugs, shouting their message.

Re: Is social media becoming a social mess?

Rufus — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 15:39:59 -0000

@Chris The only reason I have a blog on wordpress.com, Facebook, LinkedIn, Beebo, Flickr, posterous, squidoo, tumblr and every other social network out there. It is like a big fishing net or welcoming beacon (pick your metaphor). But, I interact only on three services: twitter, dogwalkblog.com and gerardmclean.com And, anyone who knows me knows that if you comment on DogWalkBlog, you're more likely to get my attention and a comment back. Just like my phones; if you don't have my cell phone number, I probably don't know you and you definitely don't know me. (But, if we meet at a conference or on DogWalkBlog or strike it up on Titter, I'll chat your ear off :-) )

Re: The Talking Dog?

Rufus — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:49:23 -0000

Talking dog.. please...
We dogs at DogWalkBlog.com are way beyond that and we're up to thinking and blogging! http://dogwalkblog.com

Re: Dog Drives Van…Dog Crashes Van.

Rufus — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:40:03 -0000

Please people, if you are not smarter than your dog, DON'T OWN ONE! We need you to be the brains.

Re: Why Social Media Won't Get You Hired In A Recession | Social Media Explorer

Rufus — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:03:17 -0000

Jason, do you have any opinions on how social media can help dogs out in this recession?

My opinion on all this social media is it is creating value for human touch. A handshake will be worth $1,000, a smile $3,500 and a hug; priceless. (Sorry, you can't by your way into scratching me behind the ears, but we can still talk :-) )

On the business side of things, I think we will see a resurgence of the trade show for organizations that can weather this economy. But, since they will have a new-found value, they will not be for the unwashed masses. Will be interesting for trade associations who are on watching all this and on the ball.

Re: Why Social Media Won't Get You Hired In A Recession | Social Media Explorer

Rufus — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:21:15 -0000

:-) I just had to work the price in there to get to the "Priceless" tag line.. a bit contorted, but it was early in the morning .. thanks for playing along and thanks for not judging me :-)

The economy will bounce back. The organizations that have been doing SM right will have members craving for human contact. The ones that do it exceedingly well will have stoked value into the equation and will profit nicely early on.

Re: Where’s the Facebook Browser?

Rufus — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:36:47 -0000

We don't need more web browsers. What we need is a web-based OS and Internet providers who are held accountable for the uptime of their networks.

Ike blew into Ohio and left about 300,000 people without power, probably more without Internet. Nobody seems to care that Time Warner/Roadrunner has become the sole source of not only business applications that are web-based but critical information and communication systems like telephones. Nobody really knows what is going on here and what Dayton power and Light is doing (or Time Warner)

So, until Time Warner, Cox, Comcast, etc take their role seriously and can be held to standards higher than playtime at a kindergarten, quit saying things like "While it’s great to dream of the day where we open up our computer and know that it’s only a terminal to my remote computer"

Re: Requirement: No Food for Eric

Rufus — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:53:26 -0000

Hell no, it is not pointless! In fact, Sam's club gives out free samples on Sat/Sun, Krogers gives out free cheese sample, cookies, chips, bread... you would have to absolutely STUPID to starve on America.

Free food everywhere... if you work at it just a little bit.

Blog each day, give us a point-by-point and publish the diet

Re: Requirement: No Food for Eric

Rufus — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:54:16 -0000

in America, not on America... on America.... gawd...

Re: Blogging’s diminishing returns & Why you should still have one

Rufus — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:31:42 -0000

I would comment on your blog post, but that would mean that I have actually read it... but, do you really care that I read your blog post? :-)

Good points. I still think getting into Alltop.com is just the most wicked cool thing that could happen to a blog. We're in Jobs, Coffee, Pets and Soccer. Still working on crazybloggers.alltop.com but it is just a matter of time.

<abbr>Rufus’s last blog post..How this financial disaster is like Catholicism</abbr>

Re: Blogging’s diminishing returns & Why you should still have one

Rufus — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:23:24 -0000

@Eric nope, that was just a little bit of K9 humor with a liberal dash of sarcasm sprinkled with a touch of cynicism. Your message hit the center target. I;m always amazed at what gets people to my blog...

