subject: Why WickedFire members know it all [print this page] In 1999 I launched ADBUMb, which quickly became the largest and most recognizable affiliate marketing publication out there was all about performance based marketing, all about what was going on in the industry. And it had a lot of photos of hot girls in the industry partying. In 2005, in an attempt to mature my audience and my own business, it was changed into the publication ADOTAS.com which still lives today in another form, albeit much smaller and a bit more boring. Writers such as Missy Ward and Shawn Collins who launched Affiliate Summit wrote almost weekly for me. Everyone in our industry read my publications and I knew everyone and everything about the industry. Yet, having spent a few days on WickedFire however, I feel like a newbie all over again. WickedFire and the new generation of Affiliate Marketers know it all.
I also really love the game Modern Warfare 2. I play it religiously and am not that bad of a player. I've played videogames most of my life, having even competed in my late teens in video game tournaments and founded one of the first video gaming networks which I sold to another company. However, there are people in Modern Warfare who I can't even begin to compete with, they completely and totally demolish me and make me cry like a newborn baby. Sometimes I just sit on Modern Warfare, respawning, being killed almost every 30 seconds wanting to run home to mommy. I feel the same way now when I talk to this generation of marketers, read the message boards like WickedFire and here are three reasons why they know it all:
1) They are younger, brighter and more in tune with what is going on that even a generation before. Much of the industry is talking about what technology should be developed, what could be the next type of marketing yet the guys on WickedFire, they are using and often creating that technology to optimize their campaigns years before major companies even think of it. The stuff that major companies like DoubleClick and RightMedia integrate into their technology were often created two years before by a 21 year old WickedFire member.
2) They are always in the startup mode. It's the same idea that happens in startupsoften the good idea gets a company off the ground, the new development launches the company. This generation of marketers is always in that mode, always learning something new and presenting it. New Ideas are always more important than new technology. WickedFire is nothing more than an idea board mind you with photos of naked chicks, and the complete flaming of anyone who manages to wander in to post stupid comments. (Such as myself, who had all his Facebook photos posted with comments). Yet, beyond the obnoxious comments, the naked girls, and the occasional masturbatory references there are some brilliant thinkers. Really.
3) They utilize their time better, and take time off to have fun. Yes, many of these people spend 12 hours a day, if not more, watching their keywords, managing programs to see if they can make an extra 1% profit margin but a lot of them also get out, do more, and are more involved than the average 9-5 person. They play modern warfare during work, chill with their friends and have a life outside of work. On the otherhand, many of the "professional" marketers are making much less money, working all the time and don't have the same type of ability to relax and have fun.
What is there to learn from all of this? What can those in both the brand and performance marketing side learn? First, keep your mind always open to new ideas and new products. These will always let your company grow, or more importantly, allow you complete access to the new generation of thinkers. Secondly, always question what you are doing look at your business model, look at the people you work with and are working for you, and question what is going on. Question yourself, your own abilities and productivity daily. Lastly, have fun. This doesn't mean that you need to post photos of naked girls on WickedFire (although I know they'd appreciate it) but it does mean that you need to relax. Find time for yourself and your family, and put the work aside for a little time each day. Go play Modern Warfare and connect with those who might know more than you do.
