Subcribers of Techcrunch, would have read about the bad publicity that Nuffnang is getting from the recent post, Asian Blog Ad Network Leaves Some Bloggers Unhappy.
I don’t understand why some people are so petty about the satu ringgit, that they have to create a mountain out of a molehill so much so that even a blog like Techcrunch found it fit to blog about. I mean, for my aching knee’s sake, one piece of cheque nowadays already cost 15 sens, and out of the 50 pieces inside my cheque book, I throw away at lest 5 or 6 pieces because I wrote it wrongly. I think the cheques Nuffnang sents out cost more than that as it is different from the cheques we write from our cheque books. Why create such a big fuss over one ringgit? Very soon, it won’t even buy you a piece of roti canai.
Unfortunately, either Timothy did not realise about the post at techcrunch or maybe they have decided that keeping quiet is the best remedy, as there have been no damage control done there. Their bitter rival have been quick to put in some words to take advantage of the situation.
Timothy and Ming are great guys. I have met them personally at the Blogger’s party last year and I have great respect for these 2 young man who knows what they are doing. I seriously doubt about the accusation thrown at them over the one ringgit issue and it must be a genuine oversight on their part not to have informed their bloggers beforehand about it. Like I said, it was just one ringgit, even if they were not informed before hand, there should not have been silly accusations thrown. They could have asked for clarifications first.
Now we have the whole world sneering at us and the way business is conducted online. Is that what we want? Our reputation is already so bad that PayPal and Clickbank don’t even recognise our Banks as trustworthy. If this goes on, pretty soon even PPP will say bloggers from Malaysia are not qualified to post for them.
July 15th, 2008
8 Comments at "Damage Control."
I hope they are not trying to use silence as the remedy. It will not work.
Maybe not everyone knows. I’ve no idea what the hoo ha is about…. until I read it here.
It’s a disappointment that everyone is stuck at the $1 admin charge and not look at the bigger picture as they advocate with their comment. If we are seriously looking at the entire picture, Nuffnang’s problem is more than just that $1. Somehow, I don’t understand why everyone read about the $1 and jammed there. Is that $1 the only issue about Nuffnang?
From customer experience to response time etc, it is undeniable that they pale in comparison to Advertlets. It is a fact that nobody can overturn.
If Nuffnang and Nuffnangers are unwilling to accept and embrace the fact that there is something very wrong in the business model and philosophies, then they only have themselves to blame eventually when Nuffnang fails. Just like what your blog title reads now, no amount of PR can help them now. Only two things they can do… damage control and reshape their business model. It doesn’t helps when Nuffnangers go all out and accused that this is an competitor-driven campaign against Nuffnang. As long as these two remains as the two main players here, there will be no end of comparison. Such comparison are unavoidable, and the only way to overcome this is doing better than the other. Is Nuffnang doing that?
Like DK said, silence is not a remedy at all.
interesting… very interesting. dog eat dog world…
Hi Ah Pek,
Thank you very much for your very kind words.
Yesterday I sent an e-mail to the blogger at Techcrunch to clarify many mistakes and facts that he has gotten wrong in his article, even providing the evidence to prove it.
The reason why you have not heard from us is because whatever controversy or bad publicity anyone might churn out on us our focus remains the same.
1) To bring more advertisers in.
Yes, in spite of having launched campaigns from TM, Tune Hotels, HUGO, Maxis and DiGi in the past 2 weeks ALONE, we have plenty more deals to chase.
2) To build a blogger community.
Replying actively to many of these comments and getting involved in this blog war will only act to DIVIDE the blogosphere. I can’t speak for every other competitor or player in the industry, but as far as Nuffnang is concerned, our actions and intentions are to UNITE, and NOT divide.
In short, we believe that Nuffnang has brought plenty of value to many of our bloggers and there are many of them who will testify to that. Be it in monetizing ad space or even in organizing community events, we know we have contributed to the blogosphere.
Getting involved in a mud slinging competition is only counter-productive. At the end of the day, we believe that the blogging community is a self-regulating one. Some bloggers will support, some will condemn and we welcome each blogger to make their own decisions.
Once again Ah Pek, thank you very much for your kind support. The first time I met you, we at Nuffnang had achieved nothing, not even a single advertising deal. Yet, I will always recall how you wrote about how you had the confidence in us.
Today, Nuffnang has grown multi-folds from a small internet startup that started in a small office in Penang to company with fully staffed offices in Penang, KL and Singapore and you still believe in us in this time of crisis.
Thank you for your faith Ah Pek. I will always remember this.
-Timothy Tiah of Nuffnang
me also blur, dunno anything till now
haha guessed what? i also just learn about this now jek! lol
AhPek, we only need to remember one thing. Anything in the news is publicity regardless of good or bad. One good example is Paris Hilton. Her home-made video turned her into a mega star of no talent. Nuffnang maybe on the same road to glory
P/S not forgetting Pamela Anderson’s home-made video too
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