How the world's most hated blogger makes money...

[Dien Rice]

Hi Michael,

Originally Posted by MichaelRoss

This is such an obvious Link Getting Ploy I refuse to visit the site. And Dien fell for it by posting a link. Gotcha.

It's a fascinating "case study"...

While I wouldn't really want to be the "world's most hated blogger", it sure shows how "controversy" can bring traffic, bring in free news publicity (Phil back in Nov. posted an article about him from USA Today, I posted an article about him from the Sydney Morning Herald - these are hardly "small time" news sources!) - and even bring in dollars...

As well as being interesting, there could be something useful there...

According to the book "Buzzmarketing" by Mark Hughes (former marketing dude for Half.com, before they were acquired by eBay) says that the 5 most frequently written stories in the news are...

• the David-and-Goliath story
• the unusual or outrageous story
• the controversy story
• the celebrity story
• what's already hot in the media

I guess his story is "unusual" and "controversial" - who would want to be the "world's most hated blogger"? But he realizes he has a good thing going... So perhaps he tries to keep the "controversy" going...

This list explains too why Paris Hilton going to jail is "BIG News"... That combines THREE things - "outrageous", "controversial", and it's happening to a "celebrity" too (thanks to the "Hilton" name)!

Cheers,

Dien