Comments on: Another One Bites The Dust, Or The Downside To Guerrilla Marketing http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/ Occasional News, Insights, Rants, and Other Miscellaneous Stuff Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: TheTony http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/#comment-548 TheTony Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:09:39 +0000 http://www.robertswartwood.com/?p=559#comment-548 It's the way of the world these days. Facebook is still a fledgling in this way of annoyance while Myspace the master. Every bulletin, status update, and comment I get these days is someone peddling a new story or novel. It's why I keep my Facebook page to mostly friends I know (or have some kind of online relationship with). But, while we're talking about writing, you guys should head over and read my tale of loss and love; its a toilet monster story that's sure to be the shit, I assure you ;) It’s the way of the world these days.

Facebook is still a fledgling in this way of annoyance while Myspace the master. Every bulletin, status update, and comment I get these days is someone peddling a new story or novel.

It’s why I keep my Facebook page to mostly friends I know (or have some kind of online relationship with).

But, while we’re talking about writing, you guys should head over and read my tale of loss and love; its a toilet monster story that’s sure to be the shit, I assure you ;)

]]> By: Robert Swartwood http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/#comment-542 Robert Swartwood Mon, 14 Dec 2009 08:36:58 +0000 http://www.robertswartwood.com/?p=559#comment-542 I don't know. I've found that Twitter does a pretty good job dealing with the spammers. Yes, they will always be there annoying people, but Twitter allows people to report it and usually that account gets suspended if not deleted (you can even report them to @spam). Facebook however ... there doesn't seem any way to police it. I don’t know. I’ve found that Twitter does a pretty good job dealing with the spammers. Yes, they will always be there annoying people, but Twitter allows people to report it and usually that account gets suspended if not deleted (you can even report them to @spam). Facebook however … there doesn’t seem any way to police it.

]]> By: Harry Markov http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/#comment-541 Harry Markov Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:35:13 +0000 http://www.robertswartwood.com/?p=559#comment-541 I never really used FB that much, but all these invitations for hugs and causes and groups are seriously getting to me and the sheer amount of invites waiting on my page more than 300 or so keeps me from logging in... As far as Twitter goes, haven't you noticed that if you mention something to do with anything you need spammers hunt you down and reply with links... I had this complaint about the speed of my machine and wham I get spammed with a link for speed optimization. I never really used FB that much, but all these invitations for hugs and causes and groups are seriously getting to me and the sheer amount of invites waiting on my page more than 300 or so keeps me from logging in…

As far as Twitter goes, haven’t you noticed that if you mention something to do with anything you need spammers hunt you down and reply with links… I had this complaint about the speed of my machine and wham I get spammed with a link for speed optimization.

]]> By: Ben White http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/#comment-539 Ben White Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:11:48 +0000 http://www.robertswartwood.com/?p=559#comment-539 I was in college when Facebook first came out (back when it was only a few colleges at that), and we used it for people we actually knew. Not necessarily friends, but acquaintances, that guy from class, etc. The idea of using it the same way most people use Twitter, 1000s of mostly-strangers, still makes me uncomfortable. I was in college when Facebook first came out (back when it was only a few colleges at that), and we used it for people we actually knew. Not necessarily friends, but acquaintances, that guy from class, etc.

The idea of using it the same way most people use Twitter, 1000s of mostly-strangers, still makes me uncomfortable.

]]> By: Cate Gardner http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/#comment-537 Cate Gardner Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:50:38 +0000 http://www.robertswartwood.com/?p=559#comment-537 I've been lucky, I've only had a couple of requests to join 'fan pages', then again I'm very rarely on Facebook. Twitter, however. I definitely follow far more people than perhaps I should. I don't mind people linking to their stories or blog entries once (I do the same), but I do tend to unfollow anyone who puts up numerous links to the same story or blog post within the space of an hour or two. I don't understand the whole 'be my fan' thing. I’ve been lucky, I’ve only had a couple of requests to join ‘fan pages’, then again I’m very rarely on Facebook. Twitter, however. I definitely follow far more people than perhaps I should. I don’t mind people linking to their stories or blog entries once (I do the same), but I do tend to unfollow anyone who puts up numerous links to the same story or blog post within the space of an hour or two.

I don’t understand the whole ‘be my fan’ thing.

]]> By: Robert Swartwood http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/#comment-536 Robert Swartwood Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:47:40 +0000 http://www.robertswartwood.com/?p=559#comment-536 Sara - you're right, of course; it is nice to interact with other writers on FB, and that's why I won't quit it any time soon ... just be more careful on who I accept friend requests from. JF - you seem to have the right idea via the fan page; it's a place for YOUR fans, not a place to try to MAKE fans. Gord - your agent yelled at you for deleting your account? That's funny. Yeah, it can be helpful at times, but I've found Twitter makes a whole lot more sense in terms of promoting work. Sara – you’re right, of course; it is nice to interact with other writers on FB, and that’s why I won’t quit it any time soon … just be more careful on who I accept friend requests from.

JF – you seem to have the right idea via the fan page; it’s a place for YOUR fans, not a place to try to MAKE fans.

Gord – your agent yelled at you for deleting your account? That’s funny. Yeah, it can be helpful at times, but I’ve found Twitter makes a whole lot more sense in terms of promoting work.

