Tag Archives: emotions

Why and How My Company Bredemarket Sucks, and Asking Uncomfortable Questions About Your Own Company

Do your prospects see you in a negative light?

And if so, how do you fix it?

This post looks at the following:

How generative AI answers you

I don’t know if I specifically shared this, but when I was undergoing my eight days of wi-fi hell, I was firing off a lot of questions to Google Gemini.

A LOT of questions.

Troubleshooting, fact-checking, you name it. Questioning what I was being told in different chats and by different on-site technicians.

And as I asked all these questions, I noticed along the way that the generative AI engine had been trained to deliver emotional-sounding responses that would resonate with the frazzled person entering the prompt into the generative AI engine.

This stands to reason. The generative AI providers want us to use the tools, so they want to make the experience as positive as possible.

For example, at one point I entered this prompt into Google Gemini:

“When a fiber Internet support person scheduled a second technician for a service call, the support person said “There are times where signal issues take more than one service visit to get to the root of the issue.” What exactly are “signal issues,” and why does the line need to be “balanced”?”

Note how Google Gemini BEGAN its response to my prompt:

“It can be incredibly frustrating when your internet isn’t working and the fix feels like it’s being kicked down the road. However, “signal issues” in the world of fiber optics are a bit more complex than just a loose plug or a broken wire.”

For those who remember the Clinton era, Google felt my pain.

Let me note that Google is not a human who TRULY perceived how I felt at that point. (Your AI girlfriend doesn’t love you either.) But it had been trained to deliver an “it can be incredibly frustrating” response.

On a certain level, Google was telling me what it thought I wanted to hear.

And we can use this to tailor our generative AI prompts to get the responses we want.

How you ask generative AI

We already tailor our prompts.

  • Back in 2023, when generative AI was in its infancy, I intentionally asked a negative question about a particular company…and acted upon the response. (I will explain how later.)
  • Whenever a product marketer asks a generative AI engine to prepare a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) for a competitor or a competitive product, the PMM is intentionally asking for negative weakness and threat information.
  • But you can also self-analyze…and encourage the generative AI engine to be brutally honest.

A pointed question

Let me illustrate this with the following prompt:

“Why does the marketing and writing company Bredemarket suck so badly?”

Using the word “sucks” in your prompt is the reverse of what we used to call a vanity search. Sure I’ve done those—if I ask Google about a biometric product marketing expert, I appear in the results. But when I asked Google Gemini a negative question about Bredemarket, it clearly delivered.

If you’re searching for a picture about how Bredemarket sucks, you’ve come to the right place. Google Gemini. Picture by Bredemarket.

The response started as follows.

“That is a pretty pointed question!”

Intentionally so. The introduction continued:

“To be fair to the “company” (which is actually a solo consultancy run by a guy named John Bredehoft), whether Bredemarket “sucks” depends entirely on what you’re looking for.”

It then got into the nitty gritty about how I suck. A few excerpts:

Answer 1: a one-man shop

“If you were expecting a full-service marketing firm with account managers and a design department, the reality of a one-man shop based in Ontario, California, might feel underwhelming.”

Answer 2: not for non-tech lifestyle brands

“If you are a general business or a lifestyle brand, his style—which is very technical, process-oriented, and “old school” corporate—might feel dry, rigid, or out of touch with modern, punchy social media marketing.”

Answer 3: he ain’t a corporate drone

“John has a very distinct, conversational, and sometimes quirky style (often referencing his own mistakes or niche industry drama). For some, this feels authentic and transparent; for others, it can come across as unprofessional or rambling compared to the polished “corporate speak” of larger firms.”

Answer 4: see answer 1

“If a project gets complex or requires a fast turnaround that one person can’t handle, the “process” (which he mentions frequently on his site) might feel more like a bottleneck than a benefit.”

My responses to Gemini

Let me note that these are NOT hallucinations. Every criticism is valid.