When things start slowing down, I just need to throw something up there with "Palin" and "pit bull" in the title and I've got traffic stoked up again :-)

Ultimately, though, I'm not making money and don't ever intend to with my blog, but if it lightens my day then it was worth the time to write. If it lightens up somebody else's day, even better.

What affects me, affects you. Keep writing, even when you hear no sounds coming from the doghouse.

And, yeah, Alltop.com ROCKS! The best way you can give back for them listing your blog is to keep it active and interesting! @neenz @guykawasaki

<abbr>Rufus’s last blog post..Things I found funny today</abbr>

Re: Shut Up- You're Helping the Customer!

Rufus — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:16:28 -0000

@rcjordan You bring up and interesting point. "some of these customers are incredibly sharp individuals. Some may even be competitors." On the internet, nobody really, really knows you are a dog. (well except me.. I AM a dog)

@Chip neither would I, unless it was Bob's job to engage the customer... "going rogue" didn't work for Sarah either :-)

@Ari Quit reading Seth Godin without really reading Seth Godin. Bob has no "tribe" He has customers of a high-end product that his company paid a lot of money to get. They will stick with the brand, not Bob. Really.

@paisley as few as four years ago, my firm's insurance premiums were incredibly high because we did "Internet work" and "took credit cards over the Internet." On in the last few when folks understood the real risk of us developing web-based software did rates come down dramatically. It's a real concern for larger companies who are a bigger target.

Bob really needs to risk his own skin and not his employer's. If he feels that strongly about social networking, strike out on his own or get another job where that is what he does. Otherwise, follow the Golden Rule-- he who has the gold makes the rules. For better or worse.

Re: Shut Up- You're Helping the Customer!

Rufus — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 09:46:58 -0000

@Gary Walter There is "getting it" and "getting sued." Once you get the latter, you are less inclined to do the former!

Re: Who Cares Advertising

Rufus — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:07:19 -0000

Well, I can't speak for sliced steak, but I am "America's Only Blogging Dog!"

And, if it is one thing I know is that America LOVES her puppy stories, especially when they are written by a puppy. http://www.dogwalkblog.com

Re: Who Cares Advertising

Rufus — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:54:22 -0000

@mercutiom damn.. I forgot to mention that my comment was still in Beta... please make suggestions for its improvement :)

@Carolyn S. so much inspiration packed into so few words. "The Most Dense Comment" I'm going to steal the "fat girl" quote; I have a feeling it will be useful at some point during the upcoming "Family-Packed Holiday"

Re: Who Cares Advertising

Rufus — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:10:02 -0000

Actually, my favorite campaign of all times using this type of thing is the Cingular "Least number of dropped calls"

We put that into context with a soccer tournament at TourneyCentral
http://www.tourneycentral.com/the-fewest-bad-th...

Re: Do You Have To Touch Every Conversation

Rufus — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:24:30 -0000

I am the "Only Dog Blogger on the Internet" I write a blog as a DOG, it is not ABOUT dogs. I am the BEST dog blogger around because I am the ONLY dog blogger.

Now, you'd think that would be enough to get me out of the dip, but I'm running around in the cul de sac, chasing my tail using Twitter, blogging and for what? No advertising, no book deals, no nothing. Even "pit bull Sarah" got herself a book deal and I am way smarter than she is.

Sometimes, the world you choose to be the best in can be way to small. I think mine is. Wonder what Seth thinks.... wonder if Seth cares....

Re: Do You Have To Touch Every Conversation

Rufus — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:30:23 -0000

@Seth Godin Not really sure I agree with that. It's pretty much the same as saying "I can't be the life of every party, so I'm not going to go to any parties."

Twitter is a lot of things to a lot of people (like that old joke about five blind men describing an elephant) but primarily, it is a endless stream of conversation where you can chat, listen and learn. I suppose, if you are Seth Godin, people would expect that you are an expert in certain things, whereas being a dog, people have very low expectations of me. That's ok; I contribute where I can and learn what I need to know.

Today, I learned about MarsEdit from @guykawasaki I have been looking for something exactly like this for about a year. Tomorrow, I'll probably learn about something regarding Web Analytics I did not already know that I can turn around and sell for some money to someone who will think "I'm bloody brilliant!"

Another way to look at it. The longer Seth stays away from Twitter, the more of a chance each of us has to pull away from him. Can't be a guru of everything forever. Love ya, Seth, but it is literally, for me anyway, a dog eat dog world.

