The price of my soul? $33.82 a month, apparently.
I read this a few days ago, and forgot to post it. The more thought about it the more I wonder how other people feel about “us regular folks” selling our souls to the ad man? Do we think we are sell outs just like our celeb friends who go on TV for anything from ice cream (which we all know celebs don’t eat- look at them) to hair care products (which you know they don’t use) to lending their voice to an automobile (that you know they don’t drive). Why shouldn’t “us regular folks” get part of the pie for being a twitter celeb?
As someone who works in advertising and marketing, I sometimes wonder if I should be a bit more understanding of schemes that let people lease out every square inch of their lives to the corporate world.
But there’s just something undeniably off-putting about things like Magpie, a new service that lets you sell ads on your Twitter feed.
The amount you’re paid is determined by the number of people who follow you on the micro-blogging site.
(As you can see, I qualify for up to 26.70 Euros a month, or $33.82 in Earthling dollars.)
I’m sure there are people jumping to take advantage of this and scrape in a few extra bucks. (As ReadWriteWeb points out, you can also sell ads on your Twitter background.) And hey, if it helps them stave off foreclosure or keep the lights on in this economy, more power to ‘em.
But come on, marketing folks, this is why cool kids don’t invite us to their parties. This is why people think a new technology is only worthwhile until the creepy, windowless white van pulls up and the advertising guys get out with handfuls of candy.
Want to make money on Twitter? No problem. Start an official account or two for your business and use them in ways that customers or potential customers will find helpful. Communicate, share, have a contest, show off your human side. Do it right, and you’ll increase customer loyalty while driving up sales.
Oh well, I suppose this is all a victimless crime for now. I wouldn’t sell ads on my feed, buy ads on a feed or follow someone who put ads in their feed.
Maybe I’m just playing hardball and holding out for a better offer than $34 a month (rounded up to make me feel better about myself).
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