Seth Godin’s Bald Head
Seth introduces a really bad new logo for his blog. The guy had the best personal branding I’ve ever seen with the top of his own bald head. Now it’s gone.
It’s very un-Godin-like to change something that worked so well. It violates his own schtick. His personal branding story has taken a turn for the worse, for no apparent reason.
What’s the world coming to? Next thing you know they’ll try to make a New Coke, or hire a sock puppet to promote a doomed dot com.
Au contraire, it’s very Godin-like to change something that was working. You can’t ride the same cow forever, so to speak.
Chris Clark said this on January 27, 2006 10:37 pm
Ok, but this is not a purple cow. It’s more like a virus-laden cow who needs permission to lie about the red fez he wore at a party to win a free prize.
Or something.
Sidekick said this on January 27, 2006 10:58 pm
Well, with the whole ‘safe is risky/risky is safe’ mantra it would be hypocritical to ‘stick with what works’ all the time.
So he risks the ire of a few readers over a piddling graphic design quibble… it doesn’t change who he is or what he does in the slightest, and they all know it.
Chris Clark said this on January 28, 2006 12:11 am
Actually I think it’s a smart ploy to draw attention. Seems to have worked with you. Polarization.
Hugh Roper said this on January 28, 2006 12:21 am
Indeed it has drawn attention.
I don’t think it is such a bad thing – change is difficult to accept – more for the people whose opinion was not sought.
From a branding point of view, I think it was a good idea – this way, they can run the Seth Godin brand even without Seth because the identification is now not only with Seth – it’s been turned into a more generic shape that still identifies Seth – at the same time it supports the other people who have been backing him/helping him and supporting him.
Instead of his bald head, we now have the bald head of his team. [ That could be one reason for the change ].
Naina Redhu said this on January 28, 2006 12:52 am
It’s only as logo! And as such, it’s therefore one of the more over-rated traditions of marketing (if you scroll back far enough in seth’s blog you’ll see my piece that argues this).
Who knows what proportion of visitors noticed it – I certainly didn’t! Moreover the logo didn’t draw anyone to that blog – it was a more substantial story that did.
And finally, it’s obvious to me that the reason he changed it was to promote his new book and the discussion it’s generated proves that it was smart move.
john dodds said this on January 28, 2006 4:11 am
It only really works though if you knew the old logo. Coming to the site fresh, it might strike you as a tad simplistic, or even Japanese.
I hated the old one, so I’m marginally pleased with the new. Ho hum.
John Evans (SYNTAGMA) said this on January 28, 2006 5:46 am
Well, Seth, it worked just as you hoped. Your little post there is a nice piece of link bait that will get people talking in anticipation of your next release.
Glad to help with the testing. That check sould be made out to “Sidekick Social PR and Link Bait Quantification.”
Of course, cash is even better.
And for those of you who think the ol’ sidekick just fell off the apple cart yesterday… well, this isn’t my first rodeo (or the last time I’ll mix metaphors).
Sidekick said this on January 28, 2006 7:04 am
[...] Seths change of logo seems to have stirred some interest and criticism, and of course also draws some attention to his new book coming up – with over 100 blog posts, essays, columns, etc. [...]
Tankar kring… » Seths new logo said this on January 28, 2006 8:25 am
[...] Sidekickin’ It (4) [...]
A Jack of All Blogs » Blog Archive » I’m Your Huckleberry said this on January 28, 2006 12:07 pm