Advertising
I'd rather make something
01/02/09 07:00 Filed in: Work
I'm so curious to know what routes
companies, particularly web and media companies, are taking during
this economic apocalypse. Are folks trying to come up with new
products to sell that will somehow find a niche in an environment
where no one seems to have disposable income to burn? Is the name
of the game advertising and income from search engine optimization?
If thats the case, how long will that work out before Google starts
realizing what folks are up to and works out a way to make their
search results again relevant and start pointing people to only the
worthwhile content? Maybe they're already doing that. I sort of
suspect that they are.
As a writer, I feel the ability to create worthwhile content is grossly undervalued these days. Yes, you can hire a series of writers to churn out oodles of garbage stories that will lead folks to your main site, assuming they find even a whisper of promise in their quest, but is it worth the time and investment? Probably, but wouldn't it be better in the long run to focus on the quality of your primary product? My personal sense is that this is the way to go. Yes, you can always cast a wide net by trying to funnel customers in through every route necessary, but if the quality of your primary product isn't maintained, how long will your company/website/business hang in there and remain relevant?
I know a large part of business success involves adapting to this month/quarter/year's "name of the game," but you've got to stay true to the spirit of you company/business. For me, that means making something. In the end, I'd rather have a shelf full of books, or a pile of t-shirts, or a page full of news stories. Course at the same time, I also want a nice, neat, orderly bank vault filled with stacked tens and twenties, so I know I have to find a balance. My thinking is just this: A book can be repackaged. A shirt can become vintage. Something tangible can go "retro." But a useless article on the internet is worth less than a piece of space junk once its lost its purpose or been outsmarted. For that reason, I guess I'd just like to keep on making things. Anyway, like I said, I'm so curious to know how other businesses are working on finding the balance that works for them.
As a writer, I feel the ability to create worthwhile content is grossly undervalued these days. Yes, you can hire a series of writers to churn out oodles of garbage stories that will lead folks to your main site, assuming they find even a whisper of promise in their quest, but is it worth the time and investment? Probably, but wouldn't it be better in the long run to focus on the quality of your primary product? My personal sense is that this is the way to go. Yes, you can always cast a wide net by trying to funnel customers in through every route necessary, but if the quality of your primary product isn't maintained, how long will your company/website/business hang in there and remain relevant?
I know a large part of business success involves adapting to this month/quarter/year's "name of the game," but you've got to stay true to the spirit of you company/business. For me, that means making something. In the end, I'd rather have a shelf full of books, or a pile of t-shirts, or a page full of news stories. Course at the same time, I also want a nice, neat, orderly bank vault filled with stacked tens and twenties, so I know I have to find a balance. My thinking is just this: A book can be repackaged. A shirt can become vintage. Something tangible can go "retro." But a useless article on the internet is worth less than a piece of space junk once its lost its purpose or been outsmarted. For that reason, I guess I'd just like to keep on making things. Anyway, like I said, I'm so curious to know how other businesses are working on finding the balance that works for them.