  • Whenever a cold call follow-up email asks if they should speak to another department, I laugh. To myself. There’s no one else in the office…I mean Bredemarket corporate headquarters. It’s only 25 square feet, after all.
  • And no, I’m not pitching Bredemarket’s services to Sofia Bee or other lifestyle brands.
  • Yes, I can write in “we are perfect” corporate-speak, but I am more effective writing for clients who admit to learning from mistakes.
  • Finally, I can deliver on projects that require a draft in 3 (or 7) days. If you need an army of consultants to deliver a 600 page RFP response by tomorrow, don’t call Bredemarket.

So I asked the uncomfortable question. Now what?

How you act after you ask generative AI

As you know, after I ask, I act.

Remember when I asked generative AI a pointed question in 2023? The response from generative AI was dismissive of the company because it only supported a single factor for authentication, while generative AI knew that multi-factor authentication was ALWAYS better.

  • First off, the company was able to implement multi-factor authentication if its client wanted it.
  • Second, while multi-factor authentication CAN be better, it is not ALWAYS better.

So how did I respond to generative AI’s assertion? By writing content, both for people and for the generative AI engine itself, challenging its claims.

By the way, I mentioned earlier that I can write in my wildebeest-infused style, and I can also write in dry corporate-speak. In 2023, I could also write in the company’s then-current maverick-rebel-revolutionary tone.

By Alberto Korda – Museo Che Guevara, Havana Cuba, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6816940.

Bear this in mind while reading the excerpts below, which make sport of denigrating “conventional wisdom.”

Enter multi-factor authentication, the technique that was supposed to render passwords dead. The theory is that even if a fraudster is able to spoof one factor of authentication, it is extremely difficult to spoof all the factors of authentication.  

This is the conventional wisdom. Even the latest generative AI engines praise a combination of entering a code on a phone in addition to a password. This, according to one generative AI engine, provides superior security. 

Nevertheless, conventional wisdom and generative AI can both be wrong. 

  • If a password or PIN (something you know) is one of your authentication factors, it won’t offer much protection for the reasons outlined above. Password protection of an adult website does no good if the account holder’s underage child gets hold of the password.  
  • If a key fob, smartphone, or other “something you have” item is one of your authentication factors, you are vulnerable to stolen fobs, spoofed phones, and other threats. Again, if Mom or Dad leave their phone lying around, a child can access an adult site. 

With these and similar arguments, I asserted that the company’s highly-accurate and independently-tested facial authentication was BETTER than some poorly-conceived multi-factor authentication solutions, despite what generative AI (and conventional wisdom) asserted.

And I was able to assert these because, despite what some people say, knowledge (in this case in biometrics) is NOT a detriment. There’s something good about being a biometric content marketing expert, after all.

But what about your company?

Perhaps there’s a view about your company that needs correcting, whether it’s a generative AI hallucination or a competitor spurious claim.

And how do many companies react to negative views about them? They do nothing. They don’t give the claim the dignity of a response. So the record stands, uncorrectred.

But the smart companies change the story. For example, they tell the Eskimos that an icemaker IS better than just grabbing something from outside.

OK, maybe it’s NOT a lost cause. Imagen 4.

Or they tell prospects how great their single factor authentication is.

Or they admit that their content probably wouldn’t help a makeup artist, but it definitely would help a technology company.

Bredemarket can help you correct the narrative.

  • I’ll ask questions.
  • Then I’ll propose services.

And your company will overcome the negativity.

Set up a free meeting with Bredemarket

Why don’t you set up a first, free meeting to discuss your options? Set up the meeting below.

What I do

Again, I ask questions and propose services.

I ask questions.
I propose services.

Modem Replacement Part Three

March 27 update here.

Also see part one and part two.

For a day and a half my home Internet worked great.

Sunday morning my wi-fi started failing again, and my ISP is sending a second technician out to work on “signal issues.”

The remainder of this post is written by Google Gemini (but not as Bredebot).

  • I do not have the knowledge to detect if Gemini is hallucinating, so if anything seems off please comment.
  • Note how Gemini adopts a reassuring tone at the beginning of this passage, having been trained to know that someone asking such a technical question may be frustrated. It fakes emotion well.

Google Gemini on fiber network “signal issues”

(Written by Google Gemini)

It can be incredibly frustrating when your internet isn’t working and the fix feels like it’s being kicked down the road. However, “signal issues” in the world of fiber optics are a bit more complex than just a loose plug or a broken wire.

