New co will never sell advertising or any type of sponsorships. We’ll also never sell user data but that’s a rif for a different time.
Why no advertising?
Simple – I loathe the idea of having to work with ad agencies and marketers. A different company I manage (super small) sells advertising and it’s a nightmare thanks to the fact that about 95% of “marketers” are lightweight clowns looking to outsource any type of strategic thinking to some other agency.
A summary of a normal meeting with [insert name of just about every company I’ve ever worked with] marketing team goes like this:
Me: you all bought four brand coverage articles – what would you like us to write about?
Clown Co marketer: unsure, do you have some ideas?
Me: OK, what type of strategic goals do you have for this year?
Clown Co marketer: [hear blinking, no talking]
Me: OK, do you have specific industries you’d like to increase market share
CCM: [more blinking]
Me: [head now on table, happy to not be on video call]
…
and the call goes on like that until we finally think of something to write about and my company essentially becomes the strategy arm of yet other technology company.
All is good until a new CCM shows up and starts questioning everything … delays happen … challenging half-questions occur … end of contract.
Fuck that.
This Co ain’t working with CCMs. We’re going to sell a remarkable product to consumers and business and enjoy those profits.