Should companies advocate their own stuff on-line?

The Internet at the cross-roads

from JoeUser Forums
We've all seen Brad get flamed when he makes posts and articles and what not that advocate some Stardock program.

The argument goes that only "neutral" observers should be talking about programs. Which I think is total nonsense. If we did that, then it comes down to whose program's supporters are the most vocal without any sort of fairness.

Look what happened with Style XP. When it came out, it got a free ride because people thought it was freeware. The freeware advocates derided WindowBlinds as being buggy and slow and bloated. Then Style XP switched to being a $20 shareware program and many of those same people moved to talking about uxtheme patches. But the damage was done - it took years to begin to change the perception that WindowBlinds was somehow slow and buggy.

I work for Stardock so I don't pretend to be a disinterested party. But I think developers should interact with other users and advocate their programs. As long as they're being polite, honest, and treating others with respect what's wrong with that? Let other developers come in and make their case to users why they should use their program instead.
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4,453 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
To be quite frank, as a customer, I like knowing that the product I am buying (or thinking of buying, whatever the case may be) is good enough that those who made it use it and are pleased with it. I have known car salesmen and mechanics who would never drive the type of cars they sell/fix. What does that say to me? It says run away. Fast and far.

I have no problem with Brad (or anyone else for that matter) pushing their product. I would probably get a irked it they were being abusive or overly defensive, but sticking up for your company and product demonstrates that you have some confidence in it. I think that is important. Of course that introduces some bias into the equation, but is it possible to not have at least some degree of bias? Even someone such as myself, who has nothing to do with any company, could not write a completely objective comparison of, say, Windowblinds and the uxtheme.dll patch simply because I have a preference already. Bias exists, so the customer needs to take what is offered them, examine the opinions and (one of the beauties of the net), try out the programs themselves. But you can't try something out if you don't at least know about it.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Good question, something Ive been thinking about writing a blog entry about.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I think the company should be able to advocate their own stuff, if not them then who? But they should make sure to mention that it is them that is advocating it, not pretend to be someone else or anything like that.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
But they should make sure to mention that it is them that is advocating it, not pretend to be someone else or anything like that.



I agree and Brad does Use his Brad Wardell account on Joeuser when he post stuff about stardock products most of the time. However, like I do in my articles or responses, he should probably explain who he is and his affiliation with stardock. Not everyone knows that he is the owner. A simple tag line on the article that says Brad Wardell, CEO Stardock Corp. or somthing like that.

This should apply to all of us though. I have a long relationship with Brad and Stardock and yes I am biased. So I and many others should have their own tag line also.