Why do some "diss" long, picture heavy posts?

[Deep Gloss Auto Salon]

As I was reading a post on AG today from a very talented detailer whom I respect, I read a comment that seemed to disparage people who write long, picture heavy threads. This was not the first time I have sensed this dismay but, I was still very surprised at how many people agreed with this position.

Granted, there are different reasons to post a thread such as:

1) Show off new skills
2) Show off new gear
3) Pat on the back
4) Help the “community”
5) Sell product
6) Advertise services to potential clients

Who is to say that any of the above reasons are right or wrong? Let’s be real, the only altruistic of the above examples is #4. All others have a motive…. Is that a bad thing?

Is there something wrong with using an available medium for advertising? Does it not create traffic for the given forum?

There are many AG employees that put up threads about products Do you REALLY think their main objective is to help you or me??? If so, I would tend to disagree and think that the main motive is to sell products – which, again is not some big, bad, evil motivation.

So again, why disparage a person for doing what they do for the reasons they choose?

I personally think it’s silly to call consumable car care products a “collection” but, I do not go around trying to make people feel inferior that do this.

To be honest, I used to admire the guys who did the long posts showing exotic / rare vehicles. Then I myself graduated to exotic / rare vehicle jobs and began doing long extensive write ups.

For the past two years, unless a customer specifically requests it I no longer do write ups. For those that haven’t done a long write up it takes time (aka work) not only during the writing process but also while detailing to make sure you have the pictures to convey what you are trying to communicate. I simply have to much work to dedicate any of my time to that.

For those of you that like short, quick posts, I apologize in advance for this long winded thread.

Respectfully
Jason

[Mike Phillips]

Good post Jason,


Everyone is different. When I first started posting write-ups to the forum world I always did the same thing I do today and that is document

Before
Process
After or what I call beauty shots


I've always shared my work this way and probably always will only now I'm adding more short videos instead of pictures.

One thing for sure, everyone has the ability to choose to click or to not click on a thread and once there they can always click away.


Most of my write-ups for the work I do here have up to and over 100 pictures which I try do do my best at capturing the before, process and after shots.

In fact, I'm heading out to the studio to do this same thing right now...

[stibuki]

I see nothing wrong with a long post that provides some info, tips or experiences with products used (Mike P's posts would be a good example).

Most defiantly no objections to a little eye candy. If you want to blow your horn a little I don't see much harm also especially since those of us that detail part time or as a hobby are sometimes quite proud when a job or some process we have never done before turns out awesome.

[Flannigan]

I'll be honest, the only reason I do write ups for forums is because of how much business I get from people who log onto forums looking for a detailer in their area.

It's nice to have fellow detailers pat me on the back, but in all honesty it doesn't really matter. Write ups are advertising for me, and honestly I don't mind doing them as long as I have some spare time.

That said, I'm with you, I would never get upset at someone for writing a long thread or posting tons of pictures. Honestly I like the write ups that have some text in them explaining what was done to the vehicle. They are much more interesting that just a few random pictures posted.

[Setec Astronomy]

Granted, there are different reasons to post a thread such as:

1) Show off new skills
2) Show off new gear
3) Pat on the back
4) Help the “community”
5) Sell product
6) Advertise services to potential clients

Is there something wrong with using an available medium for advertising? Does it not create traffic for the given forum?

There are many AG employees that put up threads about products Do you REALLY think their main objective is to help you or me??? If so, I would tend to disagree and think that the main motive is to sell products – which, again is not some big, bad, evil motivation.

I presume you are referring to my post in Joe's thread. Sure, every medium gets worked for advertising purposes, and this kind of thing falls into the same category as "product placement" in movies.

And OF COURSE, AG uses this forum to advertise their products, that's the whole reason for the existence of the forum, is to sell product. That doesn't mean to the exclusion of helping people learn, have fun, etc.

To the extent that forum owners allow people to "advertise" on the forum (which varies from forum to forum, another forum I spent a lot of time on forbade pro detailers from putting ads or links in their sigs, although they did allow it in their profile page), there is nothing wrong with that.

And I don't see anything wrong with someone like you posting a writeup for the benefit of the community, that also can be read by potential customers. It shows them that you aren't afraid to show your work in a place where other knowledgable people may comment on it, and allows potential customers to compare your work to other detailers on the forum, in a "public" arena that you theoretically have no control over.

My objection was to the "scripted" threads. Script goes like this: 1. exotic car detailer posts thread. 2. Other non-competing exotic car detailers, from different locales, expound about the great job poster did. 3. Poster steers rich guys from exotic car forums to detailing forum to show how beloved he is there.

The problem is the vicious attacks that occur if you take the advertising (er..thread) off-script. By asking questions, etc. I'm telling you what was occurring was collusion, between detailers, to break into the high-end detailing market, by trolling the rich-guy car forums. I got it first-hand by PM from someone who was trying to do it (he saw the other guys doing it).

It's manipulating the forum for your own purpose, which I guess is fine if the forum managment is down with it, but I don't enjoy participating in a forum where I can't post in a thread about an exotic car because I'm interfering with someone's advertising. But as Joe said, I kinda view the Show n' Shines as you seen one, you seen 'em all anymore, and I don't really look at them except once in a while.

[Setec Astronomy]

I'll be honest, the only reason I do write ups for forums is because of how much business I get from people who log onto forums looking for a detailer in their area.

It's nice to have fellow detailers pat me on the back, but in all honesty it doesn't really matter. Write ups are advertising for me, and honestly I don't mind doing them as long as I have some spare time.

Hey, thanks for being honest about it.

[Flannigan]

The other thing that kills me is that, even though my write ups are for advertising, I outline what products I use and what pads I use. I also answer every question asked in my thread. I also answer the 20-30 pm's I get PER WEEK about what polish someone should try, or if someone in the area can come hang out and learn some techniques from me. So don't be so quick to judge people based on their write ups. There may be more to it.

[Setec Astronomy]

The other thing that kills me is that, even though my write ups are for advertising, I outline what products I use and what pads I use. I also answer every question asked in my thread. I also answer the 20-30 pm's I get PER WEEK about what polish someone should try, or if someone in the area can come hang out and learn some techniques from me. So don't be so quick to judge people based on their write ups. There may be more to it.

Hey, that's great, a lot better than the uniform guy who won't (or at least wouldn't for a time) even say what products he used, after he got done shilling for Gloss-It.

[Flannigan]

Hey, that's great, a lot better than the uniform guy who won't (or at least wouldn't for a time) even say what products he used, after he got done shilling for Gloss-It.

LOL, I remember that whole thing. Now I'm pretty sure he is feuding with Gloss-It. But I could be wrong. I can never keep up with that story.

[Bigbull2984]

The other thing that kills me is that, even though my write ups are for advertising, I outline what products I use and what pads I use. I also answer every question asked in my thread. I also answer the 20-30 pm's I get PER WEEK about what polish someone should try, or if someone in the area can come hang out and learn some techniques from me. So don't be so quick to judge people based on their write ups. There may be more to it.

Hey Dave, I have actually purchased alot of products from AG, Autopia, and a shop in Pittsburgh from your reviews. Like the BMW M3 you did with BFWD and BFMS that won me over on Blackfire. The review you did with the Rover with the paint cleaner, the leather you did the red expedition. I bought similar products.

Without long detailed reviews I am sure I would not have bought 40 to 50% of my products.

Keep the reviews coming.