Jason Calacanis responded to a comment on this blog by Ray saying that Weblogs Inc come across as ‘aloof’ with the following comment which I thought has some interesting tidbits in it worth highlighting here on the main page.
‘The aloof is probably due to the fact that we are getting crushed with requests to partner on things, and partnerships take a loooooooooong time to close.
We’ve found that closing a partnership deal with someone could be thousands in legal costs and lot more of that in my time… so, we’re focusing on hiring bloggers to work on the blogs we’ve started and have on the launch pad right now.
a lot of folks come to me with an idea, but they don’t want to do the work–that is, they don’t want to blog every day for a year or two to build it. We really don’t need ideas… ideas mean nothing in this business, it’s all about execution of the idea. We have a list of 700 blog topics… chances are no good idea isn’t on it (in fact it has a bunch of bad ideas at the bottom!).
we work with bloggers–people who blog… i think there are a lot of “idea people” out there–whatever that means. we really don’t need idea people.
best j’
I can imagine the requests and ideas that must come across Jason and his team’s desks/inboxes each day – and the ensuing nightmare in sorting them all through. In the few instances when I’ve negotiated partnerships with other bloggers I know that it can be very time consuming – especially when you’re doing via email. I also can relate to his comments on ‘ideas people’ vs bloggers who are willing to actually put the work in over time – this a massive key to profitable blogging and such people can be difficult to find.
I will say that in the interactions that I’ve had with some Weblogs Inc employees and bloggers (massive generalization ahead – proceed with caution) that I too have come away at times feeling that they have been quite ‘aloof’ also – to be honest I’ve come away from a couple of email conversations feeling pretty small and ‘put in my place’.
However I also understand that sometimes the pressures of a busy life and constant emails from people mean that one tends to be more blunt and abrupt in their replies. Even the friendliest people I know can come across as disinterested, arrogant or even rude via email on a bad day. I can’t imagine the pressure that Jason’s team must be under to not only keep 75 or so blogs running but to keep growing the network. So with this in mind I’ve not taken any personal offence at the way that some of them have interacted with me.
I guess the challenge that all Bloggers (commercial ones or not) face as their blogs grow is how to remain connected to and interactive with their readers whilst still achieving the goals and objectives of their blogs. It would be a similar pressure that a growing business owner would face with their customers and employees – how to keep things personalized in something that is rapidly growing. I guess it boils down to priorities and personality type partly also.
Anyway I thank Jason for his comment – I appreciate that you’re willing to interact with us over here at ProBlogger as I know you must have a busy life. All the best with your continued expansion of WIN.
