'Nother Blog Post

[lavenderfrost.livejournal.com]

Hey Fanlib! (An open letter from a marketer watching yet another fan connected company self harm)

Interesting read.

Exerpts:

* Do not attack the community you’re trying to recruit from - ever. You want to set up a commercial fanfic archive? You need fic readers and fic writers. Don’t hurt yourself by alienating them.

* Do not spam LJs. Especially when you’ve got a reputation that’s ankle-locked on the LJ base. Dude, seriously, don’t jeopardise 6A and LJ by being a jerk over another project. You’ll regret the brand damage in the morning.

* Take criticism from the people who are doing what you’re setting out to do. If the fanfic community is reacting badly, then you have a problem that they are identifying for you. For free. If your lawyers and expensive people couldn’t see those problems, you hired the wrong expensive people. Ask for a refund

* Accept criticism. See if there’s a valid point. If there isn’t, don’t give the critic a valid point by being a jerk (or appearing like one, or whining in LJ posts). You’re tired? Tough. Cowboy the fuck up son. This is business, you’re in a gorram startup. Start acting like the leader of the company and lead from the front. Long hours? Don’t complain to the internet about long hours - chances are, we’re working crappy shifts and pulling overtime to get by. Then we get home and do this internet stuff in our limited spare time.

* Above all, yes, you’re doing this for the money. NOBODY CARES HOW MANY HOURS YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR YOUR MONEY. Shut up, front up, and work for the pay cheque. Or do it for the love. Just don’t whine. Nobody likes an emo CEO with a pay cheque, options and an aversion to long hours.

Comments

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

You’re tired? Tough. Cowboy the fuck up son.

that nearly made me snort my coffee thru my nose.

[iulia_linnea.livejournal.com]

It made me spit mine. ;) *wipes screen*

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

heh. :::hands you screen cleaner:::

[briar_pipe]

Nobody likes an emo CEO

I had no idea who this "Sidekick" fellow was (not being in comics myself), but the entire post is that funny. It's awesome to see a fan from another community lay it all out without the bullsh*t.

[darkrosetiger.livejournal.com]

I totally want a "Cheer up, emo CEO!" icon now.

[quicksilvereyes.livejournal.com]

Ditto.

[watersusurrus.livejournal.com]

Me too! I should make one. Maybe I'll make one tonight when I get home. I should use blue dude for the sad CEO... so many thoughts!

[(Anonymous)]

This thread, as it references an "outside fandom" post, might be the appropriate place to note the Metafilter thread on FanLib, here: http://www.metafilter.com/61410/Fan-Hub-Hubbub There are some good and interesting comments there, as well as articulate explorations of the importance of fanfic as a female genre (there are also, at the beginning, a couple of Eeek! Fanfic! ones too, but never mind).