Blog for Success: Just Suck Up

Lately it seems that everybody is an expert when it comes to getting on the blog A-list.

Robert Scoble for example tells us that we should all go over to Technorati and do the brrreeeport search and make friends. That's great advice Robert, but I guess being a Microsoft employee/blogger had nothing to do with your new found "success" did it. (Rhetorial question).

Former Apple evangelist and author Guy Kawasaki tells us that successful blogging isn't just about having a great product. It's also about sucking up. Although I haven't tried it myself, one of my personal favorites is tip #4 - giving schwag.

"In case you hadn't noticed, most bloggers don't make a lot of money from their blogging efforts. Thus, samples of your product, t-shirts, tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals, etc can go a long way. I'm not saying you can buy bloggers, but you can make them happy pretty easily. Dollar for dollar, schwag for bloggers is one of the best marketing investments."

Many people have made good livings sucking up to get ahead (just look at the politicians), and we all know who we're supposed to suck up to, right? You guessed it -- the Scobles and Kawasakis et al (don't forget to buy their book while you're there.)

I can't help but wonder if Guy hadn't ever worked for Apple or wrote a book would we be reading his blog today? Let's be honest, the real reason why they are writing about making your blog successful is because they know that is what we want to read and they are padding their posts with search-engine friendly keywords.

Under the ruse of turning you from rags to riches, what they are really doing is driving traffic to their own blogs. Dangling the bait like all the other hucksters do. But what the hey -- it works, or at least it does for some.

Although that is not necessarily a bad thing, what the public seems not to be aware of is their efforts are completely self-serving. If they had not achieved a certain amount of notoriety before becoming bloggers we would probably not even take notice, otherwise they would not be promoting their resumes and writing under a pseudonym.

Here is another method that I've noticed many bloggers using to get traffic. Although it doesn't fall necessarily into the sucking-up category (or does it). Taking a cue from shock-jocks on the radio, running-off at the mouth with four-letter word expletives seems to work for some. Because being crude is cool as far as the younger generation is concerned.

At great personal risk to my well being I realize that I'm going against the flow by writing this post. I have yet to try baring my ass or selling my soul to the rest of the world, and I guess it just depends on how proud you are or how willing you are to sacrifice your integrity.

Personally I think that the product should stand on its own merit and let the rest of the shills sing their song. But I happen live by the golden rule that the more hype I hear is a clear indication that I should be running in the opposite direction as fast as I can. That rule has also served me well when it comes to investing.

In other words, perhaps what I am really trying to say is regardless if you sink or swim -- dare to be different from the rest of the crowd. If you are any good it should be reflected in your traffic numbers sooner or later.

But I digress. If you will send me front-row tickets to the Olympic hockey finals I will consider giving you a link. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to list my keywords -- success, money, rich, financially free, blogging evangelist, sex, expert...

This politically incorrect post has been provided courtesy of the daily FISK.

UPDATE!

...related posts: daily fisk blogging weblog blogging computing internet computers and internet technology marketing guy kawasaki brrreeeport scoble fun funny humor humour

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