Hmm, I have worked in advertising for about 13 years or so. I believe in the good kind of advertising, the kind of advertising David Ogilvy. believed in. Okay, I do not believe in advertising. I know advertising works.
I advertise this blog. Yes, I do. There is online advertising that points to this blog. You might have just clicked on one of my ads. And here you are. I got you. Here we go. What am I going to sell you now? What product are you about to buy? What is the thing that I am going to give you with the offer? Will you need to buy one to get one free?
This is it. Here we go. This is all it is right now. I am not going to sell you anything. Everything here is absolutely free.
The site is free, there is not a single product you could possibly buy. I have it all here, for free. You can have it. Enjoy. Here is a collection of little particles of my life. There are almost 1300 entries in this blog alone. You can look at hundreds of images. Some of them are hidden, some are in the open. It is all for you. Free. No charge.
So is this still advertising? Or is it propaganda? "All art is propaganda, yet not all propaganda is art", said George Orwell...
Welcome. Come back for more. There will be more here. There will be more here every day. I am very serious about this blog. What is it that I am selling here? The site has my name on it (my actual, real name.), it is not a .org, it is a .com... so there might be some commercial activity in the future?
Why do I advertise myself? Have you seen my ads on google, on blogshares, in places you might visit?
I would just really like to have a conversation. I would really like to take a stroll with you. Take a look at some of the drawings I am working on. Take a look at some of the photographs. Tell me what your ideas are. Go ahead.
We are in a place in time where individuals can use channels of communication formerly only available to large corporations. It is possible for me, as a private person to use very targeted online (and offline) advertising to help you find me. And the great thing about the world wide web is that you can link to me and that I can help you become more visible, by linking to you, by writing about you. Suddenly the world is a bit of a conversation again. Some of you will become my friends. We will never meet. We still will be friends.
I advertise. I pay to help users find this website.
And I write every day. I draw every day. I take pictures almost every day.
If my work makes you take a pencil or a camera or even a keyboard and take a picture or draw one or write about one or even code a page. This is my return of investment, this is my great reward. This is what helps me write and draw and photograph more.
I advertise. There will be art for sale here. Promise.
For now, take anything you like and let it inspire you to make your own things. (They might be much better than what you got here, you know.)
I advertise. And I sponsor. Good ideas.
Create something good. Go ahead. Let me know how you are doing.
Many, many excellent points. From another person that believes in the same things - thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Christine on April 10, 2003 01:45 AMDon't forget to mention that you also write at another fine group weblog, http://lostintransit.org
Posted by: miguel on April 10, 2003 02:53 AMI couldn't agree more with you, Witod, so I'll be watching you. By the way, I bought shares in your blog. Bye!
Posted by: Carlos on April 10, 2003 04:50 AMWitold, thanks for buying shares in my blog! For zero cents, too! I thought I wasn't traded, but perhaps they make an exemption for you as a Kind Patron.
I was just thinking today (while cleaning the shower) that I would very much like to make some line drawings inspired by yours, so I guess your ROI is in the works. I can't draw at all, but won't let that stop me. Thanks & fond waves,
Posted by: marrije on April 10, 2003 11:13 AMI meant 'exception', of course, sorry for the silly typo.
Posted by: marrije on April 10, 2003 11:14 AMThis reminds me of a lot of dot com start-ups.
Step 1: Develop site
Step 2: Advertise
Step 3:????
Step 4: Profit
(Only without step 4)
I love the honesty I have found here. Thanks for reminding me why I blog.
P.S. I thought about buying shares but I think you are over valued.
Posted by: brett on April 10, 2003 06:58 PMI am over valued? Hmm... You should have seen me two days ago. My p/e ratio was 7.6 and I was the second most overvalued blog out there. So I started selling my own stock, like a mad man, just to somehow bring down the price. So now it is not quite as bad as it was before...
Yes, the dot com start-ups, I remember. Except that I will not have the option to go bust. I am a real person... this blog describes portions of my actual and very real life.
: )
And I will just keep going. : )
.coming your name is a great idea! I did it for me at blainehilton.com too. You are the most valuable asset and it should show. I would also suggest checking out the book "Ink Yourself", maynot be the best thing to do, but it has some good ideas about promoting yourself. Even if you work for another company in todays market everyone is really working for themselves too.
Posted by: Blaine Hilton on April 11, 2003 01:04 AMAs a former Ogilvy & Mather employee - nail-on-the-head. It's all 'bout the brand baby. Nice work.
Posted by: Producer on April 12, 2003 10:04 PMI am a marketing/advertising major at Johnson & Wales University, and I think what you do is amazing. It's definately a twist on advertising I never thought to look at. Thanks.
Posted by: Lori on April 14, 2003 04:32 PMfood for thought... eye candy... i come away with something to chew on... sometimes a feast, sometimes just a nibble... a smile, a grin... everything is free, yet you give a lot... an all you can eat buffet.
thanks to you, my drawings have grown "moles"... i've discovered a whole line of moleskine journals, notebooks, n' sketchbooks.
ever watch the movie "13 conversations"?... you inspire and touch so many people in so many ways... from your little blog, you plant seeds and make them grow... more than you'll ever know.
thank you for the gifts.
Posted by: - s - on April 20, 2003 04:30 PM"We will never meet. We still will be friends."
i love that.
Posted by: - s - on April 20, 2003 04:33 PMthis makes me sad.