What Does It Mean When Most Mobile Content Execs Don't Use Their Own Services?

from the eat-your-own-dog-food dept

I vaguely recall a very similar study making waves a few years ago, but can't find any trace of it right now. However, a recent study of executives working in the mobile content space found that more than half of those surveyed don't actually use the mobile content they're pitching. Now, there can be plenty of questions about the methodology here, and it's not entirely clear from the wording if they asked specifically about the mobile content from that particular exec's company, or mobile content in general. However, when your own executives can't be convinced to use the product they're supposed to convince others to use, there's a problem. If anything, it suggests that there's been too much hype in "mobile content" and a bunch of execs have jumped on the bandwagon, not because of an interesting product, but because of the hype. That's unfortunate. Mobile content should be a big deal, but it's not as simple as some may think -- and if you have bandwagon-riding execs, a lot of time, effort and money is going to get wasted.
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  1. identicon
    Brian Harris, 4 Oct 2007 @ 1:45pm

    Demographics.

    i would image that most mobile content is being targeted at 14-30 year olds and that most C-Level execs don't really fit in their.

    I can't image it's uncommon for someone to sell a product they don't use. It's another thing to sell a product that you don't know anything about...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. icon
    Nick (profile), 4 Oct 2007 @ 2:14pm

    simple:

    I means they don't gots the passion for the product.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    RandomThoughts, 4 Oct 2007 @ 2:23pm

    Some very senior executives at technology companies don't read their email. They have their assistant print it out for them. I know senior executives at consulting firms that do this also.

    I forget who, but something like the CTO for Sun or some company like that doesn't have a computer at home or use a mobile devise, not because they don't understand it but because they don't want to always be high tech.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    Andy, 4 Oct 2007 @ 2:39pm

    No biggie

    I don't think it means anything.

    If I am the manufacturer of a Cream to treat itching in 'sensitive places', does that mean I have to use it?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    anonymouscoward, 4 Oct 2007 @ 2:41pm

    Re: No biggie

    I think it means you had a reason to create the product, but now it's working great for you.

    :P

    j/k

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    zomg!, 4 Oct 2007 @ 2:44pm

    What does it mean when someone posts a shocking he

    but then fails to have anything substantial to say in the actual article?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    zomg!, 4 Oct 2007 @ 2:47pm

    It got cut off

    lame. It was supposed to say:

    "What does it mean when someone posts a shocking headline"

    oh well, i lose at teh internets.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Gary, 4 Oct 2007 @ 2:47pm

    Your observation is very traditional.

    There used to be regular surveys that pointed out that most of the executives of the Pennsylvania Railroad were chauffeured to their offices in Philadelphia's 30th Street Station despite living on the railroad's Main Line.

    The punchline was always "no wonder service is lousy".

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    Mark, 4 Oct 2007 @ 5:08pm

    So What?

    How many Guess and Lucky Brand Jeans executives wear their product? Especially the very aged ones...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    jhunter, 5 Oct 2007 @ 7:16am

    too much

    Mobile content is cool, it just costs too damn much. Why am I going to pay $15 month so I can download music videos to my phone when I can get them for free if I just wait to get home? God forbid I try and get the internet on my PDA at $40/month. These are things the mobile carriers should give away to try and attract more customers. I'm month-to-month now and would go right now and change carriers if one would give me Internet on a PDA at a reasonable cost, until then I'm just staying with Verizon because I don't have a contract.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. icon
    Derek Kerton (profile), 5 Oct 2007 @ 11:37am

    Goes Deeper

    Being a Wireless Expert in Silicon Valley, I see a lot of execs for other wireless firms and startups. There is a certain level of competition to have the latest phone or gadget, largely as "status symbols". Not status as in wealth, but status as a geek.

    That said, I usually have my share of geek chic. But it's usually the case that the people with a new Smartphone or gadget on their belt DON'T know how to use it. They use it as a phone, and perhaps the email that was configured by their IT department, but I often get negative responses to the following:

    - What 3rd party apps do you recommend?
    - Have you installed any 3rd party apps?
    - How do you like the mapping/GPS capability of that device?

    I'd say about half the people I meet are fellow geeks who have played extensively with the device, and half couldn't really care less. As for me, getting a new gadget is a bittersweet occurrence, as I'm very likely to spend the entire night playing with it. Entire meaning, "Damn is that dawn?" is how it usually ends.

    That said, I'm not sure I've seen any correlation between 'ability to do job' and 'ability to use their device'. It seems that passion is beneficial for certain roles, but many management roles don't require it. Even though it would be an improvement, not every person at your company NEEDS to be passionate about the tech.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Adrian, 6 Oct 2007 @ 1:28am

    Interesting but not unexpected

    It is bound to happen. One of my friends works at one company and has 2 personal mobile phones, each on a different provider than the one she works for.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    DP81, 8 Oct 2007 @ 12:02pm

    I agree that it is important for company execs to be familiar with how their product works and what users can do with it. While it is true that you can understand something without actually doing it, I feel gaining knowledge of user experience can only really be addressed through a company actively using their product along with its customers.

    I work with WidSets, which is a free platform for obtaining and creating widgets that expedite access to mobile content. The company execs helped create the original platform/widgets and continue to use them. We know user experience is critical to driving adoption of mobile content, so the company makes it imperative that everyone use the tools and help create new ones.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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