NONE: Re: ONLINE-ADS>> Bullied By A Big Company
Re: ONLINE-ADS>> Bullied By A Big Company
Ramon Ray (rayramon_at_nyfccs.com)
Thu, 20 Aug 1998 10:48:24 -0500 (CDT)
Peter Tanner <dtanner_at_mail.bcpl.lib.md.us> wrote:
> I have a website with its content focused on a software program
>produced by a big name corporation. My site recently started displaying
>ads for a competing product. The big corporation then email me,
>requesting I stop displaying the ads, or they will cut off relations
>with me. The big corporation's staff occasionally visits my site,
>contributes to the forum, and gives me an exclusive screenshot for a yet
>to be released product. What am I to do? Also, is there anything illegal
>about what the big corporation is doing?
In response to the Bullied By a Big Company Post (below). I think you
really have to define your relationship with the big company and where YOU
WANT YOUR WEB SITE TO GO. Nothing is illegal with them (big company) saying
if you don't do this we won't support you - they have competitive,
capitalistic reasons. Personally if you are creating a site focussed on a
certain product, why advertise a competing product. NT Magazine is a good
example. It's blatantly MS supported, which is fine with me and I would
expect ads to be in their supporting NT and not supporting Novel or Unix, etc.
If you do want to keep developing this relationship with Big Company I
would suggest that you keep the site for their products, accept advertising
that would aid their product, MAKE SURE YOUR VIEWERS KNOW THIS IS NOT A
FREE FOR ALL SITE, BUT A SITE DEVOTED TO PRODUCT X, you can then solicit
advertising centered around the product(s). In addition DEMAND MORE SUPPORT
even $$$$$ from Big Company in return for keeping this relationship.
On the other hand, if you want to do things your own way, and do as you
please, and bash, advertise, promote who you want then you may allienate
some people - big companies, but they'll just have to work harder to
develop better products or have their PR people (like MS does well) spin
things (even bad things) their way.
MY own site at www.tiac.net/users/rayramon is a site devoted to Small
Business Tecnology. I'm not yet accepting ads, but if and when I do, I'll
be putting what I want and when, as the site is vendor/company/product
neutral. (I do only support the Windows OS platform as that is the best for
small biz). I have made a conscientious decision to do this. I may create
another site focussed on a few great vendors, and IF WE AGREED TO THIS - I
wouldn't have ads from their competitors.
I hope this helps some.
Ramon Ray, small businsess technology writer and consultant
Editor, Small Business Technology Reports
Visit: www.tiac.net/users/rayramon ...
Complete small business technology resources
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