Game Maker Spams Game Blog to Promote XBox Release
Today, Weblogs Inc. blog Joystiq reports receiving a slew of emails last week, apparently from individual readers tipping the site to the appearance of the game Perfect Dark Zero at Wal-Mart's Xbox 360 kiosks over the weekends.
Joystiq tracked all the emails back to the same IP address - a dead giveaway all the emails, even though they came from different names and email addresses, came from the same place. This is standard practice for spoof/spam/sham marketers who haven't yet figured out how to spoof their IP address prior to sending their marketing spam. Would it have been so bad to simply send Joystiq and honest email from Perfect Dark Zero's PR agency or their ad agency telling the editor that, gee, your readers might find it interesting that the product will be demoed at Wal-Mart this weekend? Why bother with all the "tips" when a simple email would have done the trick. Joysiq, knowing its readers interest in this product, would have certainly written about it anyway without having to have been duped.
It's hard to grasp the mindset of some marketers who, facing a media landscape with more enthusiast and niche sites willing to gush at length about particular topics like never before, would stoop to such clandestine stealth methods when these sites are just dying to gush forth endlessly about their area of expertise. Clearly, some marketers remain clueless about weblogs, fan sites, or whatever name you want to slap on this whole new genre of consumer generated media. Wake up and smell the blog, marketers!
Comments
Most of marketing seems to be about deception.
"You NEED this product."
"This one is BETTER than all the others."
"It's GOOD for you."
I think deception is just part of the marketing mindset. :)
I think too that a lot of marketers and PR agencies just don't "get" blogs yet. Probably because they don't bother reading them.
Podcasts, same thing. How many marketers who talk about podcasts have actually listened to one? I've been looking for a good podcast for ages and can't find anything worth listening to.
At the end of the day though, cardinal rule of PR. Don't lie to a reporter. Heck, don't lie to anyone. A teaser campaign is one thing, this is something else entirely.
They should take heed from Microsofts own PR work with the 360 and Halo 2.
On a side note - Joystiq's not what I'd call a blog any more. They are a press site (and doing a hell of a job promoting the 360 these days) calling themselves a blog. There's nothing "blog-like" about them anymore. Even the tone has become one that's more corporate
As for the spam emails - that's just sad. I thought the Microsoft PR team knew better.
The problem is that there are too many people who don't get marketing out there doing marketing. Real marketers don't use deception, sure they place their offering in the best possible light - but this is the like making sure you comb your hair and brush your teeth before you go on a date.
I agree that most marketers, and most companies, don't get blogs yet. There is a movement in that direction though, and I don't think it will take long before blog marketing is taught in marketing MBA programs.
Legitimate marketers do not spam. It's just a stupid thing to do.
Welcome to our website for you World of Warcraft Gold,Wow Gold,Cheap World of Warcraft Gold,cheap wow gold,buy cheap wow gold,real wow gold,sell wow gold, ...
Here wow gold of 1000 gold at $68.99-$80.99 ,World Of Warcraft Gold,buy wow gold,sell world of warcraft gold(wow gold),buy euro gold wow Cheap wow gold,cheapest wow gold store ... guild wars gold buy euro gold wow wow gold--buy cheap wow gold,sell wow gold.welcome to buy cheap wow gold--cheap, easy, wow gold purchasing.World of Warcraft,wow gold Super ...guild wars gold We can have your wow gold,guild wars goldbuy wow gold,wow gold game,world of warcraft gold, wow Gold Cheap wow, Cheap wow gold,world of warcraft gold deal,Cheap WOW Gold ...
Lol, if M$ (ie. a SE) who else would be doing this... (and yes, we all know the big brother of the SE is doing that too, in it's front index, without hidding it too much...
Oh well... http://vidosgruperos.iespana.es/lesbianas.html
The High Blood Pressure Remedy Report *High Conversion Rates. Description Promote The Most Popular Blood Pressure Report Online! This Site Has Consistently High Conversion Rates. Plus, You Earn Extra On 12 Other Reports Pitched On The Download Page! You Can Also Promote These Reports - Search ‘barton’ Within CB. how to win at video pokerFirst, thank you to be able to extract the time to read our mail. I represent our company to give you the kindest regards. We are jewelry wholesale company from Beijing in China. The Olympic Games will start in Beijing soon. In this significative happy time, in order to increase the international friendly relations and business relations, form a reciprocal cooperation, Our Company selects such method to strive for your opinion and expecting your support or trade communicate.
http://www.faysale.com
http://www.mmorpgvip.com
very nice