DISQUS

The Michel Fortin Blog: The Gold is In The Picks And Shovels

  • AndyBeard · 2 years ago
    I have a feeling one ideal use for Facebook will be managing joint ventures and product launches within private communities.

    Facebook can facilitate better interaction, high signal to noise ratio cooperation, it is just no one is really doing it yet.
  • JP Maroney · 2 years ago
    Andy,

    I agree with you... I've given a lot of thought to that recently.

    And, have tentatively "penciled" some ideas related.

    To me it's just like the internet in general... it's a tool.

    Profitable Regards,
    JP Maroney
    Business Growth Strategist, Author & Speaker
    http://www.jpmaroney.com - main
    http://www.jpmaroney.net - blog
  • Gavin Ingham · 2 years ago
    Nicely said Michel. Facebook is becoming "massive" and this argument is one that will no doubt run and run. Probably right up until the point that Facebook either decides who it wants to appeal to or splits it's offerings up into niches perhaps including a separate "business Facebook" (which would be a shrewd move perhaps?).

    As it stands at the moment I am not sure that fending off a zombie, a headbut from a mate and some other mad invention is the best forum for doing business!

    There is no denying however the buzz surrounding Facebook at the moment... Go to dinner parties and people are talking about it! Meet your friends and they tell you that they are on it! Go to an internet cafe and kids are logged into it!

    Not surprising then that many people are diving in, holding their breath and looking for sunken treasures...

    Will they be right or will Facebook lose the wave and the surfers move on elsewhere? Only time will tell.
  • Alexey Dvoryaninov · 2 years ago
    I agree with you. Cool info...
  • Jason Moffatt · 2 years ago
    Great stuff Michel.

    Great salesmen think alike. I view Facebook for fun and networking, but would never allocate all my time for these types of places if my goal was to put food on the table every night.

    However, here is a good reason why some should participate at Facebook or similar sites like Myspace....

    Nowadays it's near impossible to get a guru or marketing superstar to respond to emails. Too many of us are just pummeled with email requests and such.

    But...

    If you send one of these marketing guys a message at Myspace or Facebook it is 10 times more likely to get answered. Don't ask me why, but it just does.

    It's the same as commenting on a particular marketers blog. All these dudes read the comments. It's a prime opportunity to rub virtual shoulders with alot of these guys.

    But when it comes to making the cold hard money, I'll stick to Google myself.

    Take care ya'll.

    J-Mo
  • Justin Bryce · 2 years ago
    Well rebutted Michel.

    You always manage to communicate well with words!

    Well done.
  • JP Maroney · 2 years ago
    Spot-on... J-Mo!!!!
  • Dave Zan · 2 years ago
    And that is my next test.


    I'll be darned if you write a favorable post on using Facebook et al soon. :P
  • Pat Graham-Block · 2 years ago
    The idea of joint venturing deals in online communities appeals to me! Thanks to everyone that shares their opinion on this blog! It makes it doubly rich in ideas! :-)

    Pat
  • Benedict Manovill · 2 years ago
    I think Facebook, and similar sites are going to evolve into something very different. And, with the speed of the Internet, this will happen soon. They will, perhaps, become serious marketing entities. Right now, they are fun.

    Benedict Manovill
  • Dental Plan · 2 years ago
    hi michel, well said. you have picturised me about face book here, well according to me face book is a social networking site like myspace, youtube etc., well i will use face book for fun and making friends. but there are so many people who make money a lot through this facebook, its quite amazing for me. Anyway web2.0 really has a good future(developing face book).
  • shane · 2 years ago
    I wonder when they'll open up their api to allow all profile holders to post their own ads or affiliate product banners on their own profile. Right now as I see it the ads are still targeted at the teen and tween markets, with the ridiculous smileys bannersOr income sharing or even an affiliate program for getting and marketing to new "friends" I wonder how much money is being made by the CPA advertisers on facebook
  • Cory · 2 years ago
    I personally believe that any site with that many regular contributors, and that much traffic is a viable marketing tool. Sure, it may not be a long-term marketing tool, or even the best marketing tool. Furthermore, there are many products that people will have a hard time pushing on Facebook. However, if Facebook regulars fall within your target demographic and have an interest in products like yours, I don't see the harm in adding it into your marketing mix. Just a thought.
  • Sheena · 1 year ago
    Michel, Thanks for sharing this interesting article with us. You are right the long term money making potential is in the pick and shovels business. Others are just fads that come and go. Lot of internet marketing gurus make money by selling picks and shovels or money making ideas as proven systems, while the newbies chase the next rainbow or new idea.