Businesses, Bloggers And Why It’s Just Plain Stupid To Bash The Competition
January 15, 2008
So, you start a business, or launch your new blog and a couple of months down the line, you’re still not a millionaire. What do you do?
A) Realise that success doesn’t come overnight and work your butt off until you get there; or
B) Concentrate on bashing the competition instead, because it just sucks that you’re not as successful as they are after only a couple of months?
Now, I hope your answer was A. If not, your business could be in big trouble soon. But why do so many bloggers have the complete opposite attitude?
Lately I’ve seen a lot of part-time bloggers bash those who have turned their blogging into a full time business.
Take Mike Huang for example. He seems like a good guy, his blog is fairly new and I like some of what he has to say. But today, he is encouraging readers to bash the A list bloggers on this new site.
I personally, think Mike’s bashing is just a clever attempt at linkbait, but he then goes on to say, “I hate having competition since we’re all trying to provide the same thing, which is content.”
Sorry Mike, but please tell me you don’t actually believe that. You see, any blogger who wants to turn blogging into a business, or any type of business who wants to stay in business, will sink rapidly if they’re just trying to provide the same thing as everyone else.
Having competition inspires us to rise above mediocrity and actually provide something of value. And, if this seems easier said than done, check out the following links for some great tips:
Lazy Bast..ds And The Truth About Luck In Business
Want To Succeed – Then Get Off Your Ass And Work
Your Unique Story Proposition
Does Your Blog Focus Upon A Niche Topic Or A Niche Demographic? – a Mini Case Study With Gala Darling.
6 Reasons Why You Should Love Your Competitors
What do you do when the going gets tough in your business or blog? Do you bash the competition, or do you get off your butt and do something about it?
Comments
31 Responses to “Businesses, Bloggers And Why It’s Just Plain Stupid To Bash The Competition”
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I don’t think there’s anything wrong with most blogging “competitors.” In fact, I don’t really see them as competitors. More as people to learn from and attempt to grow with. For example, one big PF blog was a top referrer (#7) for me just from people clicking on my comments–I wasn’t even on the blogroll.
I think I’d apply a version of A:
“Realise that success doesn’t come overnight and try and learn from how other people have achieved it – especially if that allows me to drop the assumption that I have to work my butt off until I get there”
If there’s a smart route I’ll try and find it
I agree with your general point though – there’s plenty of room for everyone – we’ve all got our own voice after all
Joanna
Hi Mrs M – good point. We can learn a lot about how they got there – just by watching what they do.
The comment clicking is brilliant since CommentLuv isn’t it? You can actually see what people are saying – rather than just a name.
Hi Joanna – I like your version of A – work smarter instead of harder. There are many instances in the past when I wished I’d done that.
Blogging to become a millionnaire is fine. But the clever know that millionnaire is not the real goal.
It should be a side effect of doing something worthwhile and enjoyable.
If it’s the primary goal, it inspires the second route which is quite frankly jealousy, and at best link-baiting.
Link-baiting is a bit of fun. I don’t really know enough about it, but it’s not really going to bring you the visitors you need.
I’d rather have an audience of 1 who was quality, than 100 who didn’t share anything in common with me.
That single person is far more likely to grow than a transient audience of 100 who are seeking to become millionnaires overnight.
Blogging is not an end in itself necessarily. It also has a place in building a real-world bricks and mortar business.
You have to add value to differentiate yourself from the competition.
In the words of Drayton Bird, if you claim something is better, you have to ask “compared to what?”.
And if the comparison is inferior, then natural selection will cause its demise. People will flock to the option which provides better value.
And if patience is the barrier to achieving your goals through blogging, then give up rather than give in to jealousy.
The people who are top of the tree compare more favourably. They may not last though unless they continue to compare favourably with their more nimble and patient rivals who stay the course, dfferentiate and add value.
Ian Denny’s last blog post..Broadband Is Down! How Small Businesses Can Cope: Part III, 3G Internet Access
P.S. Here’s a link-baiting test where I’m the target.
Cath’s great idea of using commentluv tempts people to click the post underneath what they have written.
Why?
Because she has the foresight to thank her readers by using the little widget which displays the commentors last post.
So by me posting under my “fun” blog where I can just be myself and spout off, I will now find out if it works for blogger posts too.
So I could be the first link-baiter where the target is myself. Shame I haven’t anything to sell, because I’m sure I may well have bought off of me.
Sorry Cath, couldn’t resist a test while I was here. Feel free to delete this comment.
Ian Denny’s last blog post..The Bankrupts’ Psychiatrists Couch Of The Noughties: Blogging
Hi Ian – I completely agree – money alone is not a good motivator.
I will admit, in the past I have probably used financial goals to excess. Not merely for the financial gain but simply because it was fun to prove we could double or treble our turnover and brag about it afterwards.
But, I would never be so obsessive about achieving those goals again, because when you become so focused on the financial goals of your business – sometimes everything else can begin to fall apart, and you don’t even notice.