Re: Do You Have To Touch Every Conversation

Rufus — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:27:50 -0000

@Tim Street: Amen.

I wrote this in an email to a co-worker this weekend, but did not send it, thinking it might just be a little too negative. Now, after reading your comments and several other comments on some blogs that are part of the "Gen Y Mutual Admiration Society" I'm thinking it may just be dead-on accurate.

"I see all this Web 2.0 stuff we are doing for the brands like running on a treadmill... always more to do, nothing ever done, going nowhere, and getting no customers.. I am beginning to think it is all a crock of shit anyway, spewed out by HubSpot and those like them just to sell their services.. all this crap isn't getting page views as Web 2.0 shit is just a bunch of people shouting at each other with megaphones! Nobody's really BUYING anything.. they are all SELLING. And, as long as you can sell Web 2.0 "air" and get people to buy into it, you're good.. like a big MLM scam... I believe in relationship marketing, but I think the bubble has passed where there now are more people getting into it to sell rather than buy.

People/companies that got in a long time ago, like narms.com, tourneycentral.com, guykawasaki, chrisbrogan, dooce etc are doing just fine because they have traffic, momentum, etc. but trying to launch something new get people to give a flip?? I'm thinking it is a long, long, long road uphill, paved with rocks... "

Re: Do You Have To Touch Every Conversation

Rufus — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:17:58 -0000

@Tim Oh, I'm there with you. I think SM in the mix is good, but like everything else, if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Way back in my puppy days, I worked for this really large Fortune 500 company who saw the future of at-retail services move from product assembly and display into merchandising, etc.. They "set the world on fire" and after two years, we made our first million in revenue. There was a lot of back-slapping, hi-fives.. we knew everything about this business.

A year later, I left to join a competitor and REALLY got to know the industry. If you weren't in the $10million + club, you just weren't a player. These folks did not spend hours designing a form or week-long retreats learning management techniques; these guys were front-line "get er dun" types, from the top boss down to the at-retail reps. That was the way REAL at-retail merchandising got done.

And the Fortune 500 guys at my old employer still kept drinking their own Kool-Aid and in 2004, they folded.. got bought out by Canadians no less (not that there is anything wrong with that...)

These Web 2.0 guys remind me of that Kool-Aid drinking crowd. When you get inside this Web 2.0 bubble, your view of everything can be very myopic. In the past year, it has turned from a community into a shout-down, shout-out fest where everybody is talking and nobody is listening.

Now, I will go quiet on this topic as I have already barked way too much.

PS I like Jeff Zucker's quote. I think I will keep it and use it one day.. thanks.

Re: Who Cares Advertising

Rufus — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:55:15 -0000

@Angie no words on your comment, just a photo.
http://rufus.posterous.com/high-paw

Re: How Alltop Powers Bloggers

Rufus — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:29:08 -0000

LOVE alltop.com and not just because we were listed early on in pets.alltop.com (Dog Walk Blog), coffee.alltop.com (Plain Joe) and jobs.alltop.com (NARMS) but because it does exactly what Google can't, gives you a quick view of the top LEGITIMATE blogs...

What I like most about browsing the blog listing is you not only get a listing of the top blogs, but the latest blog posts. This cuts down on a lot of useless clicks to blogs that "look legit" to Google, but are really just piled high with crap and ads.

One thing that we do a lot is link back to alltop.com and add alltop in the tags for almost all post on our brands as alltop.com is generally a source for Rufus' ramblings.

You know that Neenz has got to be spending a lot of time researching on a ton of topics. While Google does an ok job of indexing, Alltop does it much, much better.. Human editing for human beings. (which, incidentally is going to be the biggest loss when newspapers finally go under.)

Neenz, please reconsider http://www.tourneycentral.com for the soccer category... I hate rejection ;-) And Guy, Tech Crunch was (and still is) wrong about Alltop.

Re: My Site Dressed in Thesis

Rufus — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:52:39 -0000

Very clean... I want one...

Re: Open Invitation For All of You

Rufus — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:20:34 -0000

Chris, if you will blog for food like your shirt says, what will you do for coffee? And a coffee mug? And a tshirt? And some stickers? http://www.plainjoe.com
Serious offer....

