Networked Markets Are Democratic, Structured Markets Are Republican

Today I was checking out Michelle's A Small Victory. There are threads on self-publishing that mutated into a dispute about trolls, who was a troll, and whether linking to Little Green Footballs was as "un-nuanced" as linking to "Democratic Underground."

At one point a troll popped up and I had to blogroll him! The Troll Patrol. It's protected troll habitat, and of course I had to say that, daring them to do their worst. and taunting them with my Trolls Unlimited Cafepress Section

And then I commented a couple of threads at Michelle's, making the point that she might wish to use cafepress to publish a book she's working on - and should probably have tee-shirts with the Best Bon Mots of the Day. To show that Zazzle.com was the way to go there, I posted this:

Ok... now, is this trollery, shrewed marketing, editorial comment or what?

Well, it's all of the above - and a new clue about the new networked economy.

I've made the point before that money is in a way simply Representative of ideas in motion - just as are goods and services.

Zazzle.com and Cafepress.com are two examples of new, consumer-creator driven media - the antithesis of top-down marketing models. They are viral, marketed between friends and among interest groups and can be intensely topical. There's no investment barrier. I create artwork or write words, and I "sell" those images and words. The company merely puts the images on the chosen media, and they make their money on that.

They are both making MORE money by realizing that they do not have to shape the tastes and opinions of their consumers. And as I stated in Jump on the Cluetrain - that means people are the new brands.

Michelle is a brand. I am a brand. Tacitus and Dkos are brands.

But the traditional brands - for peas and pajamas and politics - those are in deep, deep trouble.

The vast uncommitted center in the upcoming election will not be voting for a republican or a democrat. They will be voting for either the George Bush brand or the John Kerry brand - neither of which bears a great resemblance to the traditional, bland and homogeneous image of their respective parties.

And it's worth checking out how people are playing on those brands:

Anti Bush activists are vitriolic.

Pro Kerry can be summed up as "being praised with faint damns."

Pro Bush is almost all anti-bush, with a few genuine items that prove that those few that are for bush and are on Cafepress are somewhat conventional-minded, humor-impaired, or just plain freaky-nuts.

I'm interpreting this as being simply that social conservatives view this sort of venue as sheer anarchist chaos with no focused central message.

And it is an antiathoritarian venue for sure, because (with certain vague and tiny limitations), you can say whatever the hell you like on a Cafepress product, and benefit by it - or not. The market determines if anyone gives a damn about your "brand" of speech.

As Papa Heinlein observed; "Money is the sincerest form of applause."

About The Author

Bob King writes regularly for Graphictruth.com and Wall/Fire eZines. He can be reached by email at webcarve@graphictruth.com.

---

Website Promotion With Content Exchanges

Ever hear about an idea that is so simple yet... Read More

Website Marketing: 10 Smart Tactics To Make Your Online Testimonials More Credible

You know that using testimonials can help persuade your website... Read More

10 Ways To Increase Your Ads Efeectiveness

The current climate on the internet is very unfavourable to... Read More

Fast Forwarding Your Business with Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging is rapidly becoming accepted in the business community... Read More

How To Use Database Marketing To Skyrocket Your Online Profits

Database Marketing is the gathering and storing of specific information... Read More

Internet Marketing ? Have a Beer With Your Own Internet Marketing Consultant

Did you ever wish that you could sit at the... Read More

A New Way to Profit From Your Content-Based Website

"It's a labor of love." That's how I've always described... Read More

To Make the Most Dollars, Make The Most Sense

The world of Internet marketing isn't all it's cracked up... Read More

Online Business Mistakes

Everybody makes mistakes, but nobody likes to talk about them.... Read More

The Undeniable Value Of Differentiation

With all the people offering products and services online, what... Read More

8 Benefits Of Helping An Online Business Newbie

Do your remember when you first ventured out in the... Read More

How to Turn Freebies in to Sales

You can increase sales and profits by offering freebies to... Read More

8 Things I Have Learned As An Internet Marketer

I started as an internet marketer, like I am sure... Read More

Yardstyle Marketing

It is just crazy. Every time I open my mouth... Read More

Guaranteed Sign Ups-What Are They?

Every business needs customers that's axiomatic.When you work on the... Read More

Getting Members For Your Community

If you read my first article titled BUILDING A BUSINESS... Read More

Two Good Marketing Ideas - One of Them Great!

Last week, I wrote my first marketing/list building article. Could... Read More

Three Ways to Get Top Quality Content for Your Niche Websites

Three Ways to Get Top Quality Content for Your Niche... Read More

Stepping Outside the WAHM Zone

Often times on message boards you'll see several reps from... Read More

6 Proven Steps To Internet Marketing Success

There is a misconception that you can come online set... Read More

Visibility Equates to Higher Profits

One of the greatest challenges businesses face is how to... Read More

6 Ways to Guarantee Your Website Will Fail (and how to fix them)

1. Your website is an electronic brochure 2. Can't be... Read More

How To Make Your Market Throw Their Money At You!

The use of free, relevant and meaningful content can single... Read More

How A Change in Perspective Can Help You Make More Holiday Season Sales: Pt. One

Some sites are perfect for the Christmas season - their... Read More

Many Small Revenue Streams Are Best

There's an old story about a guy who had a... Read More

Seven Tips For A Successful Internet Marketing Campaign

Often there can seem to be very little difference between... Read More

Five Top Tips For A Prosperous 2004

According to many market forecasts, 2004 is likely to be... Read More

In Internet Marketing You Must Have a Strategy

When you make the decision to start an Internet business... Read More

To Survey Or Not To Survey

I have learned over the years that when it comes... Read More

How to Profit From Your Ad Space in this Economic Downturn

Recent research predicts that the online ad market will decline... Read More

How To Let Your Customers Search For YOU! ? Part 3

Thank you for stopping by part 3 of the article... Read More

Dont Treat Your Business Like a Casino

It's amazing how many people are jumping into the internet... Read More

Writing a Website That Sings!

If your online sales have taken a dip lately, your... Read More