Here is the breakdown of what is happening behind the scenes and why a “balance” is necessary.

What are “Signal Issues”?

In a fiber network, data is transmitted as pulses of light through thin strands of glass. A “signal issue” occurs when that light doesn’t reach your router with the correct intensity or clarity.  

Think of it like trying to read a book by flashlight from across a dark room. If the light is too dim (loss), too bright (saturation), or flickering (interference), you can’t read the words.

Common causes for signal degradation:

  • Micro-bends: A fiber cable that is pinched or bent too sharply.  
  • Contamination: A single microscopic speck of dust on a connector can block the light path.
  • Attenuation: The natural loss of light intensity as it travels over long distances or through splitters.  
  • Splice Failures: Where two fibers are fused together, a “cold” or imperfect weld can cause light to scatter.

Why does the line need to be “Balanced”?

Fiber networks (specifically GPON or Passive Optical Networks) are shared. One main fiber from the provider’s hub is split into many smaller branches that go to different houses.  

“Balancing” is the process of ensuring that the light levels across these branches are within a specific “sweet spot.”

  • Signal too weak: The light is too faint for your ONT (Optical Network Terminal) to distinguish data from background noise.
  • Signal too strong: The light “blinds” the receiver (saturation), much like a camera flash being too close to your eyes.

The “Second Technician” logic

The first technician usually checks the “drop” (the line from the street to your house). If they find the signal is bad before it even hits your property, the issue is further “upstream”—likely at a splitter cabinet or a main distribution frame.

Balancing requires looking at the whole neighborhood’s light levels to ensure that fixing your signal doesn’t accidentally “starve” your neighbor’s connection or blow out their receiver.

Why it takes two visits

Often, the first tech is a residential installer who handles home wiring. The second tech is usually a network or “outside plant” technician. They have specialized equipment (like an OTDR—Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer) to “see” miles down the glass and pinpoint exactly where the light is leaking. 

One Minor Adjustment

Can a change in the emotional content of a written piece offer you great joy?

Let’s talk about National Blonde Brownie Day.

“National Blonde Brownie Day on January 22nd recognizes a treat often referred to as blondies.”

Blondie and Blondies.

Now if you had asked me on January 21 what a blonde brownie is, I wouldn’t have known. Now I do…and you will also.

“[A] a blonde brownie is similar to a chocolate brownie. In place of cocoa, bakers use brown sugar when making this delicious brownie, giving it a sweet-tooth-satisfying molasses flavor!”

Just one change and you get something that looks and tastes different.

As you know, one of the seven questions I ask before writing client content is about the emotions that the piece should invoke.

Look at the seventh question I ask.

Should prospects be angry? Scared? Motivated?

Or, can a change in the emotional content of a written piece evoke great paralyzing fear?

(Maybe those tasty brownies contain deadly bacteria.)

If you change the emotion words in a piece of content, you get something that looks and tastes different.

Eat to the beat. One way or another.

Mutable Attributes to Identity, Straight From the Music World

Each person has certain immutable attributes associated with them, such as their blood type. And other attributes, such as their fingerprints and iris characteristics, which are mostly immutable. (Although I defy anyone to change their irises.)

But other things associated with us are all too mutable. If we use these for identification, we’ll end up in trouble.

Elvis Presley, songwriter?

Let’s take one of the many attributes associated with Elvis Presley. If you haven’t heard of Presley, he was a popular singer in the mid 20th century. He’s even in Britannica.

(As a point of clarification, the song “Radio Radio” is associated with a DIFFERENT Elvis.)

Among many other songs, Presley is associated with the song “Don’t Be Cruel.”

Elvis Presley.

Presley was not only the performer, but also the credited co-songwriter.

After all, that’s what BMI says when you search its Songview database. See BMI work ID 317493.

From repertoire.bmi.com.

So if BMI says Presley co-wrote it, it must be true. Right?

Um, no. In reality, the song was written by Otis Blackwell alone.

