Positive or Negative – Publicity is Publicity

Posted by kim on August 30, 2006

Back in 2000, when I launched ShoppingBookmarks.com, an online coupon portal, I was one of maybe 30 other “coupon sites” so hit a niche. I probably have 30,000 competitors now, but anyway… The Omaha World Herald wanted to do an interview about me. I was excited as I envisioned lots of new deal hunter visitors to my site.

Rainbow Rowell was the reporter, and I love her work. Why a mother would name her kid Rainbow is beyond me, but she fits the name to a tee.

Then the story ran in the Sunday edition which I believe is the highest read day. Rainbow didn’t emphasize the fact that people could save time and money by shopping online. She pretty much told them, “Hey this chick makes money from home doing something she loves!” Great.

The phone calls and emails came pouring in from people that “want to do what I do”. Like I’m gonna give away any secrets?! I ended up making WorkInMyPajamas.com, a fast-made site that explains the principles of affiliate marketing and steered the inquiries there.

So, where is this story going? I been interviewed and mentioned in severals news publications over the years for my various websites and usually love the publicity. But when I got a call from a semi-local newspaper to run a story about this very website, I hesitated.

Reason being, I felt like I was bearing my soul to just strangers. I maybe thought I would be embarrassed if people that actually knew me would come to visit. Well, I’m obviously a little naive because after a friend told me another friend emailed her, I checked my website stats. I think 68.9% (I made that number up) of Northeast Nebraska has already found this site.

And I realized I have nothing to hide. I tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God. Ok, so I don’t tell you everything, but you get the idea. This is me. This is my life. I have found blogging to be therapeutic. I invite you newbies to try it (Blogger is free and easy).