Comments on: Site Creation and Social Networking from MOLI

By: Sabrina Dent

Sabrina Dent — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:53:14 +0000

Aliza, I think there is a large difference between “not marketing their site right” – a category into which we could lump poor customer service, lame blog strategies, email contacts lacking opt-outs, and other things we can generously ascribe to being naive — and marketing their website through out and out deceit.

A key MOLI.com employee was caught red-handed astroturfing on a number of sites over an extended period. Daniel DiFiore, MLI’s Director of Customer Service, posted as Hawk5721 on sites like TechCrunch and GetSatisfaction, shilling for his employer without revealing his connection to MOLI. He did not, in fact, reveal his true identity until he was publicly busted for astroturfing in the comments of a blog post critical of MOLI’s privacy practices.

I have no idea what MOLI’s definition of gross misconduct is, but the internet tends to take astroturfing very seriously. It is seen as an egregious violation of community standards, and frankly I consider it even more so when it’s being done by a company in the community building business.

Daniel DiFiore is, by the way, still employed in the same position at MOLI.

So, do you want to do business with a company who’s Director of Customer Service lies to customers, who’s COO defends these actions by pointing fingers at members, and who’s CEO responds to potential member concerns about the site’s commercialism with “they knew what they were doing when they signed up”?

I don’t. I think all of that sucks. It’s great looking, it has a terrific model for privacy management, and it is managed by a group of people who have repeatedly demonstrated an attitude towards their customers of “screw you.”

By: Aliza Sherman

Aliza Sherman — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:06:34 +0000

John – Granted, I didn’t mention their astroturfing tactics but just because they aren’t marketing their site right doesn’t mean their site couldn’t be useful to others.

I haven’t yet received spam from them – is my spam blocker really THAT good?

I think this will make an interesting blog post – do you NOT use a site because you don’t like their marketing tactics? Of course, bad customer service is another thing. However, I know that I’ve continued to use products or services where I’ve received bad customer service because it serves a need.

I’m interested in hearing what others have to say. If something is useful to somebody out there, what constitutes “bad enough” to stop using it or to never using it in the first place?

By: Aliza Sherman

Aliza Sherman — Tue, 27 May 2008 21:59:16 +0000

Emil – I do agree with you about too many ads – thought about that after I sent in my review. And should have mentioned that the pages you create can also look a bit busy with all their modular add-ons. But if you get the no-ad version, that helps clear up some clutter.

By: Emil

Emil — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:27:59 +0000

Looks nice. I don’t seem to like that they don’t let you customize your own logo, header, etc. Too much ads and “moli” around. Users just want more control.

By: John Handelaar

John Handelaar — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:09:09 +0000

Spammers, astroturfers, and liars. Worth no kind of look at all.