I recently served as a “consultant’s consultant,” advising a world leader in his field on what to do about his website. In particular, this expert asked me whether he should start a weblog. I said no. #
And I say: Yes, by all means, go for it!
I don’t care what field you’re a ‘world leader’ in, I guarantee you, a lot of people out there want to hear your small, hastily written thoughts on whatever topic you might find interesting at any given moment. A hell of a lot more so, than they want to read your deeply serious, hoity toity, graph-ridden ‘article’, which while surely very interesting in its own right, is not where the connection between you and your audience will thrive.
This is because we are humans, and humans, while superficially interested in graphs, long paragraphs and high-concepts, are just hardwired towards seeking human contact. This is why we have idolization and fandom. It’s driven by our basic desire to follow the people we admire.
Translated to my personal sphere of idolization, you could say that while I would surely read a lengthy graph-ridden article by Joss Whedon on Equality now, but conversely, I would just as much like to read a three paragraph quickie on why science fiction movies largely disappoint.
Joss Whedon being a world leader in Whedonesque matters, is thus just as well off with going down either path, if the desired result is ‘attracting customers’.
The problem with Jakob Nielsen — or perhaps rather his audience as it were — is that his articles, top 10’s and ‘usability tests’ are outdated, largely irrelevant and when applicable, made up of nothing but easily thought up logical conclusions aimed at the dull gray ‘we want to be hip with the youngsters, yo’ corporate market, from which he makes his money.
So if you’re hip, down with the beat and ‘happenin’, save yourself the headache, use your brain, not useit.com, and the rest should come easily.
We can measure expertise as some combination of intelligence, education, experience, correct methodology, professionalism (say, avoiding profanities and politics), and willingness to be frank.
I don’t mean to be the ‘look at me, we’re revolutionary’-idiot with the sign around his neck, because, let’s face it, my content isn’t exactly revolutionary as such. But what a piece of elitist ego-stroking generalized no-sharp-edges PR-friendly bullshit.
Jakob Nielsen, there’s a telegraph for you; it reads: “2007 going well stop. Hope you are also well in 1997 stop. Please stop stop.”
More:
Should Bloggers Assume that Their Readers are Dumber than They Are?
Jakob Nielsen Sounds Off About Web 2.0… Again!
Amen!
Yep, his site still looks like it’s 1995.
I think we can all agree that Jakobs finger is no longer on the pulse, in fact it’s very far away from the pulse, most likely up his ass (figuratively of course)
Preach it, brother!
Still don’t understand how his unreadable website is supposed to be the model for all of us. Always good to read your thoughts about various topics.
I think I’ve finally got it, you need to be angry to write about something, and you do it soo well :). I especially liked:
The man has got some pretty idiotic notions, unfortunately for some reason he gets people to believe he’s a leading expert in the internet field which people (companies) flock towards and pay through the nose for. Loved the Black Adder reference as well.
Obviously I don’t get it (or care really), but GODDAMN, I love it when you’re angry Mike. Hahaha, more!
Yeah Khaled, I think you’ve got something there :)
There was a Black Adder reference?
While Mr. Nielsen might be wrong, and probably is, bu have a look at Teh Scobelizer. Come on, everything doesn’t revolve about yourselves.
I think we are dealing with a lot of rather huge egos here, and I need to quote Black Adder: “How hurt would you be if I gave you the honest answer? I’d rather french kiss a skunk.”
“Bozo ramblings are on the left”
Ahem, I’d have never read anything by bozo Nielsen if bozo Michael hadn’t linked to him. Bozo Nielsen is making a bit too much noise imho and seems to be out of the loop a bit much.
It’s amusing in a ‘hey, look at the dinosaur’ kind of way.
I think that Jackob Nielsen meant not blog as a chronological publication of thoughts but blog as a current phenomenon which is characterized mainly by the very low ratio of signal vs. noise (most of the blog post out there are crap).
So if you are an expert in your field doesn’t start a blog just because everyone out there has one. Don’t write down every bit that comes cross your mind. Take time to think about what you’re writing and why you’re writing it.
No matter what form your writings take – a blog, weekly newsletter or whatever else – the quality of content is what matters. And Jackob Nielsen insists that the more time an expert invests in writing an article (post), the higher the quality of that piece will be. Common sense… And Nielsen’s columns are just this – a reminder of common sense practicies, that many of us forget.
And I largely disagree with him.
As somebody who thinks the vast majority of the blogosphere is stupid and ridiculous, I don’t see what the problem is with telling someone, “Please, dude. Not another fucking blog.”
One of the biggest problems with the “blogosphere” is all the bloggers with nothing to say that aren’t smart enough to realize it.
To use your example, while I’m interested in the creative output of Joss Whedon’s mind, I don’t care at all what he ate for breakfast or where he went on vacation or whatever.
If you’ve got something worthwhile to say, then by all means say it, but take the time to think it through, structure it well, proofread, rewrite, fact check, and do all those other things that aren’t very conducive to blog posting.
Maybe it’s just me, but if some expert is writing about the subject of their expertise, I’d much rather see a well-written article that had some care put into it than a quickie blog post with no details and poor structure. Anything worth doing is worth doing well, including writing.
Which only goes to show that your opinion on the subject might not be the most informed; no offence.