Comments on: The Monetization of Chris Brogan http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/ Marketing. Social Media. Humanity. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MARK W. SCHAEFER http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-559 MARK W. SCHAEFER Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:08:14 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-559 The past few comments have turned into a fan page for Chris. That's fine. It's an open forum, but it really has gotten off topic of the social web's maturation in the areas of monetization, leadership and professionalism. <br /><br />Perhaps by using a popular figure like Chris as an example (and if you really read the post, a POSITIVE example!) this was unavoidable. I think the angle worked because he is plowing new ground and taking the most flak for it. It's interesting to me to see what that flak says about us, the social media channel, and where we are heading. <br /><br />Still, I'm proud of the conversation this has generated. I've learned a lot and have had many, many positive comments about this dialogue. As one person wrote, this article, and your comments, turned the conversation away from self-congratulations and "social media is awesome" to a spotlight on "what's next?"<br /><br />Thank you so very much to all who have taken the time to comment. The past few comments have turned into a fan page for Chris. That's fine. It's an open forum, but it really has gotten off topic of the social web's maturation in the areas of monetization, leadership and professionalism.

Perhaps by using a popular figure like Chris as an example (and if you really read the post, a POSITIVE example!) this was unavoidable. I think the angle worked because he is plowing new ground and taking the most flak for it. It's interesting to me to see what that flak says about us, the social media channel, and where we are heading.

Still, I'm proud of the conversation this has generated. I've learned a lot and have had many, many positive comments about this dialogue. As one person wrote, this article, and your comments, turned the conversation away from self-congratulations and "social media is awesome" to a spotlight on "what's next?"

Thank you so very much to all who have taken the time to comment.

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]]> By: George F. Snell III http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-558 George F. Snell III Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:32:08 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-558 Hi Mark:<br />There seems to a lot of angst about this. But at the end of the day Chris Brogan makes money for being a writer - a writer who happens to blog.<br /><br />Writers are allowed to make money. Chris isn't violating any ethics. As far as I can see he is honest and transparent - and quick to admit to a mistake.<br /><br />As far as Chris' success. Good for him! Hi Mark:
There seems to a lot of angst about this. But at the end of the day Chris Brogan makes money for being a writer – a writer who happens to blog.

Writers are allowed to make money. Chris isn't violating any ethics. As far as I can see he is honest and transparent – and quick to admit to a mistake.

As far as Chris' success. Good for him!

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]]> By: John http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-557 John Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:55:03 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-557 This country has chosen capitalism. It may not be perfect, but it is what it is. Mr. Brogan has to participate in that to feed his family so that he is not draining money from the federal government. So, if someone has a problem with him, I wonder if there isn't a solution to their problem that lies closer to themselves? We don't need guidelines as much as we participate in improving our own judgement about who we listen to. Let the market decide about his book and value. I'm reading it and yes I paid for it and it has some good points in it. Some of it I will remember and some of it I will forget. But it takes some courage to put a book out there and I always give a writer credit for that. This country has chosen capitalism. It may not be perfect, but it is what it is. Mr. Brogan has to participate in that to feed his family so that he is not draining money from the federal government. So, if someone has a problem with him, I wonder if there isn't a solution to their problem that lies closer to themselves? We don't need guidelines as much as we participate in improving our own judgement about who we listen to. Let the market decide about his book and value. I'm reading it and yes I paid for it and it has some good points in it. Some of it I will remember and some of it I will forget. But it takes some courage to put a book out there and I always give a writer credit for that.

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]]> By: Bridget Cavanaugh (bcavanaugh on Twitter) http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-556 Bridget Cavanaugh (bcavanaugh on Twitter) Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:26:01 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-556 If I could be a fraction of the blogger, consultant, folk-hero, celebrity and all-around smart guy that Chris Brogan is, I'd be so damn happy. I've been following, learning and emulating since the first friendly DM. Godspeed and I hope you make millions! If I could be a fraction of the blogger, consultant, folk-hero, celebrity and all-around smart guy that Chris Brogan is, I'd be so damn happy. I've been following, learning and emulating since the first friendly DM. Godspeed and I hope you make millions!

