Comments on: Influence isn’t all-or-nothing http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/ ... at the intersection of media, technology, business and the web Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:53:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Shyam Kumar http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341851 Shyam Kumar Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:51:24 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341851 Good Summary. <br><br>My view: Anyone can be the 'Influential', it's a question of a plethora of not so random characteristics merging in a random manner. <br>In words that make more sense, dont market to the Top 10 or to the Top+Bottom 1000. Market to the Middle class which has potential to go both ways, and hence equal probability of becoming/reaching 'accidental influentials' and of mass marketing as well.<br><br>A very interesting topic no doubt and one that will be, and is being, twisted and turned to no end. <br><br>As they say, " If you speak a lie over and over again, one day you'll believe it's true." or something to that effect.<br>You can already see signs of 'Influentials', accidental or not, influencing misinterpreted and misguided posts.<br><br>Should be fun... Good Summary.

My view: Anyone can be the 'Influential', it's a question of a plethora of not so random characteristics merging in a random manner.
In words that make more sense, dont market to the Top 10 or to the Top+Bottom 1000. Market to the Middle class which has potential to go both ways, and hence equal probability of becoming/reaching 'accidental influentials' and of mass marketing as well.

A very interesting topic no doubt and one that will be, and is being, twisted and turned to no end.

As they say, ” If you speak a lie over and over again, one day you'll believe it's true.” or something to that effect.
You can already see signs of 'Influentials', accidental or not, influencing misinterpreted and misguided posts.

Should be fun…

]]> By: mathewi http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341849 mathewi Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:13:02 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341849 That's a good point, Rick. That's a good point, Rick.

]]> By: Scott Pearson http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341850 Scott Pearson Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:18:15 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341850 Interesting perspective and comments - for a broader insight you might find Duncan Brown's new book - Influencer Marketing - Who really Influences your customers a good read - <a href="http://www.influencermarketingbook.com/">http://www.influencermarketingbook.com/</a> Interesting perspective and comments - for a broader insight you might find Duncan Brown's new book - Influencer Marketing - Who really Influences your customers a good read - http://www.influencermarketingbook.com/

]]> By: Rick Calvert http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341848 Rick Calvert Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:07:09 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341848 Maybe someone has said it somewhere but I haven't seen it yet. The most important factor to a product or service success is that it is good. Once you have that then you need to get the word out so people know it's good. <br><br>Sure there are lots of crappy products that capitalize on some fad. Where someone with some influence uses it and says "hey this piece of crap is cool" and for whatever reason people buy into the hype. But those are the exceptions. Most crappy products with big budgets and sophisticated marketing strategies fail and for a good reason... They are crap. <br><br>To say that you don't absolutely have to have "an influencer" to break through with a product and be successful makes sense. But to suggest that influencers don't matter is silly. <br><br>Of course they matter. They just aren't the only thing that matters.<br><br>Not sure if I made any sense there or not 8). Maybe someone has said it somewhere but I haven't seen it yet. The most important factor to a product or service success is that it is good. Once you have that then you need to get the word out so people know it's good.

Sure there are lots of crappy products that capitalize on some fad. Where someone with some influence uses it and says “hey this piece of crap is cool” and for whatever reason people buy into the hype. But those are the exceptions. Most crappy products with big budgets and sophisticated marketing strategies fail and for a good reason… They are crap.

To say that you don't absolutely have to have “an influencer” to break through with a product and be successful makes sense. But to suggest that influencers don't matter is silly.

Of course they matter. They just aren't the only thing that matters.

Not sure if I made any sense there or not 8).

]]> By: mathewi http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341847 mathewi Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:44:02 +0000 http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2008/01/28/influence-isnt-all-or-nothing/#comment-341847 I would agree with all of those points, Mark -- and I think that Watts<br>and Gladwell probably agree more than they disagree. Influencers do<br>exist, but they're not as hugely important as Gladwell makes them out<br>to be, and the environment does have to be ready in order for them (or<br>even an average influencer) to have an impact. I would agree with all of those points, Mark — and I think that Watts
and Gladwell probably agree more than they disagree. Influencers do
exist, but they're not as hugely important as Gladwell makes them out
to be, and the environment does have to be ready in order for them (or
even an average influencer) to have an impact.

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