Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Self proclaimed 'experts' and the need to research

There are many courses and classes, webinars and seminars and self proclaimed 'experts' in the eCommerce world today. Many are good, with great information and tips on just how to maneuver the highway of online selling. These people do research and work the platform they are teaching about. But far too many others do not.

I ran across a blog post today on Social Media and the effects on marketing A Little Class on the Internet: Leverage Matters: Social Media . Interesting title, and good point on how social media does have an important role in marketing, but the author made a crucial mistake. He failed to research and give all the facts.
He took the social media statistics of three online marketplaces. Etsy , Bonanza, and Zazzle as examples, but overlooked, or failed to fully research, all the places Bonanza and Zazzle have, clearly slanting the post to favor Etsy.

The tagline, or description of this blog is

“A blog for students of Professor Kagan's internet course to comment and highlight class topics. From the various channels for marketing on the internet, to multimedia and e-commerce business models, anything related to the class is fair game.”

I rarely call out someone like this, but I attempted to post a comment on the blog to let he or she know that Bonanza for one does have more going for them in social media than what the author stated , but found the blog was locked to only comments for the ‘students’.

So, Mbaker, I am offering my comment here:

Interesting comparisons of the sites. And yes, I feel that social media does play a very important role in success of online marketplaces.
I must point out, however, Bonanzle does have more along the lines of Social media than you reported.


Their blog, maintained by the owner himself: http://www.bonanzle.com/blogs/


They have had three different podcasts with the focus of Bonanzle, the latest being the Bonanzle Boardroom: http://www.bonanzleboardroom.com  .


They have also been the subject of many You Tube videos and blogs.
Bonanzle does have a buzz around them, and considering its youth, the buzz is a good one.
Again, good points on the importance of social media in eCommerce!

I May I add here, people, before you jump into any webinar, seminar , or take the advice of any ‘expert’, research! Just because they say something does not make it ‘Gospel’. They are, after all human too.

Ones I found do know what they are talking about:
http://www.bonanzleboardroom.com   
http://3rdpoblogs.com/colderice/  
http://basicstobusiness.com/  
http://the-savvy-seller.com/

But don’t take my word for it…..RESEARCH for yourself…. I am not an ‘Expert’….
I am just the Renagade....

Renagade is a dealer of music on vinyl and CD, PR Consultant for Indie musicians, and blogger.

7 comments:

Kat Barton said...

Research, research, research. There are so many on-line ways to find out about the person giving the info. Look to make sure that what they base their info on is not conjecture or speculation. To many times I have seen businesses fail because someone else does the speculating with no basis in fact. Careful who your listening to. Make sure they know what they are discussing and have done the home work.
Great article Ren, as always.

Yeshuazgirl said...

Awesome Post beauty! and so true.

In the Christian community there is a saying
"Be Like The Bereans" They were a group of highly skeptical folks in Biblical times - sort of like Missourians today (The Show Me State) The saying means that we should not take any man's (including any pastor/preacher's "word for it" as to what the scripture texts in the Bible "mean" - we are to read and closely examine for ourselves to find the truth.

According to the Book of Acts, Chapter 17 verse 11, Paul of Tarsus and Silas preached at Berea, and the inhabitants "... received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so, and many of them believed.

As always excellent post! thanks for your rants and raves I enjoy them thoroughly!

Bobbi85710 said...

Good find Ren, you are ever vigilant! And a periodic reminder never hurts!

Sadie Allie said...

Thank YOU! I enjoyed the additional information you added. I am so new to blogging and have only begun to dip my fingers into eCommerce. I like your approach. I will be waiting to read more!

Anonymous said...

If Zazzle had any dazzle, how come this is the first time I've ever heard of it. To this discredit bonanzle in such a way leads me to believe this blogger has an ultieror motive.

Thanks Renengade!

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Henrietta said...

I was underwhelmed by the Professor too, and like you my carefully reasoned comment was declined. I wondered where he got his 'facts' from, and if from his position of great ignorance he had his venues confused.