Are You Making Yourself Obsolete?

15 replies
A lot of us use automated processes that make things easier for us.

For example, we may set our domain names to automatically renew. Saves the time and trouble of doing it manually. Also prevents forgetting to do so, or thinking you've already renewed it, and losing a domain (or two or three...).

But, then there are people that, perhaps, take things a bit too far.

There are, for example, social networking sites which were designed to allow people to interact, socially, online.

But, there are those that automate their social interactions.

They automatically follow or unfollow people.

They have posts automatically sent to their social networking accounts.

Then, taking things further, they'll have sites which scrape and/or spin the content from other sites so that their content is automatically created.

So, what we have are automated websites, automatically creating content, whose links are then automatically sent, to be sent to people who are not actually being interacted with, some of which may be using automated tools themselves, so they don't have to manually sort through all the automated stuff they don't care to see.

In other words, we have entire networks of websites and social networking accounts where information is being shared by no live people--just bots and other automated systems.

If the Internet ever became self-aware, how long do you suppose before it'd realize it really didn't need us anymore? After all, most of "our" interactions are really the Internet "talking" amongst itself.

A good number of marketers have managed to take the "social" out of social networking and replaced it with automation, and then come here, scratching their heads, complaining that MySpace/Twitter/Facebook/whatever just isn't working anymore.

Well, you know, computers generally don't buy stuff. People do. So, when you remove people from the equation, it's not terribly surprising that your sales might suffer.

There's a point at which automation becomes detrimental.

Think about it. Automated systems cannot create something out of nothing. The starting point is something created by a person.

You can be that creator, or you can be part of the automation system. The thing is that it's harder to replace the creator than it is to replace the automation. So, if you're not the creator, you are very replaceable. Anyone can set up an automated system. Anyone can duplicate that. You've made yourself obsolete, even if you do not realize it.

It's harder to automate originality.
#making #obsolete
  • Profile picture of the author freemen14
    Very good post. Some thinking to do and thanks for posting.

    I worked in management for McDonald's and used to think about the same things as it became very automatic.

    My feeling is that if a site provides a quality service of whatever kind then it's useful. No matter if automatic or not.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I have often thought about that. It is what I call, tongue-in-cheek, Marketing Masturbation.

    You think you are accomplishing something great, but it is just you in the room, and no one else cares what you have done.
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

    Well, you know, computers generally don't buy stuff. People do. So, when you remove people from the equation, it's not terribly surprising that your sales might suffer.
    Smartest post I've read in a good while.
    Revenge of the bots.
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  • Profile picture of the author Hesaidblissfully
    Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

    A good number of marketers have managed to take the "social" out of social networking and replaced it with automation, and then come here, scratching their heads, complaining that MySpace/Twitter/Facebook/whatever just isn't working anymore.
    Step 1: Gurus proclaim Site X is the next big thing.

    Step 2: "Internet markers" flood Site X with spam, bots, etc.

    Step 3: "Internet marketers" complain that Site X "sucks", "doesn't work anymore" because it's just full of spam and bots now.

    Step 4: Gurus proclaim Site Y is the next big thing (even bigger than Site X!).

    Step 5: "Internet marketers" flood Site Y with spam, bots, etc.

    (cycle repeats endlessly)
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    • Profile picture of the author edwood
      Originally Posted by Hesaidblissfully View Post

      Step 1: Gurus proclaim Site X is the next big thing.

      Step 2: "Internet markers" flood Site X with spam, bots, etc.

      Step 3: "Internet marketers" complain that Site X "sucks", "doesn't work anymore" because it's just full of spam and bots now.

      Step 4: Gurus proclaim Site Y is the next big thing (even bigger than Site X!).

      Step 5: "Internet marketers" flood Site Y with spam, bots, etc.

      (cycle repeats endlessly)
      This is SO true. Was actually talking to my wife about this recently. Basically, every new site that comes along with any kind of marketing potential is quickly ruined for the 'real' users by the IMers.

      Unfortunately, I can't see this ever changing so we'll continue having to move on to the 'next big thing' whether we like it or not.

      I totally agree with the OP by the way. Having said that, even though I use very few automation' tools, I also achieve very little using social media in general. I just don't seem to find the time to build and nurture relationships on sites like Twitter and so on.

      I've dabbled.

      But, it's becoming increasingly obvious that I'll need to do more than just dip my toe in if I'm not to become obsolete as Dan suggests.

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      • Profile picture of the author ExRat
        Hi Dan,

        I strongly agree.

        So the challenge is for IMers to learn how to effectively utilise automation without making themselves obsolete, because there's no doubt that it's one of the keys to accelerated prosperity (think autoresponder, for example.)

        It's a combination of creativity and automation, where the desire to utilise the latter must never diminish the former. Let's face it, the easiest thing online is to be 'one of the many' who don't inspire.

        I like the example of CD Baby. If you have ever purchased through them and read the autoresponse you will know what I'm talking about (if you haven't/don't, LMGTFY.)

        They are creative and manage to make their automated response seem very personal, which is effective, memorable and viral (see proof above.)

        It's not that complicated, but apparently it is complicated enough for the majority to not 'get it'.

        Good.
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    • Profile picture of the author Linda_C
      Awesome thread here.

      Funny world we live in.
      -- Most social networks aren't very social (thanks to automation)
      -- Most 'get rich quick' programs won't get you rich quick.
      -- Most civil servants aren't very civil
      -- etc.

      Guess we're all just bozos on the bus, trying to figure out this thing called life.
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  • Profile picture of the author Wills
    That was a real nice post!

    I agree a lot with what you are saying. More times than I can count, I have thrown automated software onto the scrapheap. It is very hard to replace the human touch.

    This reminds me of people saying that twitter doesn't work, then their twitter page looks like this:

    New blog post at Mysite.com
    New blog post at Mysite.com
    New blog post at Mysite.com....
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

    It's harder to automate originality.
    Quod erat demonstrandum...

    (it is good to see signs of intelligent life on this planet... err, forum)
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    • Profile picture of the author marcuslim
      Nice post. The interesting observation is that the things that humans find easy to do are hard for computers, and vice versa. Computers are good at repetitive tasks but have no common sense. So always think about what are those repetitive things that we do everyday that can be automated, thus freeing us to be creative.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
        Originally Posted by timyang View Post

        Computers are good at repetitive tasks but have no common sense.
        There are also people that are good at repetitive tasks but have no common sense.

        And then there are people that aren't good at repetitive tasks and don't have common sense either.

        But, I digress...
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    • Profile picture of the author Linx99
      I strive for automation. Doing so is the only way I can achieve the scale I need to meet my goals.

      The only point I would disagree with is that were these automated activities not profitable for their 'controllers' then they wouldn't be done in the first place. And the last time I checked no bots were out there buying my products. There's human's out there somewhere.
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      • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
        Originally Posted by Linx99 View Post

        I strive for automation. Doing so is the only way I can achieve the scale I need to meet my goals.
        I understand that.

        Now, closer to the OP: are you saying that even the "social" and "original" part should be automated?
        It's not a judgement call, just curious.
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        • Profile picture of the author Linx99
          Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

          I understand that.

          Now, closer to the OP: are you saying that even the "social" and "original" part should be automated?
          It's not a judgement call, just curious.
          The line I would draw is that I would automate the putting in place communication channels with other people (eg follow/unfollow bots to get more twitter followers), but not the actual 'original thought/content part - ie the actual tweeting.

          That's just me though.
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