When Comments Go Wrong
As I watched my Facebook stream update this hallowed eve, I saw pictures of cute kids and pumpkins. I also saw an interesting link from Black Retail that originated at AdAge.
It was interesting, but as history repeated, the comments were the best part.
I am one of the bloggers involved in the buzz about M&M’s White Chocolate Candy Corn candies at Walmart via the #MMsGetCorny hashtag. We have worked diligently for three months to show brands how to utilize the power of bloggers to promote their products via social media outlets like Twitter, FaceBook, Pinterest, YouTube, Flickr, etc. Hopefully more brands will take notice!!! Check out http://mmsgetcorny.com.
That was the first comment.
Of about 18 similar ones.
No lie.
The original post went up around 8:30 pm.
The editor got fed up around midnight. After what looked to be 17 (in a row) of these types of comments:
I am yet another blogger that participated in this campaign through Collective Bias but unfortunately, I was one of the unsuccessful bloggers that had to make a last minute substitution because the M&M’s White Chocolate Candy Corn Candies didn’t show up in time! In fact, my Walmart offered absolutely no help. They couldn’t (and didn’t make much effort) answer why the highly publicized debut date was not adhered to at their store. I seemed to know more than they did even though it was all over the flyer that they had upon entering the store???? Social media is a very powerful tool and the buzz created on my FB alone drove up their sales. People across the country were buying these candies just to tell me what they tasted like, when they got them, and offering to ship them to me! We’ll continue to talk, glad brands (and you) are listening!
What. The. Crap.
Don’t be stupid.
I guess I am glad to see that they all admitted that they were working for Collective Bias, but I think it’s sad that no one told them that a) their name is silly and b) it’s not about the virtual reach that having paid bloggers promote their wares.
Yes, we rely on social media for more decisions than ever before, but just because someone blogged that candy corn M&M’s are great, doesn’t mean I’ll listen to them. I NEED something of value, from a trusted source. Stop Collectively Yelling – start listening.
You're spot on. It's about listening and engagement not shouting.
You're spot on. It's about listening and engagement not shouting.
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Very impressive thoughts! I strongly agree with you..
Very impressive thoughts! I strongly agree with you..
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@Katadhin Thanks for the note. To me however, their content is within the comments - I didn't make it to their individual blogs because after reading the same comment written by about six different people, I had no interest in visiting their sites. I agree that the number one goal is good content, and that's what drives traffic. But in this particular instance, their comments are their content, and completely unappealing. I do however appreciate the link!
@Katadhin Thanks for the note. To me however, their content is within the comments - I didn't make it to their individual blogs because after reading the same comment written by about six different people, I had no interest in visiting their sites. I agree that the number one goal is good content, and that's what drives traffic. But in this particular instance, their comments are their content, and completely unappealing. I do however appreciate the link!
Did you happen to look at their content? It's not promoting their wares, it's actually doing something interesting with the product within their content streams. Here's a nice aggregation http://issuu.com/rebeccaparsons/docs/m_m_s_mag?mode=window&viewMode=doublePage. No one in the Collective Bias community is required to do anything and the bloggers are paid to shop, not for their opinions. The reality is content wins, if their content isn't interesting, they won't get traffic, period. Judging from the stats of our members, their content is fairly compelling.
Did you happen to look at their content? It's not promoting their wares, it's actually doing something interesting with the product within their content streams. Here's a nice aggregation http://issuu.com/rebeccaparsons/docs/m_m_s_mag?mode=window&viewMode=doublePage. No one in the Collective Bias community is required to do anything and the bloggers are paid to shop, not for their opinions. The reality is content wins, if their content isn't interesting, they won't get traffic, period. Judging from the stats of our members, their content is fairly compelling.
@Katadhin Thanks for the note. To me however, their content is within the comments - I didn't make it to their individual blogs because after reading the same comment written by about six different people, I had no interest in visiting their sites. I agree that the number one goal is good content, and that's what drives traffic. But in this particular instance, their comments are their content, and completely unappealing. I do however appreciate the link!
Did you happen to look at their content? It's not promoting their wares, it's actually doing something interesting with the product within their content streams. Here's a nice aggregation http://issuu.com/rebeccaparsons/docs/m_m_s_mag?mode=window&viewMode=doublePage. No one in the Collective Bias community is required to do anything and the bloggers are paid to shop, not for their opinions. The reality is content wins, if their content isn't interesting, they won't get traffic, period. Judging from the stats of our members, their content is fairly compelling.
@mjwessty probably a fair assumption, but you might consider adjusting the number in your post so people don't think you are making numbers up, haha.
@jasoncflack Thanks Jason, but if you look at the comment numbers, several are skipped. Based on the comment that the editor posted, I assumed (perhaps innapropriately) that he had deleted posts that were similar in nature.
This comment has been deleted
@jasoncflack Thanks Jason, but if you look at the comment numbers, several are skipped. Based on the comment that the editor posted, I assumed (perhaps innapropriately) that he had deleted posts that were similar in nature.
@mjwessty probably a fair assumption, but you might consider adjusting the number in your post so people don't think you are making numbers up, haha.
Matt, Interesting post! And, while I agree with some of what you wrote, I have problems with your article as a whole: It looks to me as though there were about 8 posts from collectivebias bloggers. You're telling me that there were 18 "no lie". I understand that these comments rubbed you the wrong way, but inflating numbers to prove your point is a little ridiculous. I completely understand your frustration with what seems like shameless self-promotion, but calling a company's name "silly" and telling people "don't be stupid" is just unprofessional. Let's have an adult conversation about this without getting mean. Don't mean to tear your post apart, but I feel like your method of writing it is more likely to incite an argument than productive conversation. And that doesn't help anyone.
@mjwessty probably a fair assumption, but you might consider adjusting the number in your post so people don't think you are making numbers up, haha.
@jasoncflack Thanks Jason, but if you look at the comment numbers, several are skipped. Based on the comment that the editor posted, I assumed (perhaps innapropriately) that he had deleted posts that were similar in nature.
Matt, Interesting post! And, while I agree with some of what you wrote, I have problems with your article as a whole: It looks to me as though there were about 8 posts from collectivebias bloggers. You're telling me that there were 18 "no lie". I understand that these comments rubbed you the wrong way, but inflating numbers to prove your point is a little ridiculous. I completely understand your frustration with what seems like shameless self-promotion, but calling a company's name "silly" and telling people "don't be stupid" is just unprofessional. Let's have an adult conversation about this without getting mean. Don't mean to tear your post apart, but I feel like your method of writing it is more likely to incite an argument than productive conversation. And that doesn't help anyone.