Mark from 42Freeway Explaining Recent Coverage Updates.
Just saw this from three days ago Mark from 42Freeway has jumped the shark The irony of that post (title) is all I am doing is reaffirming what my site has been about for 12 years. News on construction projects and new businesses. The "take" on that reddit post was my recent statement of not doing foodie/promo content. and seemingly that is a problem.
Why I had to clarify... I experimented with videos (and will continue with certain types) and was blown away and overwhelmed by many hundreds of businesses thinking i had a magical way of spending hours for each request filming promo videos. I do not.
The South Jersey community benefits more from me focusing my time on informing about new projects planned, then taste testing who has the best chicken fingers. And there are already many awesome "foodie" influencers so let them do their thing, and I'll do mine
What people dont realize:
- 42Freeway is a full time thing and that revenue comes from my website (99%). 37 million ads last year pays the bills. I dont have to charge anyone. its a nice win for all and I love the freedom.
- The video platforms pay me next-to nothing compared to my news website. Insta doesnt even have a video payment model for me! A million people could see a video from me on Insta and I get... zero,
- Videos take hours each factoring in drive time, filming, editing. I make nothing from them
- multiply that by... HUNDREDS of businesses have reached out to me asking for promo efforts, and many times... demanding I do promo for them "well you coved that new cheesesteak place with a video, ive been here 25 years... my businesses isnt worthy?"
I am not exaggerating. Ive had businesses attack me publicly on their platforms. In one case I missed the email and a business known by many posts "Why does Mark from 42freeway refuse to cover my 10 year business" on their social channels, basically directing their army of followers against me. When I went there and spoke to him (yes I did)... he had no consideration that there are 70,000 businesses in South Jersey and i was just one guy. He had such a sense of entitlement... fully expected and demanded that of all the businesses.. he was entitled to my free efforts.
I have at least 50 stories like this... most back-and-forth in emails "But ive had my autobody shop for 25 years! You have to do a video!"...
My most recent clarification post was because I stopped at an older local pizza shop and FOUR times during my time eating two slices, the owner came to my table trying to push me into featuring his 25 year old shop (of which there are thousands just like it). I just wanted to eat lunch.
Its like people are rewriting their own business model for what i do.
My coverage has helped many 100s of South Jersey new businesses. Ive flooded cash registers with new customer cash and that will continue. Simply I dont have a model for "On demand, drive to my place when I tell you" promo coverage.
Now I'll add that MOST business owners are amazing. Ive turned down at least two dozen unsolicited offers "mark i love what you do and value your time... I want to pay you". And I say no. no no. And I have many new real friends made from my coverage of their businesses
Of course someone will say "dont worry about it, just tell them no". Which is fine, but the fun (sarcasm) part of social media is.. people then going online to trash.
Guys i am doing well, but not enough to put up with this crap. ha
Think of it this way: Imagine you are a Construction worker, Retail Store clerk... any job. and every day you go to your boss and tell them "hey i know its 10am and I just got here at 9am.. but i have to leave for 4 hours because someone i dont know sent me a DM demanding I go do a video for them for free. Oh and I have so many requests I have to do that tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day"
How long are you employed? How long before you are on the streets? This is 10000% what is happening to me.
To be clear: I dont have a payment model for coverage. I dont have a price list. My not wanting to do all of those videos is simply that i need to focus on the content type ive been doing for 12 years. Construction news of things coming to south jersey
I will still be doing videos. News articles pay my bills and if I am there for a news article, its a reasonable amount of extra time to do a quick add-on video., One area of bigger focus will likely be YouTube as their payment model is MUCH better than tiktok and insta. Because YT shows multiple ads per video, it can pay more. Sp I may be doing more youtube. Informing the public, helping businesses... all for free.. and I stil make money from the platforms.
KEEP IN MIND that Monroe Twp residents had no idea about the Data Center Zoning untill I wrote an article. East Greenwich knowledge of their data center took off from my coverage. My goal isnt anti-data center, my point is the community has better wins if I focus on my core charter
Edits: Just some additional small corrections