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]]> By: Ellen Rossano http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-555 Ellen Rossano Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:56:37 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-555 I stopped short when I came across this post in my Twitter in box today, and I'm amazed at the sheer volume of time and energy people are willing to expend criticizing someone who is successful. Full disclosure: I follow Chris on Twitter and have met him in person in Boston. In my 30 years in business and government, I can truly say he is one of the most genuine and nice business people I've met along the way. I hesitate to use the words authentic and transparent, because somehow these words have been co-opted by the social media community, and it seems like using them here makes them less...authentic. I don't think anyone can dispute the fact that Chris is pretty direct about his paid gigs or that he has written a book. He'd be a poor business person if he didn't promote his business. Chris has been blogging since it was called "journaling" - 10 years in social media is a very long time. It has always been my understanding that Chris runs a business, and like any smart business person, he uses all of the tools available to him to make a profit in his business. It would be blast if people could all just hang out all day on "The Twitter" and do all of this commenting as a hobby; that someone actually makes a living doing it is a good thing. His methods might not work for everyone, but there is plenty of room in this space for all sorts of ideas and philosophies, and hopefully, productive discussion.<br />Instead of expending energy speculating, criticizing and judging someone else's motivation and success, I wonder if the efforts of Chris's critics would be put to better use being more "business-like" and professional in advancing their own businesses. I'm appalled at some of the negative comments, especially the ones that seem like personal attacks.<br />There's an old fishermen's theory that goes like this: if you have 12 crabs in a basket, and one tries to climb out, the other 11 will kill themselves trying to pull him back in, rather than using their energy to get out too. Seems to me like this basket full of crabs is spending a lot of energy trying to pull one of the good guys down, rather than expending it on something useful, positive and productive. I stopped short when I came across this post in my Twitter in box today, and I'm amazed at the sheer volume of time and energy people are willing to expend criticizing someone who is successful. Full disclosure: I follow Chris on Twitter and have met him in person in Boston. In my 30 years in business and government, I can truly say he is one of the most genuine and nice business people I've met along the way. I hesitate to use the words authentic and transparent, because somehow these words have been co-opted by the social media community, and it seems like using them here makes them less…authentic. I don't think anyone can dispute the fact that Chris is pretty direct about his paid gigs or that he has written a book. He'd be a poor business person if he didn't promote his business. Chris has been blogging since it was called "journaling" – 10 years in social media is a very long time. It has always been my understanding that Chris runs a business, and like any smart business person, he uses all of the tools available to him to make a profit in his business. It would be blast if people could all just hang out all day on "The Twitter" and do all of this commenting as a hobby; that someone actually makes a living doing it is a good thing. His methods might not work for everyone, but there is plenty of room in this space for all sorts of ideas and philosophies, and hopefully, productive discussion.
Instead of expending energy speculating, criticizing and judging someone else's motivation and success, I wonder if the efforts of Chris's critics would be put to better use being more "business-like" and professional in advancing their own businesses. I'm appalled at some of the negative comments, especially the ones that seem like personal attacks.
There's an old fishermen's theory that goes like this: if you have 12 crabs in a basket, and one tries to climb out, the other 11 will kill themselves trying to pull him back in, rather than using their energy to get out too. Seems to me like this basket full of crabs is spending a lot of energy trying to pull one of the good guys down, rather than expending it on something useful, positive and productive.

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]]> By: steve dodd http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-554 steve dodd Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:45:17 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-554 @rinkjustice <br />Jason, I totally agree, it's not all about money. Many are just social users. I was referring to the commercial aspect of Social Media only. That being said, even the content posted by those social users in public forums is regulary interrogated by various monitoring and analytic services trying to identify commercial insights for monetary gain. @rinkjustice
Jason, I totally agree, it's not all about money. Many are just social users. I was referring to the commercial aspect of Social Media only. That being said, even the content posted by those social users in public forums is regulary interrogated by various monitoring and analytic services trying to identify commercial insights for monetary gain.

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]]> By: Anonymous http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-553 Anonymous Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:51:37 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-553 The "muse" gave birth to art. Art became a commodity in some ways, yet still exists in its original muse inpired state. Is blogging art? Some is. Was blogging birthed by muse? I think so. Andy Warhol literally sold prints of "$" painted in his "Factory" by students while captivating the aristocracy of the industry. Cool that we're in the midst of an evolving artform. The "muse" gave birth to art. Art became a commodity in some ways, yet still exists in its original muse inpired state. Is blogging art? Some is. Was blogging birthed by muse? I think so. Andy Warhol literally sold prints of "$" painted in his "Factory" by students while captivating the aristocracy of the industry. Cool that we're in the midst of an evolving artform.

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]]> By: rinkjustice http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-552 rinkjustice Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:01:21 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-552 @Steve Dodd: Social media isn't always about money. Believe it or not, there are people who use social networking for socializing and connecting with friends and family, nothing more.<br /><br />@Mark: Brogan can do whatever he wants. He controls his brand. The rest of us can elect to either subscribe to his work or not. Simple. No rules. @Steve Dodd: Social media isn't always about money. Believe it or not, there are people who use social networking for socializing and connecting with friends and family, nothing more.

@Mark: Brogan can do whatever he wants. He controls his brand. The rest of us can elect to either subscribe to his work or not. Simple. No rules.

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]]> By: Danny Brown http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-551 Danny Brown Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:26:44 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-551 I think the bigger question is how Amanda Chapel managed to limit his/herself to just the one F-word in his/her comment. Wonders will never cease... ;-) I think the bigger question is how Amanda Chapel managed to limit his/herself to just the one F-word in his/her comment. Wonders will never cease… ;-)

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]]> By: greg cryns http://www.businessesgrow.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan/#comment-550 greg cryns Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:43:33 +0000 http://businessesgrow.wordpress.com/2009/08/31/the-monetization-of-chris-brogan#comment-550 "Bloggers need sponsors because we can't feed our families with page views and tweets." <br /><br />Absoeffenlutely!<br /><br />I watched while Brogan got roasted (by some loudmouths, not by all). I also put in my 2 cents to tell these yokels to get a life.<br /><br />What the heck is wrong with making money? I think this cult of "community only" people need to be educated. The Internet itself is not free. Why should our services be free to the hangers-on? <br /><br />I repeat to them: GET A LIFE! "Bloggers need sponsors because we can't feed our families with page views and tweets."

Absoeffenlutely!

I watched while Brogan got roasted (by some loudmouths, not by all). I also put in my 2 cents to tell these yokels to get a life.

What the heck is wrong with making money? I think this cult of "community only" people need to be educated. The Internet itself is not free. Why should our services be free to the hangers-on?

I repeat to them: GET A LIFE!

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