What the Hack? Episode 221: Seth Godin's Anti-Spam Playbook: Be Awesome
Oct 14, 2025
Marketing maven Seth Godin breaks down the spam-fueled chaos of the Internet. He advocates for permission marketing, demanding companies earn attention through genuine value rather than cheap tactics. Godin traces the roots of spam to the evolution of data brokers and discusses how anonymity fosters toxicity online. He emphasizes community action to reshape corporate behaviors and suggests practical tools like email masking to reclaim our digital autonomy. Get ready to rethink how you engage with the online world!
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Attention Is A Finite Asset
- Attention is a finite, valuable commodity that marketers can steal via spam.
- Permission marketing earns the privilege to send anticipated, personal, relevant messages.
Engagement Rewards Toxic Behavior
- Social platforms optimize for short-term engagement by privileging conflict and outrage.
- That design amplifies selfish behavior and degrades community norms over time.
Protect Subscriber Permission
- Protect permission by treating subscriber relationships as long-term assets.
- Send relevant content sparingly and avoid spamming post-purchase to preserve trust.