When I sat down to write this evening, I really had no idea of what the topic was going to be so I had a look around my RSS feeds to find something interesting. What I found was actually more annoying than I had expected, so I thought I should make comment even though it has nothing to do with cars.
I’ve noticed lately that TTAC boss, Robert Farago has taken to directing his usual bad boy blah blah blah at fellow bloggers rather than at auto manufacturers. His latest bit of venom is directed towards the folks at Hemmings. So why do I care? Well, the few virtual dealings I’ve had with the folks at Hemmings have left me feeling like I’ve worked with some pretty nice people.
My own limited dealings with Farago have actually been pretty positive too, so rather than add fuel to the fire, I thought it might be a little more constructive to talk a little bit about the nitty gritty of internet marketing. A web site or blog is sort of like a sign in a shop window. You can put it up there, but if you don’t do some additional marketing, your intended market will never find you.
The very nature of blogging is based in social networking, where relationships (virtual or otherwise) are the key to building traffic. The reality of blogging is that most news sources come from the virtual world. Even commentary pieces are usually a reaction to something one has read, be it online or in a traditional venue. Unlike traditional media, where it is common practice to print something without revealing the source, in New Media it is considered bad form to quote or re-report something without a link back to the original source.
Automotive media has always survived in it’s own bubble that seems separate from the rest of traditional media. Now that many traditional automotive media types (Farago included) have found their way online, they seem to feel that they have invented virtual publishing. I’ve got news for ya boys and girls, the automotive blogosphere may be more competitive than some other niches, but it is no different than any other niche. You pat my back & I’ll pat yours. If I write about something of yours that interests me, hopefully some of my readers will visit you and maybe you’ll do the same for me.
Some folks may find that to be a bit distasteful, but that is how marketing via social networking works.
For those of you who think that Farago is above it all, give your head a shake. When Dan Strohl writes about RF’s comments, do you not think Hemmings readers go for a visit at TTAC? Of course they do. By belittling the process, Farago has given Hemmings exactly the same shoutout that he thinks is lame, yet attempts to make himself out as having better ethics.
Oh yes, I’m sure a few of our readers will visit both Hemmings and TTAC to see what the fuss is about and that’s just fine with us.
14 comments ↓
Thanks for the shout-out. Seriously though, you are completely misrepresenting (intentionally failing to report?) the meat of the matter.
Hemmings blog said– flat out– that they would link to ANYONE who sent them enough traffic. Not to put too fine a point on it, they’re traffic whores.
TTAC believes we have an obligation to our readers to only offer them links to pertinent sites or stories. We cannot be “bought” by the potential volume of traffic that a story may deliver from another site.
Websites have offered us cash money to be listed on our blog roll. We refused.
Anyway, if we don’t raise ethical issues about our journalism, and those of our competitors, who will? You?
I suppose I’m feeling a little less eloquent than normal this evening which may explain my failure to express the meat of the issue.
Is this issue any different from the days when I published the Carnival of Wheels, or when Mark Tapscott wrote the Carnival of Wheels? Did we have less integrity then than we do now?
Are paid/sponsored text links any different from conventional ads, just so long as they are separate from the blogroll? Does revenue generation make one publication more unethical than another?
You of all people understand how much work goes into this line of work, is it wrong to be paid for advertising?
Here in The Garage, we do accept paid text links, which are separated in the sidebar from our actual blogroll. We’ve always been quite open about it and they in no way affect our content and never will.
I don’t disagree that we should discuss ethics on occasion, but sometimes I think you’ve been known to take things a tad too far, while being somewhat holier than thou.
Robert Farago,
Traffic whore? Have you looked in a mirror lately? I have said it before and I will say it again… Without a doubt you are the Howard Stern of the autoblogs. Like Howard, you lack the wherewithal to speak about anything intelligently thus the need to use shock-jock mentality. Don’t get all excited… it’s not my idea of a compliment.
My preference is reading someone who is well written, not someone who is a wannabe.
Gary,
As you know, I’m fairly new to the automotive blogosphere. During my short tenure I have interacted with a number of great people and feel fortunate because of it. This is the first time I’ve seen what might be called a “cat-fight” outside of the reader’s comment fields on some of the larger automotive blogs.
We each recognize that a certain amount of “you pat my back & I’ll pat yours” exists (and I think this is true in any industry.) In my opinion, the fact that Dan comes right out and says “Link to us, send us lots of traffic, and we link to you” doesn’t make him a bad guy (he’s simply pointing out the truth.) On the flip side, Robert is no worse for calling him out on it if he truly believes it to be wrong. Keep in mind I’m looking at this from 50,000 feet without knowing the history behind your personal relationships.
After reading your post and the others (including the comments) it almost sounds like you’re all in what I like to call “violent agreement.”
Doesn’t the traffic vs. content equation works in both directions? Good content brings high traffic and high traffic usually means good content.
I could care less what he Robert Farago writes but even from 50,000 feet surely you must be able to see the difference between being able to attract new viewers with quality/informative witting versus using a method of trash talk. Key point being “good content”. Porn sites have high traffic too and that does not make their content good.
Robert Farago’s skills (or lack of) seem to have been learned in chat rooms which makes sense since he often uses a method better known as “flaming”. The simple truth is, like any other flamer, these types of reactions are exactly what he lives and dies by.
Gary Faules,
My post was meant for Gary Grant. I don’t believe you and I have met, virtually or otherwise.
Sorry for adding to the confusion.
Porsche, if you have a look around The Garage, Mr. F is one of the team here.
Gary G,
The automotive blogosphere is full of pundits, opinions, comments on a daily and ongoing basis, and its been around for long enough now that most folks have a preference for certain blogs, and editorial content.
For the owners/contributors of these various blogs its a lot of work and if we agree or disagree with the editorial content. We have to give credit to the folks that keep their blogs up to date.
The quest to monetise blogs has been ongoing for a long time, with a few automotive blogs generating enough traffic to generate some sort of financial return. In the meantime the money does not pay for the time and effort that goes into keeping a blog compelling and current.
A while back we did a piece on blogging with our resident “The Colonel” which you might find interesting take a look http://stradaautostore.squarespace.com/dialogue2008/category/blogosphere
The automotive blogosphere is vast there is room for everybody its what makes it interesting, and entertaining.
@Gary G,
Thanks. Coincidently, I received an email today from someone else mentioning Gary F. I will reach out and introduce myself.
John
I left a comment here but I think you saw my link to my blog as spam? I removed that link with this post to see if it was that.
Yup, so here is my comment without the link:
Don’t follow this whole thing? I have a small blog that nobody ever goes to about MINI Coopers. I have a lot of fellow MINI bloggers links on my site and they mine. I visit about 25 autoblogs a day in search of new stuff to talk about. I steal pics and add those bloggers thoughts to mine. I always credit those other blogs and link back to them.
I make no money from this as I have no connections within the auto industry. I wouldn’t mind making some bucks but for me it’s just fun and a way to get things off my chest. I enjoy all you fellow bloggers work and if I didn’t… I stop visiting. I used to go to TTAC daily but stopped going there about a year ago. I now remember why I stopped going there but it had nothing to do with this subject.
Hey RB,
Sorry if you somehow got caught up in the spam collectors….
Our interaction between blogs is indeed the key to not only growing traffic but building credibility through crediting your sources.
My blog is here: http://tinyurl.com/TWSTBLOG
Ooop, sorry wrong link.
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