User generated content is all the rage, but only the best user generated content is worthy of real ad sales. So what's a user-gen web startup like Digg, Youtube or Myspace to do? Let the users fight, argue and generally make asses of themselves in the back room, while pro-level editors keep the front page all nice and shiny. Buzz feed points out a string of articles on this phenomenon and explains, "The mullet strategy is here to stay because the best way for web companies to grow traffic is to let the users have control, but the best way to sell advertising is a slick, pretty front page where corporate sponsors can wistfully admire their brands."
If you'll pardon us, we're going out back to shave our heads.
