Brandweek Magazine ranks blogs among the worst marketing ideas of 2005:
Blogs provide almost no new information. They’re frequently inaccurate. They contribute to the hysterical polarization of our nation’s political discourse. And they’re often written by people who can’t, you know, write. So naturally marketers have flocked to associate their brands with them. Seriously, it’s not entirely clear why so many marketers have rushed to get themselves name-dropped in one of the most unreliable media environments yet invented, but we’re sure there’s a PowerPoint presentation on their ROI being prepared as we write this.
I especially like the part about “hysterical polarization of our nation’s political discourse.” Riiight.
Well, I’ve gotta say, I feel much, much better about Learfield’s position on the learning curve now.
I hate to say it, but Brandweek might have a point. One of your disciples recently posted something I found rather insightful:
The ability to choose to only expose yourself to certain perspectives makes the internet less like a globally interconnected web of ideas and more like a hyper-efficient echo chamber.
I think where the article you mentioned goes wrong is that it places blame on blogs themselves, when it’s really just the already polarized masses looking for a new form of self-affirmation that gives the impression of the polarizing effect. Christ, Limbaugh fans call themselves dittoheads, but I doubt Brandweek has a problem with advertising on the radio.
I’d like to give a shout out to Darrin in Learfield’s Accounting Department for use of his blog, as well as to all my dogs crunching numbers under the one and only Andy Rawlings. They know how to live it up with the washers, beer, and barbeque.