Yes comment luv is brilliant isn’t it. But, you have a problem, because you have two blogs and I don’t know if it enables you to add two blogs to your signature.
I run across a lot of people like this. They mention some really successful site / blogger and ask how they can become that successful, looking for instant techniques. I tell them “hard work over time” but that just doesn’t satisfy them.
On an unrelated note, I’ve noticed that too – that a lot of bloggers that started around the same time as me have gone AWOL. I guess what they say is true about the percentage of blogs that last past 4 months.
Hi Nick – I’ll never understand why people want something for nothing. Because the truth is, the getting there is usually far more satisfying than the actual goal.
Yes – a few bloggers seem to have disappeared. I suspect some of them just get bored with their topic and others also wanted something for nothing and got fed up when it didn’t come that quickly.
It is an old quote, but it works…
Roll around with pigs, and all you’ll get is dirty (Grandam quote)
However, if someone say a mistruth you have to get out there and defend the heck out yourself…
RacerX’s last blog post..Personal Finance QuickTake: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Money Update
Hi RacerX – I love that quote. It’s so true and far less hackneyed than the birds of a feather one.
Catherine,
This reminds me a lot of a post I did about gossiping.
Years ago I heard a saying:
If you point your finger at someone else, keep in mind, you have three fingers (plus your thumb) pointing back at you.
You all tried that, didn’t you?
To me, this says we need to look inward, and correct our own inadequacies, and stop being so judgmental.
No matter where we go, in life, or in cyberspace, we will encounter “competition”. Our credibility rises much faster by emulating those that are successful.
Those that succeed, get there by hard work, perseverance, determination, and patience. There is no free ride.
Barbara’s last blog post..Internet Closes The Door To All New Blogs – Do You Have Yours
In NO business ever bash the competitors!
And starting a witchhunt in any way is something that makes my skin crawl.
And how boring would it be, if everyone would provide the same old stuff?
If you don’t get what you want by publishing the reviews of stuff that already got reviewed a million times by others, try something different for crying out loud
*goes back to her pictures and stupid little stories….grin*…..
Hi Barbara – so true. I think the media have made it seem acceptable to gossip somehow. And it’s always the bad stuff that gets all the attention, whether it’s true or not.
I know the people that start these bashing sites probably get a lot of attention. But, as you say – the ones that are doing the bashing would be far better off spending time trying to be more like the bloggers who are successful.
Hi Nicole – If anyone bashed me on that bashing site, I would kick their butts. But, luckily – I’m not prolific enough to be on it.
I don’t know how you can refer to your blog content as “stupid little stories”. I was just on there and read a seriously interesting story. I know Barbara would be v interested in reading it if she’s still around, as would many others.
Hi Catherine,
I’m back. I just paid a visit to Nicole’s site…amazing photography, interesting stories. It’s hard to believe she’s calling herself an amateur. Where else are we able to see photos taken in Kuwait, taken by someone who lives there? Probably no where.
Bashing and/or being extremely controversial is a ploy in the world of blogging to get others to visit your site, comment, etc..only to drive up your stats, and maybe get an ad click or two.
Although I don’t think it’s wrong to be controversial, but, I do think it’s inconsiderate when you bash other individuals, for the sake of stats. Is your integrity worth so little?
If someone wants to bash me or my blogs, I say “have at it”.. Anyone who comes to my sites will quickly figure out the truth for themselves. I wouldn’t waste my time on a response.
Barbara’s last blog post..Internet Closes The Door To All New Blogs – Do You Have Yours
Hi Barbara – her photos are brilliant and you should check out this post: http://nicoleb.org/b2/?blog=1&paged=2 It’s about a guy who has been wrongfully imprisoned for speaking his mind.
I have skimmed through some of the posts on the bashing blog I mentioned and I have to say, I don’t think I would want visitors who actually enjoyed reading them. The blog has been really cruel to one blogger and I happen to know for a fact that the guy they’re bashing has been going out of his way to help raise money for another blogger who’s wife is very poorly. And that is a far more admirable act than setting up a website to bash people.
Catherine Lawson’s last blog post..6 Money Mistakes New Business Owners Make
Hi there Catherine, nice site you have here.
It seems to me, from the way you’ve written your post and comments too, that you don’t like my site. That’s okay. I’m not trying to talk you into coming back or anything like that, but don’t view this comment in the biased way, that I assume you would, seeing as how you’ve stated your dislike of the site already.
I thought I’d clear a few things up. My site is brand new. I came up with the idea to create the site, because I figured, why not, that always attracts attention. I thought to myself, that I would go ahead and do it, but, instead of just being like every other “bashing site” (BTW, I love the way you refuse to name my “bashing site”, I promise not to name it in my comment too!) I’m not going to focus on just the popular blogs, but the ones I find interesting.
Smaller blogs, all want to be more popular, and I assumed that I could help them out a little bit by; A) Generating a little buzz about them. and/or B) Linking back to them with “Do Follow” links.
