I think the best part of blogging is the ability to have a conversation with others on the www about the same topic. However, rarely do people comment.

As I search the blogosphere for what others have to say I frequently find a reader or two who have commented but rarely do I find the debate I found this morning at Bob Bly's site.

Bob is one of, if not the most, respected freelance writer in the business. However, I wouldn't say that he is on the cutting edge. He has confessed to not embracing the latest in technology and in his most recent post he speaks to the fact that creative writing and innovative ideas in marketing aren't necessarily what ring the cash register.

Branding and online marketing types, as a rule, get enthused by creativity, innovation, originality, and new ideas.

We direct marketers don't.

What excites us is making the cash register ring ... not being original or "creative."

If we can knock off a winning promo and make it work for our product - we're as happy as a clam.

Being a pioneer - in a new media, a new market, a new technology - can sometimes be profitable.

But more often, it can be the most costly mistake you ever make.

As of this morning, 1/22/07 - there are

35 comments

debating this issue.

Now that's what blogging should be about - offering up an opinion and inspiring others to comment. It almost doesn't matter what the debate is - it is the free exchange of ideas and information.

So where do you weigh in on the creative vs. proven method of marketing your message for the best return on investment?