Comments on: Users, Customers, Members http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/ A fool and his blog are soon parted. Sun, 18 Dec 2011 21:05:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Betty of zazbot.com http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/comment-page-1/#comment-73057 Betty of zazbot.com Fri, 26 Oct 2007 01:41:15 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/#comment-73057 Well there are only so many words in the english lanquage to choose from. Don't like "user" either, but it's better than "d*ckhead", or worse. Consumer sounds like "parasite". I think member is the best, as it gives the feeling of inclusion, which is perfectly in-line with infinity. We're all members and the sound of the word gives ya more of the warm fuzzy feeling. Many marketing companies are smart enough to use the "member" handle. Betty Well there are only so many words in the english lanquage to choose from. Don’t like “user” either, but it’s better than “d*ckhead”, or worse.

Consumer sounds like “parasite”. I think member is the best, as it gives the feeling of inclusion, which is perfectly in-line with infinity. We’re all members and the sound of the word gives ya more of the warm fuzzy feeling.

Many marketing companies are smart enough to use the “member” handle.

Betty

]]> By: Lloyd http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/comment-page-1/#comment-62741 Lloyd Mon, 03 Sep 2007 16:31:13 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/#comment-62741 Thanks for the comment Sean. A common language is necessary for communication and that includes vocabulary. I see the mistaken again and again where people have the vision and the execution, but don't have the language to deliver their message. I think you wonderfully describe what is a real tragedy. Do you have an article on the topic? Or favorite ones written by others? I was thinking the other day after watching a cheezy movie where the protagonist was a marketer, how the magic of marketing is often being able to have a conversation with people they don't have a natural repore with. Marketing is linguistics. Thanks for the comment Sean. A common language is necessary for communication and that includes vocabulary. I see the mistaken again and again where people have the vision and the execution, but don’t have the language to deliver their message.

I think you wonderfully describe what is a real tragedy. Do you have an article on the topic? Or favorite ones written by others?

I was thinking the other day after watching a cheezy movie where the protagonist was a marketer, how the magic of marketing is often being able to have a conversation with people they don’t have a natural repore with. Marketing is linguistics.

]]> By: Sean Moffitt http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/comment-page-1/#comment-62667 Sean Moffitt Mon, 03 Sep 2007 01:15:20 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/#comment-62667 Lloyd, I have to be honest , I haven't ever had an issue being called a user or for that matter a consumer (if the shoe fits,....). Semantically, member is a better term, makes you feel more of an equal part of the process - I'm just wondering how many companies that have members treat them, any better than users or consumers. I think the real tragedy is that companies undervalue what (we'll call them members) bring to the table from a variety of roles - developers, ambassadors, beta testers, marketplace scouts, advisory council, content creators, word of mouth advocates, community managers... Good question and debate...sometimes I just believe its a question of mission and passion not vocabulary... Lloyd,
I have to be honest , I haven’t ever had an issue being called a user or for that matter a consumer (if the shoe fits,….). Semantically, member is a better term, makes you feel more of an equal part of the process – I’m just wondering how many companies that have members treat them, any better than users or consumers.

I think the real tragedy is that companies undervalue what (we’ll call them members) bring to the table from a variety of roles – developers, ambassadors, beta testers, marketplace scouts, advisory council, content creators, word of mouth advocates, community managers…

Good question and debate…sometimes I just believe its a question of mission and passion not vocabulary…

]]> By: brightfeather http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/comment-page-1/#comment-62151 brightfeather Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:19:18 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/#comment-62151 Neither "consumers" nor "users" are terms that I have ever felt comfortable with. "Member" is definitely my preferred choice. Neither “consumers” nor “users” are terms that I have ever felt comfortable with. “Member” is definitely my preferred choice.

]]> By: Keith Bowes http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/comment-page-1/#comment-61799 Keith Bowes Mon, 27 Aug 2007 06:37:00 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/#comment-61799 I don't mind being called a user. Being called a member is kinda degrading though, since the literal meaning of "member" is an arm, leg or penis. I see the metaphor, but that doesn't make it right. :) Just kidding about being offended over being called a "member," but I <em>have</em> been called a lot worse than a consumer. I don’t mind being called a user. Being called a member is kinda degrading though, since the literal meaning of “member” is an arm, leg or penis. I see the metaphor, but that doesn’t make it right. :)

Just kidding about being offended over being called a “member,” but I have been called a lot worse than a consumer.

]]> By: Bruce of authoritydirectory.com http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/comment-page-1/#comment-61694 Bruce of authoritydirectory.com Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:25:06 +0000 http://foolswisdom.com/users-customers-members/#comment-61694 I guess I never really thought about being referred to as a user or consumer. When you think about it though, it really is a bit de-humanizing. Thanks! I guess I never really thought about being referred to as a user or consumer. When you think about it though, it really is a bit de-humanizing. Thanks!

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