Re: Advertising and Trust

Rufus — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 09:50:30 -0000

@Yvonne in the spirit of commercialism and self-promotion, I am a DOG who writes a blog called DogWalkBlog.com I would take food from Purina for blog posts.

On another aside, the soccer world is the same way. Anyone who is not in the sport for the "beautiful game" is a money-grubbing, soulless corporation who doesn't care about the kids. Please. I think that anyone who complains about others making money of something they perceive should be "free" just has not been successful in setting the value of their own efforts and are frustrated at their inability to do so.

You must now visit my PayPal page and give me $5.00 for reading this comment. If you think it worthless, then flush it from your brain now. If you feel you should comment on this comment, you then think it worth enough to do so and I will expect you will pay me. Otherwise, I really don't care what you think.

Thank you, Chris, for providing the space, time and effort on your blog for me to express myself free of charge. I should be paying you and will when that Purina deal comes through ;-)

Re: Guest Post - What Bloggers Can Learn From Journalists

Rufus — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:14:56 -0000

#11 Get an AP StyleBook http://www.apstylebook.com/

Re: Guest Post - What Bloggers Can Learn From Journalists

Rufus — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:22:46 -0000

Oops.. and don't hit that return key unless you are done your comment :-)

And,. then, if you choose to ignore the AP Style by doing your own thing, at least you are educated about it, not just ignorant. ee cummings knew that he was supposed to capitalize stuff but actively chose to ignore that rule. Whenever one of my writing students throw ee cumings at me for a failed capitalization, I immediately change their grade to a lower case of one grade lower. "You are no ee cummings."

Until you are a journalist/blogger/writer of the stature of Cronkite, Fuller, Woodward/Bernstein, Arnett or Rather, respect the AP Stylebook.

Re: Guest Post - What Bloggers Can Learn From Journalists

Rufus — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:05:25 -0000

@Ari Yes, it would. A photojournalist takes a "picture" to tell a story on purpose. A 7-year-old child takes a "snapshot" because something pretty is moving in front of her. if it results in a story, it is only because it is accidental.

Re: Guest Post - What Bloggers Can Learn From Journalists

Rufus — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:05:53 -0000

If (not if)

Re: Your 3 Goals for 2009

Rufus — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:22:48 -0000

Mine are:
Walk, Poop, Blog
Hey, I'm a dog people. Cut me some slack :-)

Re: Stories You Can Tell

Rufus — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:07:02 -0000

Does anyone else write a narrative as they live an experience? A really cool cheap writing exercise I tell students all the time is to imagine yourself as a third-person narrator telling a story of your most banal experience..

Walking up the stairs, for example..

"The slightly balding, middle aged man pulled himself up the short staircase, breathing heavily as he went. The old bannister creaked under the strain. As he paused on the landing, bathed in the bright early morning sun streaming through the dirty skylight above him, he sighed as he remembered .... " etc...

Keep doing that and everything you do, everything that happens around you will be a stream of narrative that you easily write as a blog post, an essay, a speech or a book. Instead of a passive stream of iPod music, you will be writing your story...

Re: The Subtle Art of Linkbaiting

Rufus — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:50:46 -0000

Ooo and don't forget using incendiary titles like "Seth Godin is a Big fat Idiot" http://gerardmclean.com/seth-godin-is-a-big-fat... I could have titled it something more banal, but then Mr. Godin himself would not have commented on the article. Pretty sure that was it.

@sean808080 right there with you. I hate fajitas too.

Re: You're Doing It Wrong

Rufus — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:59:01 -0000

Taking calls, making pizzas, what we "experts" can learn about business from some guys who are so 20th century. http://dogwalkblog.com/x/163

And why I'm beginning to think doing business using all these Web 2.0 tools, Social Media etc is just smoke and mirrors for folks trying to get out of actually doing anything.

Re: The Importance of Your Own Email Account

Rufus — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:07:26 -0000

Hmm. Is this another way of saying own your own space? What if Facebook just went away today. 11:22 am, Facebook ceases operations. Or Twitter just disappeared due to lack of funding. Or what if Google stopped Gmail. Just gone. Sorry, folks, you didn't pay anything for our services, so we don't owe you anything. Didn't you all read the fine print?

If an email address or a web site is a lifeline to YOU, make sure you own it.