Now don’t get me wrong, originally I did intend to only feature top names such as John Chow, or Shoemoney, but then I received a request. A blogger that found my post entertaining, stated that he “loved” my blog, and suggested that I “Slam” his blog.
If you’ll notice, I am currently accepting slams from anybody, about anybody. I’m also working on a slam for CathLawson.com because of the comments on this post.
Hope you enjoy the “Do Follow” tags!
Ethan Christ’s last blog post..Practice What You Preach Or Become A Blogger Released
Catherine,
I’m sorry, but I have to address this question to Ethan.
Call me old, or call be naive, but why would someone want to have negative things written about their blog?
Now, I do understand that controversial posts can generate traffic, however, with all of the work that goes into getting a blog established, wouldn’t a “bash” or “slam”, as you call it, hurt that blog?
And…wouldn’t getting a reputation of being a “basher” or “slammer” hurt your own reputation?
I have been a long time visitor to Catherine’s blog. She provides brilliant information to business owners, old and new. Although you have mentioned that your are “working on a slam” for Catherine’s blog, what do you hope to gain by that?
And… could you really develop a blog, that will have staying power, based on bashing/slamming other blogs? Wouldn’t you start getting worried about getting “blacklisted”, or whatever they call that, in cyberspace?
I don’t get it. Maybe you can enlighten me.
Thanks Catherine, for letting me use your comment area to ask the above questions to Ethan.
Barbara’s last blog post..WP – Use of Post Timestamp May Require Changing Your Post Slug
With due respect to the author of this blog, I hope everyone else can spare a moment to listen to this (indirect) reply to the previous comment?
I’d like you to join me in a consortia of “appropriate” response to this comment.
I have to be frank in that I really don’t understand it.
The motivation and intent is blurred, as if immersed in fog.
However, veiled threats must be examined in detail.
Several words spring to mind, and if you’ll join me on a journey of achieving the right conclusion for all, you’ll understand and appreciate that the following words (and your own) should be considered:
Provocation? Retribution? Slamming? Baiting? Morality? Fun? Aspiration? Greed? Experambulationness?
Many will understand.
Ian Denny’s last blog post..Stumbled Upon Insight: The Life-Raft Of Business Turnaround Or Short Cut To A Better Ship?
P.S. Not Barbara’s comment
Ian Denny’s last blog post..Stumbled Upon Insight: The Life-Raft Of Business Turnaround Or Short Cut To A Better Ship?
I’m in danger here of fulfilling the weird fantasy of the author of the commentator alluded to in the blog post and who has incited this reaction by commenting too. If you know what I mean.
However, I concur with Barbara’s comment.
I must however add a word of caution.
And that word is….whatever you deem it to be.
Ian Denny’s last blog post..Stumbled Upon Insight: The Life-Raft Of Business Turnaround Or Short Cut To A Better Ship?
Hi Ethan – I’m sorry you get the impression that I don’t like your site, or that I’d be biased.
I did state that I was disappointed that Mike was referring people to the bashing site, in my post.
And I’m looking through my comments now, trying to find out where I said I didn’t like your site – in fact I don’t think I’ve stated anything but facts.
I did say I would kick someone’s butt if they put me on that site. But whether or not you’d risk it depends on how much padding you have in your pants and how much you’d enjoy a visit to the moon.
Lol
I’m not trying to hurt anybody. If you honestly would not like to be featured on my site, I will not do it. Just trying to have a little fun. Sorry if I’ve upset anybody. You’ve visited my blog. That’s all I wanted.
Ethan Christ’s last blog post..Practice What You Preach Or Become A Blogger Released
Hey Ethan – I don’t think you have the bottle to slam me on your blog. And some of your slams are just way too wimpy anyway.
Look at your slams on Shoemoney, Tyler and John Cow. You suck up to them so much in your slams – it’s almost puke making.
Maybe I should slam you on my blog for being the wimpiest slam blogger on the Internet?
Hehe, those slams were weak. First few posts I wrote.
Ethan Christ’s last blog post..Blog Gayly
I guess it takes a while to suss out how far you can push your luck without someone threatening to sue you.
I liked the one you did on Shoemoney when he won that award then bragged about how much everyone loved him.
I’m not really concerned with somebody threatening to sue me…I don’t see other bloggers worried about it either….
Ethan Christ’s last blog post..Advertising Prices Plummet!
That’s ok then Ethan. I just read about all these crazy American’s being awarded millions for the most stupid things and it does worry me a little.
But, I suppose, if someone did try to sue you – imagine all the free publicity and traffic you could get.
I defiantly think there can be some benefits to pointing out the weaknesses of competition, or more importantly things your firm does better… but as for bashing… in this day and age it just turns people away
Stock Trading Software’s last blog post..AbleTrend 7.0 Review – AbleSys Corporation Software
Great post!
We’ve been doing humor hook linkbait on the web since 1995 at Zug.com
It would be great to get your feedback on the comedy linkbait angle!
Shelah
(links removed)
If you read enough comments like I do, you will see that that Mike Huang guy does a lot of bashing in his comments. I am not a fan of his.
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