Self Promotion

Let's just get this out of the way. Hire me. Now , there have I broken the rules of this social network? I'm not really sure exactly what this whole thing about pandering oneself is about. I mean, isn't that what advertising is?

There have been several posts here where the poster was called out on the carpet for promoting. One of them was a woman who said there's this cool company that blah, blah, blahs and here's the site to learn more- and then it turned out she worked for them. Would it have been okay for her to come in and say I work for this cool company that blah blah blahs and here's the site?

Was it the omission of the fact she worked for the cool company that made it unokay?

I'm the sort of guy who has an avatar that leads a far more exciting life than I do. I'm still trying to find out exactly what an internet "Friend" is. At one point in my life, a friend was someone who had a truck and would help you move. But I digress.

So then what is okay and not okay to do here with regards to trying to push one's own agenda? If this is a social network, then why don't we play cards or pool here or talk about books and swap recipes? That's all social stuff isn't it.

Most of us here at AdGabbers is in one way or another in advertising and so it's natural that our forums, blogs and general essence would follow suit. I'm just wondering if it's okay for me to replace my pic with the one I have of me holding a sign that says "Will do Creative for Food".

Any other thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Dan Collins on November 16, 2007 at 8:56am

I'd like to think that we could all network here in one form or another for both social & business needs -- but as Sunny mentioned -- beating each other over your heads to get out a blatant marketing message without considering the audience... is a tad crass & a bit more than over the top.

Most of us have different backgrounds and experiences -- and we could hopefully share some of that with each other [hell I have worked for a lot of terrible agencies over the years -- but somehow always find myself going back to them in one form or another -- call it a terrible character flaw on my part! I'll promise to try not to get as cranky as George Parker -- but I probably drink almost as much -- driven to drink... (insert a W.C. Fields derivative quote here.)]

Just my fifth of a dime as a new member here...

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Permalink Reply by Sunny Cervantes on November 16, 2007 at 10:48am

Quote: "beating each other over your heads to get out a blatant marketing message without considering the audience.."

And it's funny because...shouldn't we all know better? As professionals in marketing and advertising, shouldn't we more than anybody else that we consider the audience before sending out the message?

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Permalink Reply by Marc Lefton on November 20, 2007 at 8:02pm

As someone who runs a similar type of network that also prohibits self-promotion, you have to understand that too many of these types of posts poison the well. Look, EVERYONE is on here because they have something to promote. Everyone is looking for a job. You may love your job and not be looking, but deep down, you're always keeping an eye out right? I mean, if you don't work at Crispin and someone on here from Crispin said "Hey, nice work! Do you like Miami?" you'd certainly pause?

So if everyone self promotes, all you get is noise. And then no one wants to be on the network and everyone loses. Fortunately, a small percentage of people are brazen or clueless enough to be so transparent.

Networks like this need to be about the soft sell. Put up some content as a blog or a comment or a forum post that offers something to everyone, not just yourself. Share your experience, advice, insights, opinions. There's endless stuff to talk about. Then, people realize "Hey, that person is really cool. Let me check out their profile." And then a relationship starts. A dialog. Turn that into a job, or a sale.

The problem with self promoting is that you're expecting something for nothing. Invest time in a community and the community gives back.

You wouldn't walk up to someone in a bar and say "hey, let's get married." Why would it be appropriate to say "Hey, I need a job" as your first interaction in a group?

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Permalink Reply by Marc Lefton on November 20, 2007 at 8:03pm

"Blatant self-promotion is like porn. Hard to define but you know it when you see it."

Of course, it's a lot more fun to sit and decide what porn is or isn't. Why do you think the Supreme Court is in recess so much?

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Permalink Reply by Thom Dinsdale on August 1, 2008 at 2:57pm

It's tricky, because the point of a place like this is to foster discussion and new ideas and (for want of a less-cliched phrase) for us to grow. Spamming the forums to obilivion every five minutes really would detract from that and make the place a lot less appealing location to visit.

The problem, as will all things, is striking a balance and making sure "self-promotion police" dont start crawling around shooting everyone down because they mentioned their previous work or that they're looking for a change of career etc.

I think a bit of the stigma is good however, it'll help make people think twice before they hit add reply and make them ask "Is this helping anything, or am I just shilling myself?"