Things In My House No One Pays Me to Love

ceb — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:52:48 +0000

I’ve written a lot about content marketing, about blogger relations, about the various projects I’ve done to learn how bloggers can make money and how companies can engage online media organizations. I wanted to just take a moment and talk about things I love that have nothing to do with that. Just because.

Books

I love books. I read about 2 a week right now (slowed down due to all the work). I’m fortunate that people send me books, but I also buy books, get them from my library, borrow from friends. I’m a book kind of person and have been since I was born.

Movies

Yes, I have a thing for superhero movies, but I watch all kinds. My all time favorites are Fight Club and The Usual Suspects. Jaws is probably the scariest movie, though the rubber shark isn’t holding up so well in recent viewings.

Bags

I admit it. I love computer bags. This is my VertiGo from Waterfield. I got it because Jared Goralnick sold me on it easily. He loved his, and told me all about how custom things could be. I think it’s the coolest bag I’ve ever owned. But that wouldn’t stop me from looking at other bags. : )

Peanut Butter

That’s Teddie peanut butter. Ingredients: peanuts, salt. That’s it. Check your label. What does your have in it? Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. I don’t eat a lot of this right now because I’m into a fitness program and I use my fat intake wisely, but yum. Truly.

Things Without Pictures

Canadian Club. – What’s weird is that the ads got me back into it. My grandparents used to both drink it, mostly around the holidays, and when I got a glass after seeing those “Damned Right Your Father Drank It” ads, I ordered a glass of it with ginger ale. Love it.
My Alvares Acoustic Guitar – I bought it in 1999 and it’s still in great shape. I play it every rare now and again. If you went to PodCamp Boston 3, I played it there a bit.
Comic books. – I’m not going to name them or whatever, but I am happy to be able to pick up the occasional graphic novel and read something that has nothing to do with marketing, social media, or anything meaningful.
My Macbook and iPhone. – Nick Saber got me into using an iPhone. I didn’t want to do it. I was a BlackBerry guy, but I can’t deny the location-based app goodness. I’ve been a Mac guy since 1984. I saw Guy Kawasaki speak to the Boston Computer Society at MIT in 1983, and was passionate about Macs ever since then. (He hates when I tell that story).
Nintendo Wii. – I bought this off Geoff Livingston when he mentioned he was selling it on Twitter. Best purchase ever. My kids love the hell out of this game system, and it’s instant fun. The other big systems are beautiful , etc, but they’re nothing like the Wii for addiction value.
My Saturn Vue. – I’ve driven Saturns since 1993 (okay, it’s not in my house – it’s out in the yard. Sue me). I love the company more than I actually love the car. I loved the idea when they first launched, and I love the no-hassle purchasing experience. (Note to every car seller in America: if you sold no-hassle, I’d consider you).

So What?

In 2006, I wanted badly to launch a site where people could go on and talk about the brands they loved. I had the idea that it would be much more interesting to sell (via affiliate marketing, but I didn’t know that term back then) things we were passionate about, instead of sticking plain old ads up against one’s site.

While I was on the treadmill at the gym this morning, I watched a few celebrity endorsements of products. The sports stations seem to run informercials in the morning, so I listened to my iPod and watched people pitch juicers and exercise programs and fat burning pills, etc. We all know the deal. The person gets paid to be in the ad. They at least marginally vouch for the product. Some people see the celebrity and think, “Well, if SHE uses it, it’s good enough for me,” and they dial.

Don’t you wish that wasn’t the formula?

And yet, the moment money comes into it, in any form, that’s the question. Right? For example, if I looked really hard (or just went to Amazon), I’d probably be able to find a link where you could click and buy one of everything up in my list (if you buy a Saturn VUE, thank you!). But then, you’d think, “oh, he’s just trying to make money.”

What if I’m not? Or what if you’re not?

It’s just thinking.

Meanwhile, I’m quite happy just loving the things I listed above because I love them. And by love, I’m happy when they’re around. I could live without them. (Maybe not the Macbook.)

The Optional World

ceb — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:36:29 +0000

You don’t have to watch commercials on TV. You don’t need to participate in the sweepstakes. You can put your phone on the do not call registry. You’re not obligated to go out and buy my book. You don’t need to read my blog. You don’t have to follow me on Twitter.

Everything is optional. Everything is opt-in.

You (in this case, the consumer of things) has all the power. Use it wisely. Including, and here’s what’s on my mind today, the power to move on. If you don’t like something, move on. Forget about it. Talk about the thing you like. Why bother fixating on the things you don’t like?

One quick story and I’ll leave:

On my flight to Vegas, I sat next to a new friend from Maine, who worked at the Walmart distribution logistics center. He went on to talk about the millions each year that building paid his city in taxes, the 800 local jobs it supported, and how Walmart handled things during Hurricane Katrina. But what struck me was that I noticed that he watched my face intently the first time he said the word “Walmart” to see if I was a hater.

Every thing is an option.

Are you investing lots of energy into things you can move on from just as easily?

And you, marketer types, are you appreciating the relationship you have with the people who opt to receive your messaging, or are you beating them with it?

chrisbrogan.com» consumers