The Two Headed Tadpole
BzzAgent has always had some rules when it comes to the products that we’d run campaigns for. While early on, it might have cost us a few juicy contracts, it is my understanding that we’ve chosen to not represent cigarette companies and a few other categories.
A year ago or so we were struggling with what we called ‘C’ campaigns, programs which didn’t offer much of a product experience, if any, and just didn’t fit our model. Often the client wasn’t willing to go the extra mile to provide the great product evangelist with an experience she/he could really buzz about, even when the product was good. We started focusing our energies on ensuring we didn’t launch a program without an effective experience, but that still let a real issue. The fact is the majority of ‘C’ campaigns were web sites which just didn’t lend themselves to be featured as a BzzCampaign or were too much about acquisition and not enough about honest, good ‘ol WOM.
A year ago then, a few of us started to think of a way to bring Word of Mouth to web sites, in a manner that would be fun and rewarding for our agents and would get customers what they want: exposure, site visits and opinions about their web site, good or bad. A few weeks back, we launched the FrogPond.
A few days ago, I was checking the new frogs, looking at stats, reviews, something I do every day and stumbled upon this frog. I thought the business was wrong or at least the way they went about it (turns out they’re a former client of a good friend of mine too). Obviously I couldn’t just remove it so I walked around the office trying to figure out who the sales person was on that deal and trying to see what other people thought of it. I couldn’t understand how this frog went through our stringent, thorough and mostly seamless quality and ethics verification process. But the program was live, so there was nothing I could really do.
It seems that, in my opinion at least, we have our first “C” frog. I talked to a few people inside BzzAgent and we decided to see how the community would respond, if the frog would organically be rejected by our agents, like a two headed tadpole on Darwin’s service road to extinction.
It did get the worst ratings of any frog, past or present, so there’s a sign that the community will embrace was it loves – and absolutely reject what it doesn’t. What do you guys think ? Wicked bad frog ? Worst Frog evah’ ? Two headed Tadpole ?
September 18th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Yep, that was a pretty bad Frog. I hope you can track down who or what went wrong as so to avoid repeats of that error.
When it first surfaced on the FrogPond, I didn’t even bother visiting the site, since I’m one of the five people on the planet who doesn’t have a cell phone. But I did read through several reports on the site and noticed the almost unanimous panning of the site and complaints about being asked up-front for their cell phone number. Bad vibes. (Do people still say that?)
While I’m not really thrilled about many of the FrogPond selections, I tend to not even bother with those that don’t apply to me. I’m not going to visit and file a report just to get a Participation Point. Except for PaperBackSwap, I haven’t become a user of or regular visitor to any of the Frogs.
At this point in the process, perhaps the FrogPond needs to be examined more carefully as to what BzzAgent is trying to accomplish for its clients and Agents. Just racking up hits? It’s been a very hollow experience on this end so far.
I will say that I’m pleased that there is a weed process involved with all of BzzAgent’s and FrogPond’s clients, and I hope that those standards stay high.
September 18th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I agree with Nyssa’s assessment of the playphone frog and I believe my entire report said something along the lines of “are you kidding? I”m not entering my cell phone just to enter a website”. I was pretty shocked to see it show up in the frogpond and for me, it was probably the low point in the frog experience.
I also agree with her assessment of the frogpond as a whole. I reported early on that I was disappointed with the quality of frogs. To me it definitely seems like a cheap way for a struggling website to rack up hits and increase standing. The only one I have ever returned to is Map My Run.
I am glad that there is a process in place to screen frogs. But honestly, with the current slate of websites, I would be embarrassed to share them with my friends. Speaking as a BzzAgent used to mean something to my circle of friends – my loyal bzz-ee’s. They knew that somehow I had gotten my hands on something that would be wroth trying. Not so with the FrogPond.
I know this wasn’t intended to be a bashing of the FrogPond. But to the point, playphone worst thing to come down the Pike.
September 19th, 2007 at 10:13 am
cellphone number harvesting is waaaayyyy evil.
Two phones ago, before you could easily carry your number over to a new phone, I got a phone that literally received $20 worth of spam text messages every day. Whoever had the number before me obviously wasn’t very scrupulous about who he gave his cell number to. Needless to say, I returned the phone and refused to pay for the text messages.
Can we make a stipulation that we won’t do anything that involves cellphone number harvesting? I mean, when have you seen one of those schemes that isn’t deceptive on some level?
September 19th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Hmm funny how somethings slip by, but I agree with the first thought things that are bad seem to be weeded out effectively and quickly.
I love the PaperBackSwap !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I too have lost interest in the Frogpond and look occasionally and pass on what my friends might like but for the most part ribbit ribbit ribbit. I will keep trying lol… The Trip Advisor is great as well and I have passed that on.
Have a great week people and weekend as it approaches..
I am off for four fun filled days of camping.
September 20th, 2007 at 10:12 am
Interesting, guys. Why did you lose interest in the Frogpond.
Why doesn’t it stick with you ? Does it have to do with the frog selection, user experience, feature ? What would you like to see ?
Probably worthwhile for one of us to blog about it and ask for your feedback but in the meantime…
September 20th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
I have enjoyed looking at the frog pond and peruse the sites when I can. When I landed on the “C” frong I was a little amazed that buzz would have this in their frog pond. I am glad to read you were as well, it gives me more faith to go back and check the pond to see what’s new. The last thing I need is a gimic or something else with a monthly fee.
September 21st, 2007 at 1:13 pm
I am torn about the frogpond. I like to take a look to see what is new there, but I just don’t seem to have the time anymore. I will visit the site, but then don’t have time to leave feedback and then I remember it later when I mention it to a friend, but I think I have yet to recommend one through the frogpond site. I guess it all comes down to time, I even have trouble getting my bzzreports in lately before the campaign closes. I definitely agree that the “C” frog was a big fubar for the frogpond though.
September 22nd, 2007 at 5:42 pm
for me, it’s really a matter of not wanting to pass on sub par websites to my friends. We ALL get too much inbox spam and honestly, sending along an email that says “check this site out” for a website with very little to offer that’s new just isn’t my thing. I think I’ve only passed on two or so links so far. If the websites in the Frog were actually high quality websites, with something new to offer, I’d be all over it. But so far that hasn’t been the case. Who really needs a website that searches ebay for misspelled words in listings?
So that is why I’ve lost interest.
May 24th, 2008 at 12:27 am
increase website hits…
…