Re: MODERATOR NOTE: The Future of this List

From: Rob Frankel <rob_at_robfrankel.com>
Date: Tue 31 Aug 2004 07:44:02 -0500

At 9:39 AM -0500 8/30/04, John Gaskill wrote thusly:
>Cliff Kurtzman, The MODERATOR, wrote:
>
>>This list was started in March of 1996, and for a considerable
>>period of time functioned as a great brain trust in which
>>individuals in the fields of online marketing and online
>>advertising could pool their expertise to help both each other
>>as well as "non-experts" in a constructive fashion. [etc.]
><BIG SNIP> </BIG SNIP>

BIGGER SNIP

>Like myself, many who remain on this list
>probably do so out of habit. I don't have many
>questions for it and most recent areas of discussion
>have been little appeal to me.
>
>It is quite possible that Online-Ads is nearing the
>end of its run. The success of the Internet caused
>and the failure of much Internet advertising meant
>that people interested in the subject learned there
>was a paying market for their advice if they were
>competent enough to sell it and market it.
>
>Them's my thoughts Cliff. What do you think Rob
>Frankel? Adam Bottinger? Others?

Funny you should mention Adam....his list is not only dormant, but
actually calcified. There's no activity at all.

I'd say that while John is correct that the list hasn't grown
alongside its members' needs, it still can be a valuable resource.
But these things don't live a life of their own. They have to be led
by someone. This is why I post myself once every two weeks or so to
FrankelBiz, which is a different kind of list, but still a list.

Also, I agree with John that there are more alternatives out there
now. They're not better, but they are flashier, and people do fall
for the hype. With O-A, the list is all you get. This is another
finding I corroborated when I developed the i-legions model. You
need a leader (Branded Icon), daily touches and broader product
offerings.

Finally, it's summer here in the USA. August is the slowest month
anyway, so it's not a good time to make judgements. My lists are
slower during this time of the year, but that doesn't mean the lists
aren't valuable. Just means people are finally taking the vacations
they promised to the kids.

--
Rob Frankel, "Yes, I really do turn users into evangelists for your brand."
Branding Expert http://www.RobFrankel.com
Revenue-generating Branded Community (TM): http://www.i-legions.com
The best biz discussion list on the web: http://www.FrankelTips.com
Yes, there's a blog, if you can handle it: http://robfrankel.blogspot.com





Received on Tue Aug 31 2004 - 07:44:02 CDT