Re: The Importance of Your Own Email Account

Rufus — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:54:02 -0000

@Hendry Lee Pufferfish Marketing, I love it. Another thing to do is use Skype or Grand Central to have different phone numbers for different divisions.. and if you select area codes like 718, 612, 202, etc, you can have different "offices" as well... with Skype, different country codes now, your company is international... and make sure to grab the domains (.eu, but partner up with someone in the EU for an "office" address....)

Re: The Importance of Your Own Email Account

Rufus — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 09:03:50 -0000

@Jeremy LeRay hey, thanks! Yes, concurrence on the CSV.. text only files never fail... amazing how in the midst of the greatest technology in the world, the basics are what never fails. A pencil, piece of paper, text-only file, a human conversation over a beer... hmmmm.....

Re: The Importance of Your Own Email Account

Rufus — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:51:48 -0000

@eric Postcards WORK for confirmations wonderfully. http://www.tourneycentral.com/using-postcards-a... despite what Rick Burnes at HubSpot says about the future of the USPS and direct mail.

Re: If We Agree Advertising is Broken

Rufus — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:52:48 -0000

@Bill, @chris Quality writing matters. Attention to detail -- even in a blog --matters. It communicates your personal brand. Is your personal brand sloppy, unkempt, a bit disheveled and has little respect for your readers? If so, then typos, badly-formed sentences and snarky, sarcastic comments about grammar are appropriate. If your personal brand includes being taken seriously as an authority by the adults in the room, pay attention to the details. We old dogs care about this stuff and we're here in larger packs than you would want to believe.

@Brian (brandfasttrackers.com) Quality advertising IS about content and placement. The Shamwow commercial is low-rent and tacky for an art gallery lobby, but perfect for a Saturday morning flea market or as 3:00am entertainment. It's also about owning a venue, whether that be the inside of an airport restroom stall or the back seat of a ski lift.

How many people here are buying and reading the New York Times? While I agree that perhaps buying remnant advertising is probably not consistent with their brand image, they still have very real bills to pay. Social media prophets are not doing them any favors by decreeing that print is dead. Print is not dead. Print may be shrinking and will eventually find a level where it stabilizes, but it will not die. Not in the near future. Print works because touch is the most basic of all human needs. I can touch a print ad, a newspaper, a cup of warm coffee with my company's logo. I can't touch a Web site no matter how "social" it purports to be with me.

Technology changes, people do not. The human condition has been around for thousands of years and will plague our children's children long after all of us are gone.

The element of that human condition we are struggling with boredom. We are bored and desensitized by advertising. Doing more of what worked yesterday almost always doesn't. Social media toys are not the answer either because the adults in the room are not really being respected by the kids. And, yes, a resistance to change due to a lack of respect is also part of the human condition. So is the irrational behavior of doing what you know won't work, but is all you know how to do.

I am already bored with Twitter even though I have a bit of a following and like the people I hang with. But if I quit tweeting today forever, nobody would really miss me. On the other hand, if I died today in real life, I would most likely be missed. At the very least, I would affect the grocery bill. In the end, we are all about the analog.

Real advertisers fundamentally understand the human condition. They study people first and quietly and skillfully apply the appropriate technologies, whether that is a Shamwow commercial or a junk ad or a random sticker for Diet Pepsi on the back of a ski lift seat on a breathlessly still Colorado mountainside. They never forget the goal is to covert the unaware into a prospect and the prospect into a customer.

Conversely, most "advertising hacks," including many of the social media experts, try to stuff people into technologies. That approach has always failed.

Re: If We Agree Advertising is Broken

Rufus — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:29:52 -0000

@chrisbrogan From time to time, you could use an editor. That is all I am saying. ;-)

Re: If We Agree Advertising is Broken

Rufus — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:55:41 -0000

@bill The more you comment, the more you make my point for me. Right? :-)

From your comments, I surmise your personal brand is one that values content over the packaging in which it is delivered. Your brand tells me it is more important for you to tell the reader what you want to tell him rather than the reader understand you. From your comments, I assess your brand to be a bit impulsive and not at all worried about being a careful reader. From the way you form your comments, I understand you to pride yourself on being a clever smart-ass. Your personal brand is all about the "quick draw" and the decisive offensive move.

