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I confess I've been trying a similar kind of thing attempting to promote a website of mine. I find people who've written about competitors and email them inviti

I confess I've been trying a similar kind of thing attempting to promote a website of mine. I find people who've written about competitors and email them inviting them to try my site and asking for their thoughts. Is this scummy or is it acceptable? I'm hoping it's different because the pertinent material is public, rather than private like in the OP's case. --- Edit: I think in retrospect watty has a point, I've removed the links. I also didn't expect this comment to rise to the top, and it is kind of off-topic. Apologies.

mattgibson 13y ago
I'd say that if you're using public info that they have chosen to share, e.g. blog posts, then acceptable. If using underhand tactics like tracking them via an ad network, then maybe scummy.
Zikes 13y ago
Sounds pretty above-the-board to me. They've publicly written about the subject and you've invited them to explore another option.
- gabemart 13y ago
  Thanks, I feel the same way and hope it's OK. It's just that, when it comes to marketing, even when I'm doing something I believe intellectually and ethically is OK, it sometimes gives me the heebie-jeebies. I made a post in /r/productivity on reddit and everyone there was super nice. A couple of people suggested that I cross-post to a some other subreddits; I couldn't find the right way to say "I really appreciate the encouragement but I'm afraid I'll look like a spammer"
  - sharkweek 13y ago
    99% of marketing is either promoting a great product with little audience or polishing a turd (most times a mix of each). I've done both. It's a lot easier to sleep working on the first, but sometimes the second can be more fun. Haven't tried your product yet, but it seems like you fall into the first half of that statement. It's ok to promote your hard work and you shouldn't feel bad about it. Marketing isn't inherently spammy, don't overthink it
watty 13y ago
This is completely different. I think you knew that but saw this as an opportunity to (further) promote asoftmurmer.
- edraferi 13y ago
  Mentioned the competitors too. I have no problem with the post.
- gabemart 13y ago
  I suppose the problem with this sort of thing is that it's turtles all the way down.
- ceeK 13y ago
  An opportunity well taken, too.
- nilkn 13y ago
  Now your post is the only one that mentions his startup by name. Brilliantly played, I must say.
atmosx 13y ago
I think the point is to understand how a third party obtained the potential client's email.
- lvturner 13y ago
  whois At least one of the domains linked on that site leaks his gmail account through it.
EGreg 13y ago
It's a fine gesture, although I would say the timing is interesting. They've already made a decision to go with someone. I guess it's better than waiting until they invest even more in that competitor's integration. But I would much rather find out when people sign up to COMPLEMENTS of your service, and offer them your service as an addition instead of being combative :) http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/StrategyLetterV.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/StrategyLetterV.html
larrys 13y ago
"Is this scummy or is it acceptable?" At the size you are at (you probably have a pretty small footprint?) I don't think it matters what you get as an answer from people on HN (or your friends or some blogger) but rather how would your target audience feel? And more importantly even if they don't like it will that really impact the bottom line? Meaning will enough people care to stop using you and spread the word of your "scummy" practice? (So for example if you are promoting on HN then "live by the sword die by the sword" and you'd better care about appearing scummy. Otoh if you are selling hats to soccer mom's in the midwest it's a entirely different story, right?) My feeling is you can't go around worrying about being "scummy or acceptable". First everyone has a different opinion of where that line is. And 2nd all those people with opinions on what you should do aren't going to pay your bills are they? I remember back in the mid 90's people would ask "do people care if you ping them?" (meaning unix ping not "hey what's up") or not? I mean if they care what are they going to do?
api 13y ago
I've done this too, and I don't think it's unethical if you're doing it in public forums. I try not to do it too much or be spammy about it... I just find public forums where people are looking for ways to do a certain thing and then suggest my own thing as an option.

mattgibson 13y ago

I'd say that if you're using public info that they have chosen to share, e.g. blog posts, then acceptable. If using underhand tactics like tracking them via an ad network, then maybe scummy.

Zikes 13y ago

Sounds pretty above-the-board to me. They've publicly written about the subject and you've invited them to explore another option.

gabemart 13y ago
Thanks, I feel the same way and hope it's OK. It's just that, when it comes to marketing, even when I'm doing something I believe intellectually and ethically is OK, it sometimes gives me the heebie-jeebies. I made a post in /r/productivity on reddit and everyone there was super nice. A couple of people suggested that I cross-post to a some other subreddits; I couldn't find the right way to say "I really appreciate the encouragement but I'm afraid I'll look like a spammer"
- sharkweek 13y ago
  99% of marketing is either promoting a great product with little audience or polishing a turd (most times a mix of each). I've done both. It's a lot easier to sleep working on the first, but sometimes the second can be more fun. Haven't tried your product yet, but it seems like you fall into the first half of that statement. It's ok to promote your hard work and you shouldn't feel bad about it. Marketing isn't inherently spammy, don't overthink it

watty 13y ago

This is completely different. I think you knew that but saw this as an opportunity to (further) promote asoftmurmer.

edraferi 13y ago
Mentioned the competitors too. I have no problem with the post.
gabemart 13y ago
I suppose the problem with this sort of thing is that it's turtles all the way down.
ceeK 13y ago
An opportunity well taken, too.
nilkn 13y ago
Now your post is the only one that mentions his startup by name. Brilliantly played, I must say.

atmosx 13y ago

I think the point is to understand how a third party obtained the potential client's email.

lvturner 13y ago
whois At least one of the domains linked on that site leaks his gmail account through it.

EGreg 13y ago

It's a fine gesture, although I would say the timing is interesting. They've already made a decision to go with someone. I guess it's better than waiting until they invest even more in that competitor's integration. But I would much rather find out when people sign up to COMPLEMENTS of your service, and offer them your service as an addition instead of being combative :) http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/StrategyLetterV.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/StrategyLetterV.html

larrys 13y ago

"Is this scummy or is it acceptable?" At the size you are at (you probably have a pretty small footprint?) I don't think it matters what you get as an answer from people on HN (or your friends or some blogger) but rather how would your target audience feel? And more importantly even if they don't like it will that really impact the bottom line? Meaning will enough people care to stop using you and spread the word of your "scummy" practice? (So for example if you are promoting on HN then "live by the sword die by the sword" and you'd better care about appearing scummy. Otoh if you are selling hats to soccer mom's in the midwest it's a entirely different story, right?) My feeling is you can't go around worrying about being "scummy or acceptable". First everyone has a different opinion of where that line is. And 2nd all those people with opinions on what you should do aren't going to pay your bills are they? I remember back in the mid 90's people would ask "do people care if you ping them?" (meaning unix ping not "hey what's up") or not? I mean if they care what are they going to do?

api 13y ago

I've done this too, and I don't think it's unethical if you're doing it in public forums. I try not to do it too much or be spammy about it... I just find public forums where people are looking for ways to do a certain thing and then suggest my own thing as an option.