7 Comments

In Defense of MySpace?

Apr 30, 2006
by

My feelings on MySpace are pretty much out there here, and here, and here. In case you can’t tell from my past blog entries, I don’t really like MySpace, for a myriad of reasons. (Yes, I do have a MySpace page).

One thing bothers me through my MySpace diatribes of discovery.

Why are there so many MySpace defenders?

You know who you are! Everytime I or someone else criticizes MySpace, or points to a negative news story about MySpace, you jump in with one of the following reactions.

Reaction #1: Why do you hate MySpace?
Reaction #2: Quit trying to scare people with scare tactics about MySpace.
Reaction #3: MySpace is the same as any other unsafe Internet thing. Leave it alone.
Reaction #4: It’s not MySpace’s fault, it’s the people’s fault for not being smart enough to protect themselves.
Reaction #5: The parents needs to watch their children and monitor their MySpace use.

All semi valid points on principal, and each can be argued either way. But that’s not what this thread is for. I want to know why you love MySpace so much you have to defend so adamantly.

So? Tell me exactly what MySpace has done to improve your business. Tell me exactly how MySpace has increased your bottom line. Convince me that I’m wrong.

Let’s get this straight, I don’t hate MySpace. I just think it’s lackluster, across the board, from how it looks to how it “uses”, to everything. So assuming you can tell me exactly how it’s going to help me or my business grow or make more money, I’ll deal with my dislike and really give it a go.

This is an industry of results. Can MySpace deliver? Show me and I’ll believe. Till then…

About Jim Kukral

You can find Jim on Twitter: @JimKukral.

Filed under: Online Publishing
  • Jonathan (Trust)

    It wasn't started to help your or my business grow.

    "I just think it's lackluster, across the board, from how it looks to how it "uses", to everything."

    Millions seem to like it. Millons > you
    It's also more for the younger crowd.

    "So assuming you can tell me exactly how it's going to help me or my business grow or make more money, I'll deal with my dislike and really give it a go"

    Like was mentioned in another thread. There's oppurtunity to leverage your brand to the younger crowd. Start em' young :)

  • http://www.revenews.com Jim Kukral

    "It wasn't started to help your or my business grow."

    Then why in the heck should I waste my business time on it then? And why defend it is a business tool then? Not saying you are, but plenty of other people do.

  • http://www.gobeachdesign.com Dave Cole

    I think the main reason why myspace is a hot topic right now is because that's where the customers are. I can tell you directly that a good friend of mine that owns a hookah bar that caters directly to the core myspace demo (18-25) has benefitted dramatically from the ability to reach his customers and maintain a dialogue in a space which they use regularly. He knows that his customers will view his message because it's a part of their everyday lives.

    It is the marketer's dream to make it to the 'favorites' menu on a user's browser. With the myspace 'friends list', a marketer can now actively see who they're reaching, and can learn unbelievable qualifying data about their customer base.

    The discussion I think is more important to web marketers today shouldn't revolve specifically around myspace because quite frankly the average regular myspace user doesn't have the disposable income. But social networking has finally realized mainstream success, so hopefully someone will figure out how to reach the affluent customer base that most of us desire to reach.

    Oh, and I think I stand by point #5. ;-)

  • Jonathan (Trust)

    "Then why in the heck should I waste my business time on it then?"

    I answered it in my first post:

    "There's oppurtunity to leverage your brand to the younger crowd."

    And what Dave said. It's purpose wasn't to help you or me out in business but it can be used for that. Many are already. Some have just begun to realize that you can.

  • frank little

    Last night I registered with Myspace and has always I ran my spy/adware checkers before doing so. After registering and browsing the site for about an hour I ran my spyware/adware checkers again and detected 59 infections!

    While I can tolerate a certain amount of adware on a free site I find this amount to be totally excessive and unacceptable, especially when the majority of the users seem to be the sort of people who would interpret the term 'adware cookie' to be some type of American biscuit.

  • AJ

    Our company has successfully made 40+ websites for both well known and independent artists through mySpace. The portal has played a vital role as an advertising avenue for our company.

  • http://www.neatlittlepackage.com Kera

    Right… MySpace is a way to target younger crowds and is a marketing goldmine–if the sort of marketing you support and opt to use is underhanded and damaging adware/spyware programs. There have been lawsuits and public criticism for these dishonest policies in the past, if that's the sort of publicity you want for your business…

    Another reason MySpace does jack for business–yay, your marketing is up. But look, your employees just wasted 4 billable hours browsings pics and profiles on that same site… Not to mention the time and $$ you'll a tech support guy to clean up machine that has been hosed with adware.

    Wait, no…. MySpace is actually great for people in my line of business–cleaning up after other people's sloppy browsing habits.