An Open Letter To Joseph Jaffe

Dear Joseph Jaffe,

If you can challenge Barack Obama to reply to a blog post of yours I don’t think its unreasonable for me to do the same thing to you.

On recent podcasts, you’ve been asking what have we, the listeners, have done for you lately. You asked us to recommend your podcast to friends, family and co workers assuming we had done nothing for you already.

Well the fact is we don’t owe you anything. Just like a consumer owes nothing to a brand. Even if you provide a weekly podcast for free, you can’t expect your customers to do anything for you. In fact, shouldn’t you be greatful you have our loyalty?

This is not to say I haven’t done anything for you. You appear on my blogroll, I’ve linked to you before and even recommended your podcast and blog to others. If you were to ignore that, aren’t I at least partly responsible for both your Apple iPhone and Dell Notebook which you received through sponsorship?

So Joseph, I challenge you to reply to this blog post and tell me why I owe you anything. In a time where consumers have never been so powerful, we could go one step further and ask, in the words of Eddie Murphy; What have you done for me lately?

Kind regards,

Zac Martin

No Comments
  • jaffejuice
    Posted at May 16, 2008 8:31am, 16 May Reply

    Terrific post and *of course* I’m going to respond.

    Truth is (as you put it) you’ve done a lot for me…even by creating this post, you’re engaging me and I thank you for that.

    Don’t misinterpret my challenging tone for anything more than it is….one part irreverence…one part provocation and one part experimentation.

    Just by listening you are adding value. I guess the gist of my “challenge” was more a general question i.e. what should a hopefully loyal, recurring audience, getting content for free, do for their host in return.

    Keep on keeping on my friend. Now where is Obama when you need him!

  • Stefan
    Posted at May 30, 2008 12:21am, 30 May Reply

    Zac, just listened to Jaffe’s latest podcast, episode 109 and you my friend have been “Juiced” or at least that’s what I’m calling it when Joseph spreads his miracle marketing dust on the little people. Nice post, reminds a little of intelligirl. Keep up the marketing efforts below the EQ.

    Stefan Holt
    http://www.acktivemedia.com

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