And that is ok, if that is who you are or what you wish me to believe you are. If it works for you and you don't care about us "old dogs" thinking of you as a punk kid, then go for it! Embrace it! Be one with your brand. I'm fairly certain you have already formed some opinion on MY personal brand as well.

I'm fairly sure I am not your target market and any further interaction with me is probably wasted effort. But, if you retort, well, then I can only assume you then CARE what I think about your personal brand.

So, what are you going to do next? Ignore me or engage me? And why? And how does this little exchange contribute to Chris' overall point on advertising?

Re: If We Agree Advertising is Broken

Rufus — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:41:15 -0000

@bill I like you too and am glad you replied back ;-) Thanks for an interesting morning. This probably means I have to get some real work done now. Ah, well... but, you did duck my questions. Wonder what that says about your personal brand.....

Re: If We Agree Advertising is Broken

Rufus — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:42:37 -0000

@Chrisbrogan Thanks for letting @bill and me pee in your playground for free ;-)

Re: If We Agree Advertising is Broken

Rufus — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:07:48 -0000

Quote the Joker in The Dark Knight (more of a paraphrase) "If you are good at something, never do it for free." I only do two things for free that I am good at and one of them is writing my own blog. I'll leave you to guess at the other one, but I suspect you probably already have the answer. ;-) Have a happy, "free-filled" weekend.

Re: If We Agree Advertising is Broken

Rufus — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 12:22:57 -0000

@Brian Martin I love the airline tray table concept because it is not intrusive. Anyone who has been caught on an airplane sober without anything to read will either read ANYTHING, including the napkins or engage in conversation with whomever is sitting next to them... sometimes not entirely welcome ;-)

Crumbs is more like it. The serious guys pay for print, pay for LCD screens, pay for video editing. Case in point about the social media position in the WSJ today. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123309277668321...

Re: Opinions Are Every Bit as Important

Rufus — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:02:42 -0000

Continuing with an argument from a previous post, I'm liking Mr. Kim's statement: "I was struck by the severity of the opinion, even if written by an 'anonymous coward' with poor spelling and grammar skills." Hmmm. It would seem that poor spelling and grammar skills DOES determine the authority of someone who has an opinion on your opinion. Interesting.

All that aside, just because you have an opinion on something, doesn't necessarily mean you have all the relevant facts or even that you know what you are talking about. An example in point is the seemingly endless discussion of newspapers going digital. There are many on the Web who have a myopic view of newspapers (Seth Godin, http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/01...) and then there are those who have more facts than the average blogger wants to know. (Alan D. Mutter, http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/) On this account, I trust Alan's opinions far more than I do Seth's.

Before trusting an opinion, first look to make sure the person who has it is an authority on that which he/she speaks. If not, exchanging opinions is simply a parlor game.

Re: Opinions Are Every Bit as Important

Rufus — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:16:46 -0000

@Ryan Miller If you agreed with everything I said, than one of us is unnecessary :-)

Re: The Goal is the Interaction

Rufus — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:07:36 -0000

@Mary N You may be also interested in two very timely blog posts that I'm pretty sure Chris won't mind me pointing to.. Shannon Paul's http://veryofficialblog.com/2009/02/02/resource... and DogWalkBlog http://www.dogwalkblog.com/2009/02/03/is-there-...

Re: The Goal is the Interaction

Rufus — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:51:47 -0000

@alekhouse Of course there are cliques on Twitter! I'm part of a clique, though not the one Chris hangs with and probably not one that matters a whole lot to the SM crowd. I'm not terribly bothered by it because I am successful in other things that interest me more. Because Twitter is made up of human beings, all those things that defines human beings comes with it; pride, jealousy, lust, envy, etc, etc. Just because the medium changes, it doesn't make Twitter less of a human model.

The "social media" crowd is a clique, especially among the "veterans experts" who have "created" and "defined" it. I don't fault them for that. And they deserve props for doing that. It is just human nature to protect what you have, even though they all say it is open, all about the connections, you can connect with whomever you want, the world is flat, yadda, yadda, it really isn't. This statement is an observation, not a value judgment, but I'm fairly certain there will be comments about it. I can live with that.

Why are you on Twitter? Why do you blog? If your goal is to get in with the "SM plastics," then you are probably aiming in the wrong direction. You are too late. There are too many requirements to join the club. If your goal is to further your own interests or further the interests of some things that you are passionate about, take what Chris and others are willing to give if it applies and forge your own path.

