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I just don’t even know how to process this … LOL I’ve been contacted by someone named Rob Spandgenberg at a SLC-based internet consulting firm named Stryde.com. He claims they do work for the MormonChannel.org and that the LDS Church has hired his firm to explore posting content out in the “Bloggernacle.” He is proposing ghost writing blog articles or forum posts about LDS topics on StayLDS.com. It sounds like they are reaching out to other sites to do this also.
If it is legit, what are your thoughts? Is it too weird, or what???!!!??? I told him we are not a very traditional site, even though supportive of LDS activity and faith. I also told him I was surprised the Church would want access to post things since it implies at least some tacit official approval or comfort with the content of the site (and others like ours). I’m pasting the exchange I had with him so far. I figured I would feel him out, sniff out the scam a bit, before bothering you guys.
Rob:
Hi [name],
I’m reaching out on behalf of Mormon Channel. We’ve been following your blog, and really enjoyed your last couple of posts. We are reaching out to see if you would be interested in publishing some content written by Mormon Channel and posting it for your readers.
I know you’re very busy, so we’ll write everything up and make sure that it’s web-ready. Feel free to edit it, if you would like. We want to make this super-easy for you, while providing an enjoyable, unique, and beneficial resource to your readers.
Let us know!
Thanks,
Rob
Brian:
Hi Rob,
As you might imagine, we get a lot of SEO and other marketing spam. The original email probably got lost in the internet noise. A basic check makes it seem like you could be legit.
Are you claiming that your client is the LDS Church, and they want to put content from the Mormon Channel on our site? Or write their own content and post it on our site? Our site is supportive of LDS Church membership, but we certainly don’t fall into the traditional belief category by any means.
So, you hooked me with curiosity. What’s going on?
-Brian Johnston, Site Admin, StayLDS.com
Rob:
Brian,
Yes. I can imagine the sheer number of spam as well. Glad we made it though your filter.
Thanks,
Rob
Brian:
That’s correct. Our WordPress main page just holds basic information and hosts some articles we think are of interest to our audience. All the regular activity is in the phpBB support forums.
How would this potentially work? Sorry, trying to get my mind wrapped around the idea. You guys write content for them (articles or whatever). I get that, but are they cited as the authors? Do they intend to do this openly, like “5 ways to approach your neighbor about sharing the Gospel” by The LDS Church? It doesn’t normally seem like their style to even tacitly acknowledge the “Bloggernacle” in an official capacity since it sort of implies approval for the rest of the content.
Rob:
Brian,
Sorry for getting back to you so late. We right content for them, they approve it and we send it out on their behalf. We can list them as the authors, or we can use on the of actual writers who wrote it. They are pretty open, but not to the extent you listed. Most of the articles they are having us post/publish are very conservative, meaning there is little to no religious content/spin. They are mostly focusing on food storage, family goals, self reliance etc. But honestly we are open to whatever topic you suggest. They are starting to investigate and use the “bloggernacle” to help spread the message of the above topics, in time, hopefully they will start to acknowledge some more of the blogs. We are already working with Mormon Channel and several other prominent mormon “mommy blogs” and such, so personally I think this is a step in the right direction.
Thanks,
Rob
Well – Umm. First of all they have typo’s Quote:We right content for them
It should read, We
writecontent for them. If I read the thread correctly, I don’t think it would fit our particular needs. No one really has questions about food storage, family time, etc. We can get most of that any where we want. If the pieces were more about the healing from the pain of faith transition, or articles related to building relationships with all types of different dynamics, then sure. To me it’s a PR firm. I for one have plenty of joy from Prethren Otterson and Co.
My vote is a dissent.
Brian, how about you giving them my email and cell phone number and asking them to contact me directly. I can explain in detail our mission and audience, what we think might be appropriate, what would not, the probable responses, etc. Frankly, I would LOVE to see if this sort of connection could get me talking directly with people in the Church’s positions who are doing the outreach. If that happens as a result, I would count this as a win – even if we never publish anything from them.
I agree with Mom. If Ray (or anyone else) can ascertain that they’re legit, I don’t really oppose the idea – but I also agree with Mom that there probably isn’t much interest in food storage, FHE, etc. type stuff here. Gospel topics without the referenced spin would probably be OK here. I also agree with Ray, if this opens up new avenues of communication, I’m all for it.
I think they’re just casting a verywide net. They’re probably after the “mommy blogs” and other “let me tell you about my beliefs blogs.” I’m guessing those kind of sites would jump at the opportunity to affiliate. Quote:We’ve been following your blog, and really enjoyed your last couple of posts.
The last blog entries? The ones from 2012?
That initial e-mail may have been nothing more than a standard boilerplate that got sent out to everyone just to see what kind of response they’d get. Nothing wrong with that, they probably don’t have time to peruse thousands of blogs and “right”
Personally it doesn’t sound like a match but worse case, they send us their content and we’d be in a better position to determine whether it’s a fit.
Nothing wrong with Ray’s approach either.
The original absolutely was a boilerplate / template, but I have been doing sales of one kind or another for so long that my brain automatically goes to networking opportunities. I am skeptical this will go anywhere . . . bu it might. That possibility is worth me pursuing.
A friend suggested they are probably running a Google SEO link promotion strategy. Basically, the LDS Church has basic, general articles posted on third-party sites that contain links back to the LDS Church sites they are trying to promote. Google weights those higher in their algorithms. That could be a reasonable explanation for why they would want to write boring articles on our site. If this were the case, they would not be trying to actually engage anyone or help with the site mission. This is a legitimate version of what the spammers and bots try to do. They just ask for permission to do it, and are above board about doing it.
Here’s the devil in the details: what if we asked them for money in exchange for the access, and were able to fund the site through that instead of donations? Just a thought. Someone else brought that up when I mentioned this. I don’t really care that much because the site costs very little (less than $200/year). We raise that much via donations through the Open Stories Foundation.
What about if we agreed on one condition – that this site might be a chance for the Church to get honest feedback from heterodox members who are struggling in some way. We could be more of a focus group than a standard marketing target. Brian, I would like to be involved in this directly. I don’t need to take it from you, if you also want to be involved. Maybe you could handle questions like funding and I could handle questions like content and strategy.
What do you think?
Ray, you are dreaming if you think the guys who sent us this have any real connection to anyone who actually could use feedback about heterodox issues. This is far more likely some Jesse Stay type who thinks it would be great if we all provided free work in terms of artwork, links, and SEO boosts to the church (the real law of consecration at work in 2015). In my opinion, they would not be coming to look for support or to understand heterodox thinking, and not really offering support or dialogue. So…posting content seems to only be of value if it drives traffic to the site to those who need StayLDS support.
Do you think it would in any way?
If not, then their content doesn’t seem to be of value to us.
I understand the miniscule chance anything will come of this, but I am willing to pursue that chance enough to make sure. I have had some exceptional things happen in the past for no other reason than I was willing to pursue unlikely opportunities.
Wait, so does this mean my opposing hand raise won’t warrant any discussion with the higher ups. Why vote? If Ray wants to tilt at windmills, more power to him. Meant in all sincerity. You’re a good man, Charlie Brown. mom3 wrote:Wait, so does this mean my opposing hand raise won’t warrant any discussion with the higher ups. Why vote?
The vote has been noted.
:angel: Quote:
The vote has been noted.:angel: :clap:
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