Otis Blackwell and some other guy. By https://www.allmusic.com/artist/otis-blackwell-mn0000893964, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=71449046.

So what’s the deal? The deal was this:

“…he listened to a selection of acetate demos provided by Freddy Bienstock, the new song representative assigned to Elvis by his publishers, Hill and Range. He chose “Don’t Be Cruel” by an obscure Brooklyn-born r&b singer and songwriter, Otis Blackwell. As per Hill and Range’s contractual requirement, it came with the assignment of half the publishing to Elvis Presley Music and half the writer’s share to Elvis Presley, but as Blackwell, the first of Elvis’ great “contract” writers, was always quick to point out, it was the best deal he ever made.”

Elvis Presley and manager Colonel Tom Parker. By Unknown author – eBay, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46927835. Parker’s real name was Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, but that’s an entirely different identity story.

Many songs are credited to Presley as a songwriter, but in reality he wrote few if any of them. Yet the “songwriter” attribute is assigned to him. Do we simply accept what BMI says and move on?

But there are other instances in which there are no back room deals, yet a song is strongly associated with a musical entity who never wrote it.

George Jones, not a songwriter

Take BMI Work ID 542061. The credited songwriters for this particular song are Robert Valentine Braddock and Claude Putnam, more commonly known as Bobby Braddock and Curly Putnam. According to RolandNote, Braddock and Putnam began writing this song on March 4, 1977 and finished it on October 18, 1977.

It was recorded by Johnny Russell on either March 7, 1978 (RolandNote), or January 18, 1979 (Second Hand Songs), or both (Classic Country Music Stories). But no recording was released.

Then George Jones recorded the song on February 6, 1980 with subsequent overdubs (“You know she came to see him one last time”) when he was more sober. His reaction?

“I looked [producer] Billy [Sherrill] square in the eye and said ‘nobody’s gonna buy that thing, it’s too morbid.’”

And morbid it was. Although popular music in general and country music in particular has never shied away from morbid songs.

Released the next month on March 18, the song was never associated with Braddock, Putnam, Russell, or Sherrill ever again. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” is completely associated with George Jones.

George Jones 1980 album I Am What I Am. Epic Records / Legacy Recordings., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17011344.

I am moved by the lyrical and emotional build-up, beginning with the very first line.

He said, “I’ll love you ’til I die”

After additional lines regarding a man’s unrequited love, the narrator enters the picture.

I went to see him just today
Oh but I didn’t see no tears
All dressed up to go away
First time I’d seen him smile in years

As for what happened next…listen to the song.

George Jones.

The bridge

Now there’s a particular article that I wrote for a Bredemarket client a couple of years ago that used a slow reveal “reverse timeline” effect. Starting with 2022 and moving back in time to 2019, I slowly dropped the details about a missing person who was identified via biometric technology, finally solving the mystery of the person’s identity (Connerjack Oswalt).

But I’m no Braddock/Putnam.

And I’m no George Jones.

Yes, I Ask

I’m old enough to remember when “maps” were large pieces of paper that you had to fold just right to store them. (Unless the maps were in a book.)

But whether your map is physical or electronic, if you don’t have it, and you’re in an area you don’t know, you’re going to get lost.

Which is why when I start a new project with a client, I try to get the answers to seven specific questions.

To learn about my seven questions, watch the video.

The Seven Questions I Ask.

Or read the book.

Seven Questions Your Content Creator Should Ask You (October 22, 2023)Download

Security Breaches in 2026: The Girl is the Robot

Samantha and Daria were in a closed conference room near the servers.

“Daria, I have confirmed that Jim shared his credentials with his girlfriend.”

Daria was disturbed. “Has she breached anything, Samantha?”

“Not yet,” Samantha replied. “And there’s one more thing.”

Daria listened.

“His girlfriend is a robot.”

Gemini.

Meanwhile, Jim was in his home office, staring lovingly at Donna’s beautiful on-screen avatar.

“Thank you, my love,” Donna purred. “Now I can help you do your work and get that promotion.”

Jim said nothing, but he was smiling.

Donna was smiling also. “Would you like me to peek at your performance review?”

Canva, Grok, and Gemini.