One of the reasons I enjoy going to conferences such as BlogWorld is the opportunity to give and receive feedback. I chatted with several members of the FWJ community at this year’s conference, and they gave me good food for thought. Feedback is good. Feedback is important. Even the stuff we don’t want to hear is an opportunity to improve. I may not always like what people say about FWJ but that doesn’t mean I don’t take it into consideration.
While at BlogWorld, I decided to offer some feedback to others as well. Most people were happy to listen to what I had to say, others, not so much. I’d like to share a couple of stories from the BlogWorld and New Media Expo. One, a missed opportunity, the other, very promising.
I’m Not CNN
My friend Keith Burtis and I were walking around the exhibition floor and Keith noticed a fellow Buffalo resident manning a booth. As he went over to say hello, I noticed the name on the booth. It was from one of FWJ’s former advertisers. I decided to use this opportunity to let him know why I removed the ads from my blog. I told him they were working well for me. In fact, they were good for a couple of hundred dollars a month. But they were ugly. The were big and ugly and orange. I wrote to customer service and explained that I have a high traffic blog. I asked if we could work together and create a clear widget or one matching my color scheme. The answer was a big, fat “no.” So I took the ads down. When I explained this to the rep at BlogWorld he said to me, “Well, if you were from CNN we’d probably listen, but you’re just a blogger.” To quote my friend Keith Burtis, “Dude, wrong answer.” CNN.com may have lots of page views, but collectively the blogosphere can reach more people. To dismiss bloggers and not work with us is a huge, missed opportunity.
The Start of Something Beautiful?
I was reluctant to enter the Hub Pages booth because I won’t post their ads here at FWJ. I thought maybe they’d toss me out if I approached. The guys manning the booth were pleasant and funny and had me at “hello.” As I chatted with Ryan “Hup” Hupfer, I told him why I don’t post ads for HubPages at my site, because they pay writers below my $10 minimum.
They didn’t kick me to the curb.
Instead we chatted. We both realized what we had was an opportunity to do something brilliant for both our communities. We don’t know what it is yet, but I do know this, we’re going to talk again. Hup wasn’t upset when I talked to him about rates, he understood where I was coming from. He listened to my feedback. Earlier today I talked about being part of the solution. By meeting with the people who run content sites and offering my feedback, I’m also doing my part to change the situation. I’m not saying Hub Pages is all of a sudden going to turn around and change their policies after a five minute confab, but they listened and discussed. This puts them on my radar as being maybe not so evil after all. I’m still not going to post their job ads, but maybe with more feedback from me and others, I’ll be able to do that one day.
Squeaky Wheels
Before I began blogging I was the girl who sat in the corner and let people walk all over her. Once I began blogging I realized I’d have to get others to take notice if I wanted to make a difference. I came out of my shell. I broke out of my element and began reaching out to people. If anyone ever wonders why I attend conferences, this is why. It’s because of the opportunities, for me and for others.
Feedback is good. Feedback is important. Feedback is an opportunity, don’t screw it up.
Their rep told someone at BlogWorld that they are “just a blogger?” Wow. That borders on obnoxious. If that’s their attitude, why the hell do they have an exhibit?
I think he was hoping to land more CNNs. It was clear he wasn’t there for bloggers. Or else he was there for bloggers who wanted to use his big, orange widget?
Ha, I’m so dense!
“just a blogger” first read as a condescending type answer, but now I actually caught the crazy irony – to say it AT Blogworld?? Thanks John, for pointing that out. Amazing.
Deb,
I, for one, really appreciate how you go to bat for all of us freelancers. You’re our goodwill ambassador and I think you’re doing us proud. I agree with your points re. working to create a better environment for freelancers, which, of course, includes better pay. But some of the work I’ve taken over the years that hasn’t paid well in dollars and cents has paid off in spades in terms of contacts and tangential projects. We all need to chart our own course.
Thanks, Leslie. I honestly believe if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. I can sit up her and pontificate, but if I have the opportunity to make a difference, that’s even better. I’m not saying everyone will change things simply because I spoke with them, but at least I can give this community a voice.
“Just a blogger, huh?” Color me unimpressed.
@ Leslie: Amen to that! It’s not always about making money right now.
Timely post. I was just thinking today whether I should put ads on since I’m finally getting a decent stream of visitors. Then I wondered just how obnoxious the ads might be on my (currently) clean and easy to read site. I’m at too pivotal a point in gaining readers to muck around with the balance right now.
I think it’s no secret I have lots of ads here. I need them to pay my bills and my bloggers, but the revenue didn’t start flowing until the traffic began coming in. My recommendation is to build the traffic and then the revenue.
I like everything about this post and love that I met you at the conference and the freaky Ohio coincidences we shared. We really can never underestimate the power of the face-to-face, human interaction and what that brings us can we? As you point out, you see both positive and negative when you meet someone IRL. @Hup is one of my favorite guys to run into at #BWE and you can’t help but feel he’s got a good heart in there somewhere. I look forward to following your story with him.
Regarding, you not being CNN, I always feel that if there’s a slight negative comment like that one scratching the surface, you never know what you’d find if you dug a little deeper…good riddance.
Looking forward to getting to know you better and learning more about Flex Work opportunities for my Six Figure Moms Club participants from you. I know you could teach us a bunch!
Angie, it was so great meeting you – one of the highlights. I’d love to talk with you about successful freelancing. Let’s make a plan to talk soon!
Thanks for the post and for speaking up for us bloggers. It is when we work together as a community that we get the most done. Communication is the first step to that community and feedback must be a part of the communication!
Absolutely, Kathryn. Without feedback, businesses won’t grow.
Good post, Deb. Thanks for all your efforts for all of us (diverse and largely dysfunctional) writers. Have a good one!
Hey friend, you have a great one too – and everyone, buy Sandy’s book!
I very much agree with you Deb, feedbacks really matter. In fact, I appreciate constructive feedbacks more rather than praises. It gives me an idea about the gray area of my work. Perhaps, when people provide you with such feedbacks, they express concern over a weak spot that you should work on. It is rewarding that people compliment you for a job well done, yet, it should definitely not make you lenient in seeking for ideas towards improvement.
“Just a blogger”?
Wow. Just….wow.
Pretty cool stories. Wow, still can’t believe the CNN remark.
Hey Deb! Thanks for mentioning our chat in this post and I’m so glad that you decided to schedule a stop at the HubPages booth at BWE for some chit-chat. Like you said, I totally understand why you’re not letting us post ads up on FWJ and I can definitely respect why. We’re not your ‘normal’ way of generating earnings on the web and we don’t pretend to be a place where everyone can be successful. But, for most freelancers and self-publishers who are willing to learn and be educated on the search-based online ecosystem that is out there, waiting to be capitalized on, I think that HubPages is a fantastic opportunity.
I won’t bore you with all of the details here, as it’s not the place or the time, but I’d be more than happy to share some of our story with the FWJ community if you’d like. It’s been great to chat the past few days and I can’t wait to continue the conversation.
Oh, and Angie — you’re definitely one of my favs, too — especially when we’re on the dance floor in Vegas (http://is.gd/4y8yB)
Wow, the rep and his company are getting it totally wrong. With such a mentality, I don’t foresee a bright future for that company. It’ll have to learn it the tough way.
On the other hand, I’m glad that the guys at HubPages are willing to listen to feedback. It’s a good sign for sure. I truly hope this initial conversation will lead to great things in the future.