[Buy the print here etc.]
With my recent post, “Reclaim Blogging: Why I’m giving up Twitter and Facebook” making all that fuss all around the Web, obviously I’ve been reflecting a lot on blogging in general.
What is blogging for?
More specifically, what is gapingvoid.com for?
Even more specifically, what is gapingvoid.com actually ABOUT?
Blogging is the same as careers: Every now and then it helps to take some time off, to reflect, to regroup and refocus. Which is EXACTLY what I’ve been doing these last couple of days.
Having a big ol’ think.…
My conclusion?
Besides drawing and posting cartoons, which I’ve always done and will always do until I die, I believe the focus of gapingvoid should be something it’s riffed on nonstop for the last half-decade.
i.e. Social Objects.
i.e. Why Social Objects are, I believe, the future of marketing.
And why are they the future of marketing, exactly?
Because unless businesses and brands get their head around the Social Object concept, their marketing will fail, end of story.
And Marketing is too important to fail, not just for businesses, but for society in general.
This is a conversation that HAS to happen, end of story. And where better to start this conversation than on gapingvoid? Exactly.
And yes, I expect some REALLY COOL art to be made in the process…
Rock on.
The New Republic
Len Schlesinger
Tony Hsieh
Seth Godin
Brian Clark
fyi… there’s a typo in the /so link… http://gapinbgvoid.com/so thanks, Hugh!
Oops. Yeah, thanks Jerome, Fixed etc
Social objects are the main reason I still read your blog.
I actually don’t like your drawing style — it’s way too simple and abstract for me.
But I simply luv the messages, and the overall mission they represent, and
that’s why I eagerly await each new one.
They are so emotionally powered with that belief that equals mine, and that’s why they connect with me.
It’s still amazing that major brands don’t get that mission/belief “branding”, as it’s the future, especially since there’s unlimited competition online.
Way to go !
Hey Mars,
Heh. Yeah, well, non-abstract stuff has its place, too… Glad you like the messages, anyway.
I think the problem with “New Marketing” i.e. Social-Object marketing, is not that people don’t get it– they do– it’s also that somehow they have to sell the idea to their bosses.
And selling ANYTHING new to one’s boss is always a slow, painful process.
So when people see a new idea, their first reaction has nothing to do with the objectivity of the idea, but with THE PAIN their bosses will soon be inflicting on them
EVERYONE has dealt with this before– it fine, it’s to be expected, it’s part of the game, it’s part of the challenge…
Onwards!