If I were evil…

I was just reading about 30 Boxes new Facebook ad swap service. That got me thinking. My Facebook profile is literally a “who’s who” of the Tech industry. And anything I put on my Facebook profile instantly goes out to everyone who is my friend. I have more than 2,200 friends and I’ve only been on Facebook for three weeks.

Since ABC.com charges $75 per 1,000 users to show people advertisements on Lost and other shows, why shouldn’t I do the same?

Why shouldn’t I charge $300 to $500 to companies who want me to ad their applications to Facebook?

But, nah, I’m not evil.

I will put a thank you to Seagate for sponsoring my digital life, though, on my wall.

But seriously, that might add up to some serious change someday…

  • fbexchange

    Didn’t Stowe wear sponsored t-shirts for months?!

  • fbexchange

    Didn’t Stowe wear sponsored t-shirts for months?!

  • http://www.jmhelms.com/ James M. Helms

    Nothing wrong with making a few bucks through targeted advertising is there? If you get too annoying and see your friends starting to drop off, let up a bit!
    I certainly don’t mind hearing about what your up to.

  • http://www.jmhelms.com James M. Helms

    Nothing wrong with making a few bucks through targeted advertising is there? If you get too annoying and see your friends starting to drop off, let up a bit!
    I certainly don’t mind hearing about what your up to.

  • http://dawnkey.wordpress.com/ Dawn Douglass

    Here’s how to do it without having to be evil…

    Just set up it as “pay per adoption.” If somebody sees an app on your Facebook that they like, they should be able to get their own copy of it right there from yours. Then you get x amount from the developer for being the one who spread the app to somebody else.

    That way you aren’t being paid secretly or upfront to have it on there, you’re just being paid when somebody else wants it — and ANYbody who has that app will be able to do the same, that is, to pass it on to their own friends and readers. You’d just make more money the the average Joe, because you have a lot more friends and because you will be the first to find good apps, because that’s who you are.

    We’re actually doing something like this for my own company.

  • http://dawnkey.wordpress.com/ Dawn Douglass

    Here’s how to do it without having to be evil…

    Just set up it as “pay per adoption.” If somebody sees an app on your Facebook that they like, they should be able to get their own copy of it right there from yours. Then you get x amount from the developer for being the one who spread the app to somebody else.

    That way you aren’t being paid secretly or upfront to have it on there, you’re just being paid when somebody else wants it — and ANYbody who has that app will be able to do the same, that is, to pass it on to their own friends and readers. You’d just make more money the the average Joe, because you have a lot more friends and because you will be the first to find good apps, because that’s who you are.

    We’re actually doing something like this for my own company.

  • http://bizinlux.blogspot.com/ Robert Bigdowski

    Dear Mr. Scoble,

    Can I call you Robert. I was quite impressed by your blog, that I cited you on my Business in Luxembourg blog [http://bizinlux.blogspot.com] But I wouldn’t go so far as to add you on Facebook.

    There is quite a difference between fan-dom and name-dropping. I just cited ironical that you had to watch out, as another frenetic blogger also called Robert drops into the blogland.

    By the way do you know Iqons? It’s the “MySpace of Fashion”: i write quite alot on Web 2.0. sites and networking.

    Truly sincerly yours,
    Robert B.

  • http://bizinlux.blogspot.com Robert Bigdowski

    Dear Mr. Scoble,

    Can I call you Robert. I was quite impressed by your blog, that I cited you on my Business in Luxembourg blog [http://bizinlux.blogspot.com] But I wouldn’t go so far as to add you on Facebook.

    There is quite a difference between fan-dom and name-dropping. I just cited ironical that you had to watch out, as another frenetic blogger also called Robert drops into the blogland.

    By the way do you know Iqons? It’s the “MySpace of Fashion”: i write quite alot on Web 2.0. sites and networking.

    Truly sincerly yours,
    Robert B.

  • http://dawnkey.wordpress.com/ Dawn Douglass

    Robert, your title should be “If I WERE evil” Subjunctive mood.

    Sorry, but I AM evil. An evil editor by trade. ;)

  • http://dawnkey.wordpress.com/ Dawn Douglass

    Robert, your title should be “If I WERE evil” Subjunctive mood.

    Sorry, but I AM evil. An evil editor by trade. ;)

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Dawn: grrrr. Damn editors!

    Robert: nah, I haven’t been to Iqons yet.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Dawn: grrrr. Damn editors!

    Robert: nah, I haven’t been to Iqons yet.

