Pervasive permissiveness
Security guards were the bane of my existence when I was a full-time photog: I'd set up a shot on a sidewalk out in front of some corporate headquarters (an absolutely legal thing to do) and within five minutes some clod with a badge and a radio would wander by asking what I was up to.
Google’s big misstep is a great reminder for other marketers: Social media and email work because they represent permission-based marketing channels.
I'd politely explain that I was taking a picture, and they'd start asking questions about who I cleared this with and do I have a business card and we'll just see about all this then, and it's gotten even worse since I left the biz. Garry Winogrand would be on the no-fly list if he were around today...
When it comes to taking pictures, it's better to ask for forgiveness then try to get permission. This is NOT true of online marketing, however, as Google is finding out the hard way.
Sure enough, when I clicked on the Buzz icon in my account I saw that Google had manufactured a list of followers for me, and a list of people to follow, all based on names in my inbox. Some of those names represented friends of mine, who I didn’t mind sharing information with — but some certainly weren’t friends.
Then it hit me: I’d just been opted-in to a social network without my permission.
Then it hit me: I’d just been opted-in to a social network without my permission.
Seth Godin said it, I believe it, that settles it.
This entry was posted by Kevin Creighton, on
3.08.2010.
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