Monday, November 2, 2009

Internal Conflict and This Blog

I am having an internal debate about the content on this blog. I have reached an internal crossroads. I am conflicted about the content that I write about on this blog.

I have been writing about digital marketing and related topics, primarily, for the past 3 - 4 years and it is getting a bit tiresome for me. Yeah yeah I know there are always new ways to communicate within the marketing space, especially now with all of the hot topics spinning like social, new IP networks, digital out of home, etc.

Frankly, this stuff may be new to you or to a lot of people who are online yapping about the latest and greatest fad or trend, but it is not new to me and it has become boring to me. Maybe it is a mix of frustration and boredom? I am not sure. See, I told you I was conflicted.

I have been rattling this cage for a long time and it seems people still get caught up in the tools and the "hot topic" and continue to exercise poor business practice, which ultimately makes the "conversations" about tactics pre-mature at best. Case in point; a hotel that cannot even properly market its services on a web site is concerned about how it is going to "take advantage of the social space." Please. As a goofy gym teacher I used to have always said, "Get a grip." Figure out how to accurately communicate amenities online, sell your rooms for the night and actually deliver on the commitment. Once you have figured that out, then you can figure out how to leverage your raving fans. Until you do that you are essentially just performing damage control.

Here I am trying to figure out how to proceed with this blog. Do I focus more on personal things? If I do does anyone really give a crap or is it a cathartic exercise for me? Do I focus more on small business and leave the digital stuff as a mere piece of the overall small business pie?

I have started and had marginal success with a few different companies. That is experience and learning that may help someone else. Ha ha did I just admit to having marginal success, not huge, blockbuster entrepreneur of the year success?! That is not popular to do. I should have talked smack and said that I have had phenomenal success as a multi-company owner and blah blah blah. Oh well. Truth is valuable to me.

Anyway, I am trying to figure out how to move forward with this channel. Stick with digital marketing/media blather? Move to more personal writings? Write about business experience and make it more rounded with less focus on marketing?

I guess I will figure it out and when I do, it will be written about on this blog.
Until then maybe I will post videos I like on here. Who knows.

6 comments:

Kyle Lacy said...

Frankly..
I don't care what you write as long as you keep writing. When my Google Reader updates me that Jacob has a new post... It makes my day. Keep it up man.

I would like to hear more about your success in business and thought on how to build a business.

Jacob Leffler presents.............. SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATRE said...

Kyle,
Thank you very much for the kind words. Seriously, I appreciate you taking the time to write and give your feedback on what you would like to see. Dually noted, and now I feel more motivated to continue on. I actually just got an idea for my next post and it may center around the 3 - 5 year business planning process for young start-ups.

Unknown said...

Jacob and Brian, as successful entrepenurs (sp ?), have done the things unsuccessful people don't/want or won't do. And had the integrity all along the way.

Unknown said...

Jacob, conflicted huh ? In business, sometimes we need to go back to the basics. What did you set out to accomplish with the SAST ? I have always enjoyed reading what you have written, so change direction or not, keep writing good stuff for your base of readers.

Jacob Leffler presents.............. SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATRE said...

Charles,
Thank you for the comments. I appreciate your thoughts. I will keep writing but as you can see by my last post, it is related to something that I hope some other person who is thinking about starting a business will find useful.

I agree with you, whether it is strictly about digital media or not, as long someone gets something out of it that is useful, the topic probably does not matter.

Jacob Leffler presents.............. SHORT ATTENTION SPAN THEATRE said...

Charles,
It just occurred to me that I did not answer your question. When I started this blog the goal was to educate people on digital media, it's use, the ROI that can be realized with it's proper execution from concept to delivery, to measurement, to adjustment, etc. Secondary goal was just to help keep readers up to speed with new trends and capabilities of digital media.