  • http://sofiawinterborn.wordpress.com/ Sofia

    I dont think your evil, you look very nice and kind Schobleizer

    But this, what is this. Do you think we can get lost after this life? Isnt`t that a creepy thought?

    http://sofiawinterborn.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/sofiawhat-is-a-ghost-and-medium-who-are-they-talking-to/

  • http://sofiawinterborn.wordpress.com Sofia

    I dont think your evil, you look very nice and kind Schobleizer

    But this, what is this. Do you think we can get lost after this life? Isnt`t that a creepy thought?

    http://sofiawinterborn.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/sofiawhat-is-a-ghost-and-medium-who-are-they-talking-to/

  • Chris

    Oh.. oh.. Scooby, I’d buy your used q-tips and toilet paper off ebay any day! If only you’d share some link luv. How Do You Like Your Blue-Eyed Boy now, Mr. Death?
    -Love Shaggy

  • Neil

    Robert, your Facebook profile is NOT the “who’s who” of the whole Tech industry. It’s just the who’s who of the small segment of the Tech industry that you happen to be interested in. There’s a hell of a lot more to it than that.

    Regards
    Neil

  • Chris

    Oh.. oh.. Scooby, I’d buy your used q-tips and toilet paper off ebay any day! If only you’d share some link luv. How Do You Like Your Blue-Eyed Boy now, Mr. Death?
    -Love Shaggy

  • Neil

    Robert, your Facebook profile is NOT the “who’s who” of the whole Tech industry. It’s just the who’s who of the small segment of the Tech industry that you happen to be interested in. There’s a hell of a lot more to it than that.

    Regards
    Neil

  • James

    That’s the problem with old people and facebook, they don’t realize how tenuous the friend connection is. Can you please stop with this talk of how facebook important you are. If facebook friends even mattered there are 9th grade girls in new jersey who’s list of friends and important people would put you to shame. Just because someone adds you doesn’t me they actually care.

  • James

    That’s the problem with old people and facebook, they don’t realize how tenuous the friend connection is. Can you please stop with this talk of how facebook important you are. If facebook friends even mattered there are 9th grade girls in new jersey who’s list of friends and important people would put you to shame. Just because someone adds you doesn’t me they actually care.

  • Brian

    The only problem is that a lot of accounts on Facebook are garbage and some people are serial account adders.

  • Brian

    The only problem is that a lot of accounts on Facebook are garbage and some people are serial account adders.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    “Why shouldn’t I charge $300 to $500 to companies who want me to ad their applications to Facebook?”

    Is this a subtle advertisement for this service you’re offering?
    I’ll give you $300 to run an ad.
    Put your paypal up and see what comes in.
    The advert could go in the comments section.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    “Why shouldn’t I charge $300 to $500 to companies who want me to ad their applications to Facebook?”

    Is this a subtle advertisement for this service you’re offering?
    I’ll give you $300 to run an ad.
    Put your paypal up and see what comes in.
    The advert could go in the comments section.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=613447541&size=o

    After getting lambasted with expensive radio advertising after xmas, and not so effective Google Adwords, I am ready to try just about anything as far as new marketing angles go.

    I’ll throw in another $50 if you “start a conversation” on North American regional IT outsourcing with BCS as the centerpiece w/disclosure.
    There’s a sweet huge office suite across the hall and I want to move in. If you’re up to it make a paypal bill for the total to sal3s_AT_b33rcosoftware.com converting the leet speak to english characters and I’ll make sure it gets handled. Thanks.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=613447541&size=o

    After getting lambasted with expensive radio advertising after xmas, and not so effective Google Adwords, I am ready to try just about anything as far as new marketing angles go.

    I’ll throw in another $50 if you “start a conversation” on North American regional IT outsourcing with BCS as the centerpiece w/disclosure.
    There’s a sweet huge office suite across the hall and I want to move in. If you’re up to it make a paypal bill for the total to sal3s_AT_b33rcosoftware.com converting the leet speak to english characters and I’ll make sure it gets handled. Thanks.

  • LayZ

    What’s evil about making money?

    The question you need to ask though is if you provide the same entertainment/business value that ABC does and thus can you justify charging those rates. The market will obviously vote. But, it’s a great idea and I see nothing evil about it.

    If making money from advertising is evil, then Google was evil from Day 1.

  • LayZ

    What’s evil about making money?

    The question you need to ask though is if you provide the same entertainment/business value that ABC does and thus can you justify charging those rates. The market will obviously vote. But, it’s a great idea and I see nothing evil about it.

    If making money from advertising is evil, then Google was evil from Day 1.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    LayZ, it’s not about the users, it’s about the demographic.

    You can advertise on TV or the Radio to 100,000 people, and it won’t mean anything unless the people that need your service hear it.
    Advertising on TV is a complete crap shoot.

    Scoble has a nice demographic for 1rst world outsourcing. Whatever you want Scoble, keep it reasonable and bill us now if you want to make your idea happen.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    LayZ, it’s not about the users, it’s about the demographic.

    You can advertise on TV or the Radio to 100,000 people, and it won’t mean anything unless the people that need your service hear it.
    Advertising on TV is a complete crap shoot.