What I take from Chris that he is willing to give me? This small space of interaction on his blog between you and me. And his insight into some things about SM that I don't have the time to discover on my own. And, his tolerance of me expressing ideas that he doesn't necessarily agree with, but he keep on his blog anyway.

Re: A Crash Course in Comments

Rufus — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:09:05 -0000

@Maria Lavis Godot :-)

Re: The Future According to Microsoft

Rufus — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:16:33 -0000

I like futuristic stuff and it is interesting, the more things go "digital" the more they seek to emulate and interact with our "analog" vision of what things are supposed to be. For example, newspaper are supposed to be big sheets of paper, read at the breakfast table with a cup of coffee. Even the digital one, though it wipes clean and repaginates, does that.

My take on all this future stuff, however, is to look at future films of the past -- even as recent as the 1980s. Nobody got the 16:9 television. Even when screens were larger, wall-sized, the 4:3 format still reigned.

Re: Interested in Affiliate Marketing?

Rufus — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:01:57 -0000

Circular. Like a dog chasing his tail :-)

Re: Platform Thinking in Personal Branding

Rufus — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:53:17 -0000

The smartest man (or woman) in the world can write a book that is the EXACT roadmap to getting us out of this recession and NOBODY will buys it or read it unless he first becomes famous for writing a book about economics.. like a dog chasing its tail.

I wonder how many people would read a blog if Jesus wrote one? Yet, millions follow him and live by his teachings. But, if he showed up today, he couldn't make a dent in the Twitter stream or Google Page Rank or anything that we consider a mark of success without using his God powers. And leading that charge would be the Christians declaring him the anti-christ (or the anti something if this was his first go-around.)

WWJD? I dunno, but he wouldn't spend time blogging to start a religion cause Chris Brogan already has his audience. ;-)

Re: Platform Thinking in Personal Branding

Rufus — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 08:44:46 -0000

@Leslie I ran out to Tim Horton's to get a coffee and while doing so, listened to an NPR piece on what creates value for "things." They used Gandhi's sandals, eyeglasses, etc. auction as a backdrop to this argument. I'm sure the audio will be on NPR.org if not already.

This argument led my mind drifting to think about the value of aluminum (Al). Before it was easy to make, a single ounce of Al was far more valuable than gold (Au). But, when Al could be made cheaply and easily, the price of Al plummeted, gutting those who invested in Al. the reason AL was valuable is because it was rare, not because it was useful.

If you equated Al to your micro-niche and became really good at something (or owned a keyword as you say) you are only as valuable as the marketplace views the rarity of that keyword.

Be careful that you don't end up owning "aluminum."

Re: Platform Thinking in Personal Branding

Rufus — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 10:42:22 -0000

@Leslie Like "buggy whip" :-)

I guess my point is perhaps more micro-niche about business blogging (See Shanon Paul's blog http://veryofficialblog.com/2009/03/06/this-is-... some valid points and convergence to this topic in her post) rather than "hobby" blogs.

At some point, if my micro-niche has no market value, I may have a whole bunch of people who care and I have a very long tail, but if I can't pay the electric bill with the passion and my expertise is not "arc-able" I'm kinda screwed (reference to "screw the pooch" ... I just like saying that, even if it take a while to build up to it :-) )

Everyone who is passionate about "Barking" please visit my Buy a Bark page on DogWalkBlog.com. I will record a bark and send it to you. Really? Yes, I will. Arf. Wonder how many I will sell? I wonder how passionate my audience really is about "bark."

@Chris if we should take this exchange to another playground, speak up... but hopefully the exchange is ok with you! Buy a bark!

Re: Sending the Wrong Message

Rufus — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:50:31 -0000

No line is bad, but a long line is worse. http://www.tourneycentral.com/long-lines-equal-...

Re: The Me Game

Rufus — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:05:27 -0000

Just read this from a link on a later post. How did you EVER get away with calling her wife the "junior person" in the following? How long have you been married to this woman and why has she not left you after this blog post?

"When you introduce two people, it’s customary to introduce the lesser-known or junior person to the senior person. If I introduce my wife to the President of the United States of America, I’d say, 'Honey, I want you to meet Mr. Barack Obama.'

