The Hickensian

4.09.05

Do I blog for profit, backhanders or Scotch Eggs* ?

No.

Sometimes I’ve been sent ‘stuff’. Mac apps, BBEdit window stickers, someone even sent me 4 CDs from their record label! I often get asked to link to, or promote, something. Sometimes I’m fortunate to have been a beta tester for various apps – desktop or web based. I love getting a sneaky peek of things, and having an opportunity to make suggestions.

I don’t always like them or find them worthwhile. You don’t get to hear about those (and there are quite a lot).

Sometimes I see something that I love, and I do want to use. I like it so much that I want to tell others about it. You get to hear about those – those are the things I like writing about.

Its taken me much deliberation before I even added Google Ads to a side-project ($4 over 3 months!! Wahey!!).

My point is: I don’t hype for the sake of it, or because I get some ‘deal’. I resent any implication of that. I just pimp things that I like, and that I want to tell others about. There’s never anything ‘in it for me’.

You know what I’m talking about.

(*Well maybe for Scotch Eggs.)

Comments | RSS

No.1

Adam Farnsworth said 1399 days ago:

Hi, I read your, Shaun Inman’s, and a handful of other designer/developers blogs daily, and I wanted to let you know I thought it was tackless to attack you guys. I wasn’t offeneded at all, you’ve all proven yourselves to give your opinion, and never lied about your biases. I appriciate your posts!

Anyway, thanks for continuing to post!

No.2

~bc said 1399 days ago:

* when I visited England a ways back, I found Scotch eggs to be an acquired taste. I’m guessing a number of your US based (heck, non-UK-based) readers may not know the joys of the Scotch egg… have you received those in the mail, too?

No.3

Sean Sperte said 1399 days ago:

First of all, what’s wrong with blogging for benefit?

Secondly, I agree with those guys. You’re partially responsible for the hype being generated for Mint. Who cares? I’m still gonna buy it!

Thirdly, what are Scotch Eggs?

No.4

Jon Hicks said 1399 days ago:

For those not accustomed to the delights of the Scotch Egg, Wikipedia has everything you need to know!

No.5

neil said 1399 days ago:

I can understand why you posted this, and I personally think there’s nothing wrong with hat-tipping a cool product or service that you (meaning “one”) actually use and like, whether it’s created by a friend or not.

I have to say, though, that it seemed a bit disconcerting to have eight weblogs, all are run by people who seem to know each other or are friends with one another hat tip the product of a friend within a day or two of one another. My newsreader has been getting a heck of a lot of Mint for the past 48 hours.

I personally believe that it’s just honest enthusiasm for a product that looks very deserving of the props it’s getting, but you have to admit the optics seem off. I mean, it’s very possible the all-clear to post about Mint came and everyone decided to post about it on the same day, but it still comes off as premediated.

I guess a big part of this is that it’s not clear whether or not Mint will be free as Shortstat was, or if it will be shareware… it does make a difference.

No.6

Zach said 1399 days ago:

Not even Scotch Eggs, thats harsh.

Yeah I know what you’re saying. Its appreciated that you dont actually have GoogleAdsense allover the page too.

No.7

Simone Merli said 1399 days ago:

Jon, your hype is fuel for me, don’t worry and pimp what you like as usual! I apppreciate your posts!!Scotch Eggs? Nahhh!
I think I will send you a box with 10 deep fried Mars :)

No.8

Paul Lloyd said 1399 days ago:

$4 over 3 months – soon you will be an internet tycoon and have all the scotch eggs you could ever want – [insert evil laugh]!

I’m not sure exactly what the score is with the group blogging regarding mint – weather it was planned (in which case a great marketing strategy) or just that the beta testers can now all talk about it (it does seem like a great product, and I have been eager for such reviews and insight into this project since I first heard about it).

I think we all just like to know the price, but I guess that’s for Shaun to announce. I hope the price is reasonable though.

No.9

Chris said 1399 days ago:

Did I miss something? Has someone been bitching because Inman’s friends are pimping something that we all want anyway? If so, what’s wrong with that? I don’t care if it was planned or just coincidence. If a friend of mine came up with something cool I’d be all over the place telling people about it. That’s just what you do for your friends.

No.10

John Oxton said 1399 days ago:

Well, if that’s the case I’ll have that cheque back for Â£1,000 I sent you last month then Jon.

No.11

Nathan Smith said 1399 days ago:

Jon: Just keep being yourself, and informing your readers about worthwhile products + technologies. Let the naysayers go elsewhere if they’re so concerned about it.

I second what was said – that you keep your page free of ads. I think it’s a nice gesture, to show that you are about the content, and not the easy money. That’s why I don’t display any ads on my page, despite the temptation to add them when I joined 9rules.

I do believe it’s perfectly fine to promote something you believe is a good product or service. That’s why I list who I’m hosted with, but also offer a discount (nullifying any kickback in some cases). Anyways, I think you’re doing the right thing.

Mint will rock, everyone will buy it, and we’ll all be the better for it.

