10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
10 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

The fallacy of the curated market and the lure of the open market (great read)

by mizesean
7 replies
I just read a great post by Seth Godin:

Seth's Blog: Most people, most of the time (the perfect crowd fallacy)

Once you read it, re read it. Then ask yourself the question:

is what I produce strong enough that it will rise to the top or will
it instead simply be buried
in the avalanche of excess web content?

Of the millions of pieces of content that are added to the web each day,
why should anyone read/listen to yours?

Everything you produce should be something that is worthy
of rising to the top - or you are wasting your time producing it -

Traffic is changing a lot these days, and I think that what Seth
wrote is central to the problem - folks aren't just reading
content because it is "there," they are reading (or listening)
because it is exactly what they need.

And the same goes for paid traffic - if the "content" (the
advertisement, squeeze page, whatever) is not ultra-relevant
and exactly what someone needs - it is going to be
lost in the mass of competing advertisements.

In order to compete in today's market, you really have to
be the very best and offer the best.
#curated #fallacy #great #lure #market #open #read
  • Profile picture of the author Matt Bard
    I also like what Ben Settle said in one of his emails, "People can find all of the content they want now. They are looking for an experience".

    Personal charisma and the ability to entertain could be the new currency.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7932183].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Greg guitar
      Originally Posted by Matt Maiden View Post

      I also like what Ben Settle said in one of his emails, "People can find all of the content they want now. They are looking for an experience".

      Personal charisma and the ability to entertain could be the new currency.
      Interesting theory, but I wouldn't call those the "new currency", since they have had universal appeal for as long as there was a such thing as marketing. Also, for information marketers, they are icing on the cake; but people still need the cake.

      It is a quotable remark, but not really true imo, when it comes to information marketing. When I want entertainment, I will listen to music, share a drink with a friend, watch a show, or something. When I want information, don't waste my time trying to provide an "experience"; get to the point.

      One thing we all want more of is time; we all have more to do than we will ever get done. Don't add to the burden just because a guru says you have to give us all an "experience", rather than just give us what we asked for.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7932511].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mizesean
      Originally Posted by Matt Maiden View Post

      I also like what Ben Settle said in one of his emails, "People can find all of the content they want now. They are looking for an experience".

      Personal charisma and the ability to entertain could be the new currency.
      Yes, you hit it spot on - folks are being overloaded with information, but they need help implementing it -

      Sean
      Signature
      Have you thought about starting a group coaching program, but don't know how?

      If so, Watch This YouTube Video: Group Coaching Program
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7934324].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Matt Bard
    Greg, I understand where you're coming from but I think the point is where you get your info from and why.

    I think Ben's statement was about why people go to certain places for content. The experience. You trust the source, the site's ease of use, you like the writing style, routine...

    If you can find info pretty easily, then where you go is determined more on your experience. Which I agree with.

    When you talk about meeting friends for entertainment, isn't that what Facebook is about? Facebook, Youbube, Twitter, Myspace...most social networks are where people gather for a certain amount of entertainment.

    There are probably more funny cat pictures shared in a day than a news story.

    Again, I see what you are saying. I feel the same way about my personal life.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7932963].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Greg guitar
      Originally Posted by Matt Maiden View Post

      Greg, I understand where you're coming from but I think the point is where you get your info from and why.

      I think Ben's statement was about why people go to certain places for content. The experience. You trust the source, the site's ease of use, you like the writing style, routine...

      If you can find info pretty easily, then where you go is determined more on your experience. Which I agree with.

      When you talk about meeting friends for entertainment, isn't that what Facebook is about? Facebook, Youbube, Twitter, Myspace...most social networks are where people gather for a certain amount of entertainment.

      There are probably more funny cat pictures shared in a day than a news story.

      Again, I see what you are saying. I feel the same way about my personal life.
      Thanks for the reply; I see what you mean as well, and I agree; if the same info is available in various places, there are other elements that come into play when deciding where to get it, besides the pure facts contained in the content.

      I find his phrasing odd though; I do like to get my information from people who can write well, and are credible, but I would not have said I was looking for "an experience".

      That comment made me think of people who deliver everything by video because they think people would rather sit and listen to them talk than read a PDF, when I just wish they would let me read it, so I can get it faster, refer back to salient points, etc. I suppose you could say I am looking for an "experience"; the experience of reading and getting it over with. If that is what he what he had in mind, I agree.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7933242].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Will Edwards
    Originally Posted by mizesean View Post

    In order to compete in today's market, you really have to
    be the very best and offer the best.
    That's true!

    BUT ...

    It's only half of the answer.

    I do not believe that producing top quality content is enough

    You need to find a way to gain an unfair advantage over your competitors too. You need to think both strategically and tactically to achieve this.

    How the Deck is Stacked Against You:

    Every minute, there are:
    • 694,445 Search Queries
    • 695,000 Facebook Status Updates
    • 98,000 Tweets
    • 70 New Domains Registered
    • 60 New Blogs Created
    • 1,500 New Blog Posts Published

    Famous Victories of the Underdog:
    • Hannibal defeated the numerically superior Roman armies at three major battles
    • The supposedly inferior English fleet routed the Spanish Armada
    • Robert the Bruce defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn
    • The Royal Air Force defeated the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain

    So we know it can be done but the question is ... how? Perhaps we can learn something from history. How did the famous victories listed above come about?

    SUPERIOR TACTICS!!!
    • Hannibal ambushed the Romans twice & used superior tactics at the third battle
    • The English ambushed the Spanish Armada with a fire ship attack
    • Robert the Bruce ambushed the English whilst assembling on the battlefield
    • The RAF used radar and Enigma intelligence to ambush the Luftwaffe

    So the formula really has those two components to it:
    • You need to produce epic content

    AND
    • You need to outsmart the competition

    Cheers,

    Will
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7933087].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author mizesean
      Originally Posted by Will Edwards View Post

      That's true!

      BUT ...

      It's only half of the answer.

      I do not believe that producing top quality content is enough

      You need to find a way to gain an unfair advantage over your competitors too. You need to think both strategically and tactically to achieve this.

      How the Deck is Stacked Against You:

      Every minute, there are:
      • 694,445 Search Queries
      • 695,000 Facebook Status Updates
      • 98,000 Tweets
      • 70 New Domains Registered
      • 60 New Blogs Created
      • 1,500 New Blog Posts Published

      Famous Victories of the Underdog:
      • Hannibal defeated the numerically superior Roman armies at three major battles
      • The supposedly inferior English fleet routed the Spanish Armada
      • Robert the Bruce defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn
      • The Royal Air Force defeated the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain

      So we know it can be done but the question is ... how? Perhaps we can learn something from history. How did the famous victories listed above come about?

      SUPERIOR TACTICS!!!
      • Hannibal ambushed the Romans twice & used superior tactics at the third battle
      • The English ambushed the Spanish Armada with a fire ship attack
      • Robert the Bruce ambushed the English whilst assembling on the battlefield
      • The RAF used radar and Enigma intelligence to ambush the Luftwaffe

      So the formula really has those two components to it:
      • You need to produce epic content

      AND
      • You need to outsmart the competition

      Cheers,

      Will
      Will, I agree with you - if you just create content but don't tell anyone about - it won't move far. The point of course is that you have to have superior content to win in today's market.
      Signature
      Have you thought about starting a group coaching program, but don't know how?

      If so, Watch This YouTube Video: Group Coaching Program
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[7934336].message }}

Trending Topics