Photo-A-Day #1580
Ted Murphy, CEO of IZEA turned 33 today He asked that people give him photos of themselves with their tongues out. I was only happy too oblige.
Ted takes a lot of crap, apparently from his dog too. But today is the guy’s birthday and people not only came out to celebrate his birthday but to fire barbs at him with regards to his latest venture, Sponsored Tweets. However, today there was a very good article, written in a balanced manner too, by FastCompany. It was titled “IZEA Calls for Transparency, but Can Twitter Remain Pure?“. What I don’t understand is that there are all these programs out there to increase your twitter followers as quickly as possible, companies that pay people to tweet and disclose nothing and yet IZEA catches crap. IZEA is out there publicly telling people that they are paying people to tweet. Publicly disclosing each tweet and manually accepting each advertiser.
I’ve done sponsored tweets through SocialSpark as well as with Sponsored Tweets and before Sponsored Tweets was announced there weren’t that many people causing such a huge uproar about it. Sponsored Tweets have been happening for a while now and only IZEA is the only one disclosing. So why is IZEA the whipping boy? Why aren’t people screaming from the rafters that if any of their followers use another service that they will unfollow them? Why IZEA. Why the haters? Why tear down and be destructive? I can’t figure it out.
Ted, you’ve got to be part duck for all the stuff that you’ve got to let roll off your back. Have a happy birthday man!
Disclosure – I am an IZEA Insider. I’ve been working with them since 2006. Ted Murphy and I have hung out before. I believe in his message and his sincerity.
Great picture!!! Happy Birthday Ted, and I just want to say that I feel all the people who are coming down on him for the whole sponsored tweets thing are just pissed because they didn’t think of it first.
.-= Look at what Jennifer wrote blog ..TJ Maxx / Marshalls Event in Boston =-.
Jennifer,
That is the feeling I get from it too. OR they want to somehow build themselves up by tearing him (Ted) and anyone working with Ted down. Petty.
I’ve always stood by the thought when it comes to sponsored conversations (be it on a blog or Twitter or elsewhere) that we’re a new frontier of marketing (social marketing of course) on new mediums. If you look at Twitter as a platform like the telephone or postal mail or e-mail, people think of marketing as “spam” – because Twitter is free. But the nature of opting-in to Twitter following gives everyone the freedom of choice. People whose tweets bother you? Unfollow them. Annoy you directly? Block them. Done. Providing useful information about products or services we actually like *and* getting paid for it? Priceless. Eff the haters – IZEA bloggers and Tweeters rock!
.-= Look at what The Raging Tech wrote blog ..Apple’s Speculative PayPal Killer =-.
Raging Tech,
I agree with you. If you don’t want to hear about something that someone tweets then unfollow, very simple.
Happy Birthday Ted! Love the sponsored tweets, just ignore all the complaints. Jealousy is dumb.
.-= Look at what Baba wrote blog ..Welcome to FeedBurner =-.
Baba,
Well said. I love that I can choose, disclose and be true to my followers.
Oh yay! Same day as my dad!!!
Mo,
I remember riding around with your Dad in Josephine 3 years ago yesterday. https://benspark.com/photo-a-day-485-080606.html I’ve gone back and renamed the post and updated it. What a cool car, does he still have it?
He does!! My mom and I were talking the other day about how “Josephine” will make the hike down to Florida when they move here permanently. That was a fun visit with you and Allison. Not a lot of my friends have met “Josephine.” The post is a very nice tribute to her and my Dad. Thanks!!
Mo,
I hope that they can get her down to FLA safely. That would be a great car to have there to cruise in. Glad you liked the post. Funny how it was a day after his birthday too.