Legitimate forum to pimp product?
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- PatrickKing
I've long since stopped announcing any new product or otherwise attempting to use QBN to promote either of my e-commerce sites. Too many people jumped down my throat and it just wasn't worth it.
I'm wondering, however, if there isn't a forum or thread other than "Show some recent work" in which QBN'ers can indeed, without attack for spamming say "Hey, look what I made. Buy it if you want. Ignore it if you don't"
I'm far from alone among designers who are attempting to use their skills to make a living outside of the realm of client work or in-house employment. The economy sucks, this industry has been invaded and destroyed by amateurs who are visually illiterate and will work for nothing. Making product is the only independent route one has outside of that.
20 years ago I met Charles Spencer Andersen at a party. He showed me watches they were putting out, predicting that this industry as we knew it would die soon and that they were throwing all their concentration to merchandising.
QBN's a great resource for the community and creating such a corner for legitimate practitioners might be a welcome addition to the site as well as serve as a thread in which to move the posts deemed, often unfairly, spam.
- honest0
surely the posting traffic alone would warrant a forum of its own?
- PatrickKing0
Not quite following what you mean.
- monospaced0
There's always the Public Choice. If you want to avoid the "spam" label, don't make it out like you're promoting. Just share and we'll be nice.
- PatrickKing0
I've quietly shared and many have been nice. I'm not quite sure I understand the public choice reference.
It's the few who aren't nice that made me quit showing or linking. If anyone wants to see what I run, it's in my profile.
- capn_ron0
PatrickKing, you've been really cool about it. don't let the trolls get to you. They will do that no matter what you do or say around here. You should post your work and not feel like you are spamming. It is relevant to what this forum is about.
- Continuity0
Well, look, it all comes down to this:
If the only reason you've signed up to QBN is to hawk whatever it is you're selling, we're likely to interpret it as spam and want you out.
If your primary interest in QBN is simply participating in the community in a non-commercial way, and occasionally point us toward your stuff if you think it's relevant, then I don't see what anyone could possibly object to.
- fresnobob0
If you want a legitimate place to promote product to a specific audience, you usually have to pay for it... Its called advertising!
Or else there are plenty of places on the internet specifically ment to sell stuff.
- ORAZAL0
you forgot:
Patrick King
http://kinggroupmedia.com
http://typographyshop.com
http://patrickking.org
- PatrickKing0
Simply witness the Fresnobob’s post, all of those who've thus far been encouraging.
If I had an ad budget, I'd spend every dime. All I can afford is free online PR, and I'll be the first to admit I'm lousy at it. Running a practice, a minor painting career and two websites, not to mention fulfilling all my orders and playing customer service leaves little time to tweet.
My audience is designers and art directors for the site I’ve mentioned here. QBN is a place they gather. I've given away dozens of shirts to folks here via a little contest I've run and a few have become customers in kind.
I don't know if my "profits" from the entire year could buy a spot on QBN. Or elsewhere. So, according to Fresnobob, I'm simply screwed. Pay to promote, just like Coca Cola, or you can't sell yourself anywhere online.
Um, I believe an entire industry, many of us being involved, are using social media to help our own clients, not to mention our own careers.
- PatrickKing0
And Orazal. Yes, once or twice I put my signature in a post.
Please, come kill me now for such an offense.
Or should I say thanks, Orazal, for pimping my sites?
- please don't bitch about QBNmonospaced
- Now give my money!ORAZAL
- I'm not sure I'm following you Monospaced.
PatrickKing - ok thenmonospaced
- spendogg0
hey! you run the typography shop? I have the Sans and Well Kerned shirts. I like!
- monospaced0
Make this say "monospaced" and I'll probably buy it.
- fresnobob0
No, Patrick, I do not feel you are "screwed," nor was that the point of my post. However, I do feel that your original rant displayed a misunderstanding of the way certain things, by their nature, function and felt that countering this might help you to re-think your position. I guess you just got pissed though?
Like, dude, if you want to promote product on a free, public, internet forum, people will talk shit. Any public object, by the nature of it being public, is completely open for criticism and therefore people will react negatively, no matter how pure your intentions. Its a fact and trying to get around it isn't going to happen, ever.
So, if you want to sell stuff without hearing the shit talking the people will do, you either have to pay for advertisements somewhere where people can't respond back, or convince such places to advertise you for free, in which case bitching about it here isn't doing you any good. Go learn some PR and promote like everyone else who doesn't complain.
I dunno, man, maybe make cooler shit and people respond better to it...? If you think you can't make it as a designer, its probably because you suck, so no one wants you. I happen to know quite a few graphic designers with jobs, living plenty comfortably. But, if you wanna sell shit to make more money and/or fulfill a personal creative need, go for it, just don't expect everyone to love it and praise it.
- < Can't argue with thatgoldieboy
- < yupmonospaced
- </Bitchslap of a Thousand Truths>dMullins
- goldieboy0
Start a 'pimp your product' thread. I'm sure a few others will contribute. Just don't bump it everyday. But as fresnobob says, you've got to be open to some haters...
- scarabin0
not here
- PatrickKing0
Sorry Bob, I didn't mean to sound pissed. Just a bit frustrated. I'm not a fan of the sort of conversation that passes for discourse here and around the net, so filled with random anger and hate for complete strangers. Certainly not how I remember respectable adult professionals behaving in my day.
I've promoted in many an internet forum. 99% are filled with very nice people behaving like adults, not children with a hate filled toy from which they can hide behind anonymously. QBN’s just got an incredible number of nasty people on it. And it doesn’t bode well for the industry.
I suck? Gee thanks. Have you checked out my work? I've got 35 years of some pretty legitimate stuff from very high profile clients, I have taught senior thesis classes at one of the better design schools in Philadelphia. I've got personal notes from the president of AIGA loving my stuff. They don’t seem to think I suck, so I don't think that's the issue, but thanks for the suggestion.
My reference was to the armies of wannabe, talentless designers who've brought down the pay scale both in-house and out, as well as lowered the bar of mediocrity in this once skilled profession to a record low.
- you've been working for 35 years? wouldnt you have more answers than most here??epill
- so how old are you? at least 50?epill
- how was designing 35 years ago?as a product designer myself, i can tell you QBN is notepill
- the forum for any product designer unless its used to fuck around on.epill
- QBN is a web/ print based arena.. with slight other industries here and there..epill
- product designers dont usually flock here or they are very silent..epill
- "Certainly not how I remember respectable adult professionals behaving in my day." This is the internet, son.detritus
- so really the view you get, is lopsided .. so enjoy the chaos and use another forum for dev..epill
- isnt the internet only 20 years old itself.. a child in all aspects.. i dont think anyone hides here..epill
- detritus0
Perhaps if you considered what 'pimping product' actually means, you might realise why you're irritating people? Just a thought.
Don't get me wrong, I've over the past couple of years used QBN to link to my own site, but only where I feel might be of relevance to other (UK and Euro) designers etc. Outwith that, I try and answer questions from my domain and don't spam where not relevant (US & Etc).
A quick scan of your recent threads confirms why you might be irritating people - as far as I can see, you seem to utilise this place solely for hawking your wares...