No.12

andr3 said 1399 days ago:

Yeah, we know what you’re talking about. And to me, if something has reasons to be hyped than why not? It’s not like i’ve ever seen you “hype” stuff that turned out to be complete rubbish.

As far as the scotch eggs.. i’m totally in the dark. I’ve been to Scotland once, but i plan to revisit asap. See? Now you’re hyping Scotch Eggs. :P

Hype away, i say.

No.13

Jack said 1399 days ago:

Are you allowed to tell people how much you make from Google Ads? ;)

No.14

Lisa McMillan said 1398 days ago:

Bring it on! I don’t even care if you guys had a goodfellas moment in a dark room to think this up. I love it, and I think I would actually enjoy this industry less if this kind of word of mouth marketing wasn’t involved in some way. “Hype” assumes the product will do less than it says it will in the end. I doubt that’s about to happen. You guys haven’t let me down before. I trust you, and that’s why I come back to hear what you have to say.

No.15

Simon Clayson said 1398 days ago:

Free CDs and Scotch Eggs are one thing, BBEdit window stickers featuring that icon and/or any Comic Sans is another. You’ve clearly got taste so I’ll look at things you may share occassionally, and this blog never strays into the realm of the ‘critic’ as far as I can tell.

No.16

Timmargh said 1398 days ago:

As I don’t know the full story I’m assuming that someone has accused you/others of raving about Mint for money? If so, what’s their [rude word] problem? Would they bitch if Apple advertised a product of theirs a few days before release (not that they ever would, of course!)?

I think the answer is quite simply one word: jealousy.

No.17

Kyle said 1398 days ago:

One of those freebies being the latest SafariStand beta before the rest of us?
Lucky beggar.
Given that your blog is one of the more interesting ones in my newsreader, I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t get freebies, especially when they’re at least vaguely related to what you do. Who better than to try out the latest and greatest CSS editor than a quality web artiste?

No.18

Jon Hicks said 1398 days ago:

SafariStand is a freebie to all! But I did get a sneaky peek at an alpha I admit.

Maybe I should’ve qualified ‘freebies’ a bit better – its doesn’t happen regularly.

No.19

Christian Watson said 1398 days ago:

I don’t have a problem with anyone writing about and recommending a product or service that they received as a ‘freebie’ as long as they mention this in their post.

It’s just the same as a journalist adding a full disclosure comment when writing about a company that has a relationship with their own publication.

No.20

Stephen said 1397 days ago:

Seriously now, who has been paying you off to pimp scotch eggs?

No.21

Jon Hicks said 1397 days ago:

mmmmm, scooootcccchhh eegggsssss

Sorry, did you say something?

No.22

Kim Siever said 1397 days ago:

I’d blog for scotch eggs. For haggis, actually, too. Or maybe the two layered vanilla/chocolate birthday cake with whipped cream/cream cheese icing my lovely wife made me yesterday.

Come to think of it, I’d probably blog for just about any type of food.

No.23

karl sinfield said 1397 days ago:

I had the pleasure of tasting one of these bad boys in Covent Garden, back when I was a london luvvie. I think I had the apple and cider version. It was like munching on an angel’s testicle.

That’s a good thing, by the way.

No.24

tt said 1397 days ago:

test test test test test

No.25

James said 1397 days ago:

Even since seeing Keith on the Office munching on Scotch Eggs, my girlfriend always dares me to buy one from the supermarket. But, so far, I just cannot bring myself to do it.

Here’s Ricky Gervais himself explaining the Scotch Egg… www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/clips/gervaisexplains/clip20.shtml

No.26

Gordon said 1396 days ago:

John, you are the lowest of the low, letting yourself be lead in the faint hope of some pork/egg action. Shame on you…

In other news, another stats package called Vestigo has just gone BETA. No eggs of any variety were harmed in the making of this comment.

Dammit. Now I’m hungry!!

No.27

Gordon said 1396 days ago:

P.S. I’m joking – the lowest of the low would be to accept a half-eaten Pepperami, um, allegedly…

No.28

Stacy said 1396 days ago:

oooooh, scotch eggs!

No.29

Fernando Dunn II said 1396 days ago:

Jon, don’t take crap from these haters. If Shaun wants his colleagues to beta test his application, thats you guys’ right. I mean if the whole community busts out and posts about a new Apple product or Ajax, why can’t a few friends review another friend’s product? Anyway, do your thing.

BTW, how much DID Shaun pay you guys anyway? You better make sure you got a competitive cut. I heard Kevin got Â£700, and then there was something about word count and comment count.

No.30

Tom Oakes said 1395 days ago:

Ooh, I’d take Scotch Egg payment over most others. Except cash, that still trumps everything. I had my first Scotch Egg a couple weeks ago at County Cork in Portland, OR, and I’m hooked.

I don’t see the big deal with Inman. If you’re friends with him (you are), and he has a new product (he does), write about it.

I do hate those Ads By Google, however. It boggles my mind that people so hell-bent on design find it acceptable to throw such tacky-looking adverts in the middle of their content.

This comment has made me hungry. I think I’ll go get a Gravatar.