Thread

1. boesboes · 1790075706 · focus · HN ↗

   Marketing, the great value siphon. Marketing adds NOTHING of value of the world.

   1. adrianN · 1790075867 · focus · HN ↗

      Product discoverability has some value, but marketing is largely a zero sum game.

      1. pluc · 1790077292 · focus · HN ↗

         Marketing is the art of fucking with discoverability so that your shit gets discovered instead of what is relevant.

         1. strictnein · 1790083414 · focus · HN ↗

            You are familiar with Nike and Adidas. I want to start a shoe brand that makes shoes that would coincidentally be perfectly suited for your needs (whatever sport, activity, etc you enjoy). How do I get you to notice them?

            1. pluc · 1790085057 · focus · HN ↗

               You make it relevant instead of merely making it present.
            2. account42 · 1790090371 · focus · HN ↗

               Why do you think I am familiar with Nike and Adidas? Why would someone look to buy them instead of looking objectively at whats available?

               You're competing against the very thing you're arguing for.

            3. mrguyorama · 1790107239 · focus · HN ↗

               Why should I want your shoe brand? Why should I have to notice your shoe brand? Is your shoe not so good on it's own that anyone who buys one will go out of their way to tell everyone they know?

               It isn't?

               Then go away.

               It's my attention. What right do you have to purchase it?

      2. mordae · 1790077440 · focus · HN ↗

         Discoverability is trivially solvable by dedicating journalists to products. There are already events the companies use to present their products, frequented by journalists who then proceed to write periodicals with new product categories, benchmarks and comparisons.

         Those do get gamed and might cheat since they'd get kickbacks, but that should result in a reputation loss as other journalists point it out. There are also various cooperative models that work here well as members can just vote kickback-taking staff out.

         People used to actually subscribe to magazines (and some still do) in areas they are interested in. And they still go and visit the shops to see if anything interesting pops up and there is word of mouth.

         So I believe discoverability is not really a problem. The fact is that polished advertisements take up bandwidth that would be more productively utilized by a benchmark comparison chart with a commentary on differentiators. People would get more performant and/or better fitting products and services and the overall productivity and happiness would increase.

         1. iamacyborg · 1790078893 · focus · HN ↗

            What you are talking about is marketing and advertising. You’re not solving anything.
      3. someguynamedq · 1790079403 · focus · HN ↗

         Hedonistic treadmill says there is little to no value in product discoverability. Marketing is usually creating a new feeling of need, not servicing an authentic existing one.

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