View from the Wing [VFTW] discussions
Jun 8, 2020, 2:10 am
#1036
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
Having 40 clickbait articles a week is part of a SEO and page impression grathering strategy to keep the ad revenue going.
Jun 8, 2020, 3:58 am
#1037
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
Jun 8, 2020, 5:09 am
#1038
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Programs: Airline Free Agent, Fairmont Lifetime Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,041
Jun 8, 2020, 2:36 pm
#1039
Original Member, Ambassador: External Miles and Points Resources
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Digital Nomad Wandering the Earth - Currently in LIMA, PERU
Posts: 58,624
It ain't easy being an aviation and credit card blogger in these trying times. Whatever it takes...!
Jun 8, 2020, 5:26 pm
#1041
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Upper Sternistan
Posts: 10,047
It's an interesting world to be in - always needing new customers and not really caring at all about your old ones. I guess it's like cell phone affiliates or insurance agents: once they get you, they're basically done with you - you even become a nuisance to them. Even a car dealer wants to keep you engaged and interested and to preserve their reputation with you. None of that does any good for Gary and he's expedient like that.
Gary's audience is new people, and to find them, he (thinks he) needs SEO and linkbait.
Contrast this with a site like FrequentMiler. While they don't beat you over the head with it, they are pretty consistent in pointing out that they're giving you, the repeated reader, the straight information, even if it's to the detriment of themselves financially in the short term. We can argue about whether that's completely true or not, but I think most of us would agree that it's at least generally true. Their strategy is to build a long-term audience, in part through clarity and honesty. DoC generally has the same tactic. For those two sites (and plenty of others), this pays off.
And, fine. Gary can go in search of newbies and our more knowledgeable group can just read other blogs.
Since we aren't providing him revenue, I'm certain he won't miss us.
Gary's audience is new people, and to find them, he (thinks he) needs SEO and linkbait.
Contrast this with a site like FrequentMiler. While they don't beat you over the head with it, they are pretty consistent in pointing out that they're giving you, the repeated reader, the straight information, even if it's to the detriment of themselves financially in the short term. We can argue about whether that's completely true or not, but I think most of us would agree that it's at least generally true. Their strategy is to build a long-term audience, in part through clarity and honesty. DoC generally has the same tactic. For those two sites (and plenty of others), this pays off.
And, fine. Gary can go in search of newbies and our more knowledgeable group can just read other blogs.
Since we aren't providing him revenue, I'm certain he won't miss us.
Jun 8, 2020, 7:02 pm
#1042
Suspended
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 68
Not when you have banner ads from Boarding Area all over your site, and credit card companies have tightened credit guidelines due to the current economy. It's still about the visits.
Jun 8, 2020, 11:04 pm
#1043
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 570
I wonder if other respectable bloggers who are part of the BoardingArea family see this as problematic. In my line of work, people going this much out of line gets called out. BoardingArea seems to be fine with what VFTW is doing. I wonder how it affects other creators on the site.
Jun 9, 2020, 2:28 am
#1044
Moderator: Lufthansa Miles & More, India based airlines, India, External Miles & Points Resources
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 48,187
VFTW and OMAAT are the main drivers of page impressions for BArea. If they don't deliver the traffic, frequent flyer services, the people that market the BArea cluster (together with inside flyer etc) to ad companies don't have the numbers that make it worth their time.
Some insight on the cluster here: http://frequentflyerservices.com/med...-Media-Kit.pdf
Since Chase & co are doing 5/24, Amex once in a lifetime, and other restrictions, catering to the refined crowd makes no sense as it would generate a maximum of 10 signups in two years. Why bother if you can stick a CSP or Capital one product to the new kids on the block? The titans generate signups in the 00s each month.
Some insight on the cluster here: http://frequentflyerservices.com/med...-Media-Kit.pdf
Since Chase & co are doing 5/24, Amex once in a lifetime, and other restrictions, catering to the refined crowd makes no sense as it would generate a maximum of 10 signups in two years. Why bother if you can stick a CSP or Capital one product to the new kids on the block? The titans generate signups in the 00s each month.
Jun 9, 2020, 6:03 am
#1045
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Grossing up my own current monthly (much reduced) blog income for Gary's increased readership and far greater US card commission rates (I average about £30 vs $200 per card) he should still be banking at least $200,000 per month. I doubt he's struggling too much.
Jun 9, 2020, 6:03 am
#1046
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: DL PM; IHG PlatAmb; Hilton Dia; Marriott Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,324
I wonder if other respectable bloggers who are part of the BoardingArea family see this as problematic. In my line of work, people going this much out of line gets called out. BoardingArea seems to be fine with what VFTW is doing. I wonder how it affects other creators on the site.
Jun 9, 2020, 4:37 pm
#1049
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: The shape-shifting urban sprawl that is El Lay. FT member #71.
Programs: UA Gold & MM; DL & AA credit card dirt status; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Fool's Gold
Posts: 4,690
Last edited by Craig6z; Jun 9, 2020 at 4:46 pm
Jun 9, 2020, 11:38 pm
#1050
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: DL DM, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Lifetime Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 570
It's just amazing how this self proclaimed "thought leader" feels so empowered to do "take downs" of other bloggers. This is literally exactly the same situation as when I see someone posts a thing on Instagram calling himself like #hotguy.
Yikes.
Yikes.