]]> By: Gord Rollo http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/#comment-535 Gord Rollo Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:54:09 +0000 http://www.robertswartwood.com/?p=559#comment-535 Excellent post, Rob. I whole heartedly agree. In fact, I recently cancelled my facebook account because the emails and fan/friend requests were driving me insane. I wouldn't get anything done if I sat reading all that stuff everyday. I don't know how people do it? I don't even know WHY they do it? My agent slapped me on the wrist for doing it, saying I should have a facebook account and although I know she is totally correct I just haven't felt any desire to go back on there. I probably will restart a new account, and maybe try figure out something like J. F. Gonzalez just described. I understand the importance of networking online, but in honesty - as you know - it can be a pain in the ass. Cheers, Gord Excellent post, Rob. I whole heartedly agree. In fact, I recently cancelled my facebook account because the emails and fan/friend requests were driving me insane. I wouldn’t get anything done if I sat reading all that stuff everyday. I don’t know how people do it? I don’t even know WHY they do it? My agent slapped me on the wrist for doing it, saying I should have a facebook account and although I know she is totally correct I just haven’t felt any desire to go back on there. I probably will restart a new account, and maybe try figure out something like J. F. Gonzalez just described. I understand the importance of networking online, but in honesty – as you know – it can be a pain in the ass.

Cheers,

Gord

]]> By: J. F. Gonzalez http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/#comment-534 J. F. Gonzalez Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:50:08 +0000 http://www.robertswartwood.com/?p=559#comment-534 Nice essay, Robert. I unfriended the individual in question for the same reason, under the same circumstances (I was friended by this person too). I don't use Facebook as a marketing tool, but rather, to keep in touch with old friends and family members. Like you, many of my friends happen to be writers too, and I get a lot of friend requests from writers I've never met or heard of, and fans of my work. I do have a fan page now, but that's only at the insistence of my wife who convinced me I shouldn't ignore all the FB requests from strangers and that I should at least create a space for them on FB. I relented, and when I receive a friend request from a stranger now, I accept it, but I also send them one, count 'em one, invitation to join my fan page. The person in question is also placed in a secured list in my private page (they can't see much of anything, including my friends list, photos, wall posts, personal info, etc...which makes sense...why anyone would think its okay for a total strangers to look at pictures of you and your family or other personal information is beyond me). I have also started unfriending strangers who have have ungodly amounts of friends (1000 +) for the reasons you so eloquently described above. And since I know you and we aren't hooked up yet on Facebook, look out for a friend request from me sometime. Unlike those total strangers, I won't ask you to join my fan page! JFG Nice essay, Robert. I unfriended the individual in question for the same reason, under the same circumstances (I was friended by this person too). I don’t use Facebook as a marketing tool, but rather, to keep in touch with old friends and family members. Like you, many of my friends happen to be writers too, and I get a lot of friend requests from writers I’ve never met or heard of, and fans of my work.

I do have a fan page now, but that’s only at the insistence of my wife who convinced me I shouldn’t ignore all the FB requests from strangers and that I should at least create a space for them on FB. I relented, and when I receive a friend request from a stranger now, I accept it, but I also send them one, count ‘em one, invitation to join my fan page. The person in question is also placed in a secured list in my private page (they can’t see much of anything, including my friends list, photos, wall posts, personal info, etc…which makes sense…why anyone would think its okay for a total strangers to look at pictures of you and your family or other personal information is beyond me). I have also started unfriending strangers who have have ungodly amounts of friends (1000 +) for the reasons you so eloquently described above.

And since I know you and we aren’t hooked up yet on Facebook, look out for a friend request from me sometime. Unlike those total strangers, I won’t ask you to join my fan page!

JFG

]]> By: sara crowley http://www.robertswartwood.com/rants/another-one-bites-the-dust-or-the-downside-to-guerilla-marketing/#comment-533 sara crowley Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:01:53 +0000 http://www.robertswartwood.com/?p=559#comment-533 Oh I hear ya! I think it's very cool that you responded to this person actually, it might make them more aware in the future. I use my FB regularly to stay in touch with a mixture of online writers, real life friends, work colleagues, family, and so on. I feel a bit creeped out by the silent people who never comment but potentially can read all about my life, but worse is the writer/collector. The one who has a gazillion friends and is constantly searching for more names to add and who see it as nothing more than an advertising tool and ram their book/writing down my throat, invite me to fangirl them, worship at the alter of their words, and yet never once seem to comment on anybody else's writing. Facebook is cool for linking to work and promoting ourselves as writers, but sheez, there is a line that some cross. I find writing rather lonely at times and love that I can log in and interact with some incredibly talented and lovely people. That's why FB won't be "over" for me, but a friends cull may well be on the way. Oh I hear ya! I think it’s very cool that you responded to this person actually, it might make them more aware in the future. I use my FB regularly to stay in touch with a mixture of online writers, real life friends, work colleagues, family, and so on. I feel a bit creeped out by the silent people who never comment but potentially can read all about my life, but worse is the writer/collector. The one who has a gazillion friends and is constantly searching for more names to add and who see it as nothing more than an advertising tool and ram their book/writing down my throat, invite me to fangirl them, worship at the alter of their words, and yet never once seem to comment on anybody else’s writing.
Facebook is cool for linking to work and promoting ourselves as writers, but sheez, there is a line that some cross. I find writing rather lonely at times and love that I can log in and interact with some incredibly talented and lovely people. That’s why FB won’t be “over” for me, but a friends cull may well be on the way.

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