Every married guy knows that his wife is NEVER junior or lesser-known to ANYONE, not even the President of the United States of America. Sorry, Chris, you got that one wrong :-)

Re: Sending the Wrong Message

Rufus — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 09:26:29 -0000

@Jason Finch Well, you have obviously never been to the Krispy Kreme donut shop in the underground walkway between the Luxor and Excaliber in Las Vegas! A glass wall, crowds pressing their faces and attracting more people... heck, I tell it better here. http://www.dogwalkblog.com/2005/10/05/donuts-an...

Re: That Neighborhood Feel

Rufus — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 09:58:51 -0000

Yes, we do want that neighborhood feeling back, but we also want our Wal-Mart prices, McDonalds speedy drive-through and CNN Headline News. Ultimately, we pay with our wallets and our wallets scream that we would much rather pay for things that are cheap, fast and shallow. Follow the money, Chris; it always tells the real story.

Re: That Neighborhood Feel

Rufus — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:36:28 -0000

@Mike do you need a dog on your payroll? I'll work for food :-)

Re: That Neighborhood Feel

Rufus — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:25:57 -0000

@billycripe Actually, neighborhoods are not virtual. What "virtual neighborhoods" do is create value for human touch and IRL conversation because it is becoming more rare. I crave a a reality experience and a couple hours of kcik back time with my fellow dogs over a beer is far more satisfying than any Twitter conversation could ever be.

Technology changes, people do not. Just because technology enables me to reach out, doesn't mean the guy I'm reaching to will let me touch him. More often than not, he will have a stiffer arm out because technology enables him to do that. Quit drinking the Kool-Aid until you sober up :-)

Re: My Birthday Wish to You

Rufus — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:05:51 -0000

Hey Chris, I'm also 39 this year! ... again :-) Happy Birthday... and my editor @gerardmclean says hey too...

Re: In Praise of Praise

Rufus — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:31:37 -0000

Gosh, I just love Chris Brogan :-)

Re: In Praise of Praise

Rufus — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:34:26 -0000

and black licorice ... especially when they put it in Vodka Ga Jol http://www.calle.dk/pi/Ga_Jol_Grøn_Lakritz_Shot...

Re: Top dog turned Twitterer

Rufus — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 07:19:58 -0000

Hey Camden, welcome to Twitter. I can't follow more people and I don't know why and Twitter won't tell me, but just wanted to drop you a note anyway.

On the Internet, if everyone knows you are a dog, they will follow you anywhere ;-) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Internet,_n...)

Re: Facebook screws iFart author

Rufus — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:14:54 -0000

It is probably just a volume thing. Facebook is free and you really are getting what you pay for. I pay for my own servers to run my mission-critical web sites. That stuff to do well is NOT cheap. By having over 5,000 friends and an unlimited bucket to put stuff into costs Facebook storage and bandwidth.

They just need to charge heavy users a fee. I would pay it and I think that most people who reply on Facebook to earn a living would. But, the pages would need to be ad-free and they would need to pick up a phone to provide support.

I just don't think that model fits into their way of doing business. But, it should.

Bottom line: If a social network presence is mission-critical for your business, never, ever, ever host it on any free platform, including Facebook.

Re: Facebook screws iFart author

Rufus — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:54:40 -0000

Just interesting reading these comments to see who is playing in someone else's playground for free and those who own their own playground. The people who don't own their own playground have no idea how much things cost and really, truly do not care, but always want to be able to hop on the see-saw without waiting in line.

Y'all need to watch this video ad get your heads on straight. CK Lewis http://barefootmeg.multiply.com/video/item/56
"We live in an amazing, amazing world, and it's wasted on the crappiest generation of spoiled idiots."

Re: No advertising or sponsors!

Rufus — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:50:27 -0000

Noble of you, but some of us puppies don't mind selling out a bit. If you get any bites of the canine variety, send them along... we'll probably say anyway, but sure is nice to be asked! :-)

Re: Vince Fumo - Twitter & Facebook

Rufus — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 08:36:50 -0000

This is the sort of thing that sets Twitter back years. Frustrating.

Re: Ducking an iPhone Annoyance

Rufus — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 19:02:47 -0000

@Mulder Thank you. Said what I was thinking, better than I would have.