    Scoble has a nice demographic for 1rst world outsourcing. Whatever you want Scoble, keep it reasonable and bill us now if you want to make your idea happen.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    Contextual search advertising is also a crap shoot.
    Just because somebody is searching for Porsche does not mean they can afford one, or that they aren’t looking for car games as well or for an auto show. Any advertising offer like this should be taken seriously because it offers a sure thing at a low price.
    I think it’s simply a great idea and I’m ready to sign up.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    Contextual search advertising is also a crap shoot.
    Just because somebody is searching for Porsche does not mean they can afford one, or that they aren’t looking for car games as well or for an auto show. Any advertising offer like this should be taken seriously because it offers a sure thing at a low price.
    I think it’s simply a great idea and I’m ready to sign up.

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  • Harrison Powers

    I find it very hard to believe that you have over 2,000 friends, but since it’s facebook they must all be real friends. Right?

  • Harrison Powers

    I find it very hard to believe that you have over 2,000 friends, but since it’s facebook they must all be real friends. Right?

  • Big Stan

    Is this tongue in cheek, or do you mean to sound this arrogant?

  • Big Stan

    Is this tongue in cheek, or do you mean to sound this arrogant?

  • Mark

    Per Facebook’s terms of service:

    “* upload, post, transmit, share or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, solicitations, promotional materials, “junk mail,” “spam,” “chain letters,” “pyramid schemes,” or any other form of solicitation;”

  • Mark

    Per Facebook’s terms of service:

    “* upload, post, transmit, share or otherwise make available any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, solicitations, promotional materials, “junk mail,” “spam,” “chain letters,” “pyramid schemes,” or any other form of solicitation;”

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Neil: look again. It’s a pretty broad swath of the tech industry. Certainly not everyone, but damn is it getting to be a good collection of people.

    Mark: no worries. I’m not evil anyway and would never do that to my readers.

  • http://scobleizer.com/ Robert Scoble

    Neil: look again. It’s a pretty broad swath of the tech industry. Certainly not everyone, but damn is it getting to be a good collection of people.

    Mark: no worries. I’m not evil anyway and would never do that to my readers.

  • http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/ Mike D.

    Wow, I don’t read your blog, and I’m not sure I’ve ever left a comment on a person’s site merely to tell them they are arrogant, but damn. How do you write this stuff?

  • http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/ Mike D.

    Wow, I don’t read your blog, and I’m not sure I’ve ever left a comment on a person’s site merely to tell them they are arrogant, but damn. How do you write this stuff?

  • LayZ

    @15 “You can advertise on TV or the Radio to 100,000 people, and it won’t mean anything unless the people that need your service hear it.
    Advertising on TV is a complete crap shoot.”

    I guess that explains why there are so many beer, Cialis and auto ads during the Super Bowl that go that go for $2.4MM for 30 seconds. Because it’s a crap shoot and advertisers have no idea if they are reaching their target market or not.

  • LayZ

    @15 “You can advertise on TV or the Radio to 100,000 people, and it won’t mean anything unless the people that need your service hear it.
    Advertising on TV is a complete crap shoot.”

    I guess that explains why there are so many beer, Cialis and auto ads during the Super Bowl that go that go for $2.4MM for 30 seconds. Because it’s a crap shoot and advertisers have no idea if they are reaching their target market or not.

  • LayZ

    “is literally a “who’s who” of the Tech industry”

    Really? Is Gates in there? Jobs? Bezos?, Whitman?, Barrett?, Otellini? Dell?, Hurd?, Seidenberg? Palmisano?, Dorman? Chambers?, Kleinfeld? Nishida? Zander? Any CEO from an F500 tech company? Any executive decision maker from an f500 tech company?

  • LayZ

    “is literally a “who’s who” of the Tech industry”

    Really? Is Gates in there? Jobs? Bezos?, Whitman?, Barrett?, Otellini? Dell?, Hurd?, Seidenberg? Palmisano?, Dorman? Chambers?, Kleinfeld? Nishida? Zander? Any CEO from an F500 tech company? Any executive decision maker from an f500 tech company?

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    “Mark: no worries. I’m not evil anyway and would never do that to my readers.”

    $500 and I’ll put the advert in widget form.
    Nobody obeys the TOS on social networking sites anyway, take my word for it.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com Chris

    “Mark: no worries. I’m not evil anyway and would never do that to my readers.”

    $500 and I’ll put the advert in widget form.
    Nobody obeys the TOS on social networking sites anyway, take my word for it.

  • http://www.beercosoftware.com/ Chris

    BTW, advertising to IT buyers and decision makers isn’t evil at all. I guess you think it is.
    Warren Buffett auctions off lunches with him on eBay for half a million bucks.

    You could even auction off your facebook profile wholesale on ebay if you wanted to, then open another one, rinse and repeat.
    If you don’t want to leverage your assets for cash, then you’re less smart than Chris Pirillo.
    http://www.rentmychest.com/
    Chris Pirillo even rents space on a jpg of his chest.
    Something tells me he will be twice as successful as Scoble at Scoble’s age.