Viral marketers? - Blu-ray Forum

Beta-guy · 12-07-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crackbone

Couple that with the fact I am seeing a ton of viral BS marketers over @ Hidefdigest trying to downplay it with claiming a BD exclusive studio is about to go neutral, etc. If they are here reading my post, I know who you are, and I know your game.

what are viral Marketers?

JAGUAR1977 · 12-07-2007, 10:59 PM

Do you want me to give you a list of names?

Beta-guy · 12-07-2007, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAGUAR1977

Do you want me to give you a list of names?

that would be good but I was loking at more of what do they do, I just want to know who's doing what and id they actually mean what they say, I debate on a few forums and I've heard of these viral marketers I justwant to know who's playing gme and who's being straight in terms of what they are saying...

mattym · 12-07-2007, 11:13 PM

viral marketers post BS and get a rise out of it, best example being sa0cd on here with the warner thread(though i called it as lee stewart on page 1...go me)

viral marketers also seem to work for 800lb gorillas. Directly and indirectly. Some folk are soft in the head, if you tell them the sky is pink, their eyes glaze over and they murmer '..pink....sky..' then they go and tell anyone who will listen (normally also soft in the head)

cartier · 12-07-2007, 11:13 PM

This is one instance when wikipedia is helpful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketing

Beta-guy · 12-07-2007, 11:23 PM

I debate with alot of them, they piss me off so much I can write a thesis on the errors they make there were some that were soo off the wall I wasn't sure how they could believe what they are say...

Clark Kent · 12-08-2007, 05:30 AM

Viral Marketers are people usually paid to post in forums to spread certain messages or help sale certain products. But they don't tell you this directly, they try to blend in and act just like any other user on the forum. Other times a company will approach a couple of key veteran posters covertly to endorse their product for bribes/payouts. Because those posters already had credibility in a particular forum their endorsements don't seem so fishy.

It's a highly unethical way for companies(think Micro$oft) to push products(think HD DVD) on forums where there is a natural interest in the product. It's an artificial way to create what was called "word of mouth" or "buzz" in the pre-Internet days for products. It happens on lots of different types of internet forums. I've seen it happen for videogames, speakers, High def video formats, and other products/services.

AVS happened to be taken over by viral marketers for a certain HD format and made that site almost unreadable.

gandley · 12-08-2007, 12:51 PM

it has been said that MS for instance have a full team of people who are paid just to surf the net and stamp on any bad info that crops up in any forums about there products. (they are used also to promote products by pretending to be consumers who think the product is just wow etc)

the xbox360 failure rate was a good example with viral posters posting that there is no problem, its media hype etc etc,

On one forum an 'X' xbox employee exposed some of the posters as old fellow employees posting to hide bad info, and exposed many of the techniques used to rubbish other members actual real experience posts.

To say it was an eye opener, would be a massive understatement.

However i doubt MS are alone in this and companies have become wise on how to use forums as a source of surpression and free advertiseing.
Its sad but now you dont really know if a consumer review was really a consumer at all.

forums arent gospel, be sure to always confirm so called facts.

JAGUAR1977 · 12-08-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beta-guy

I debate with alot of them, they piss me off so much I can write a thesis on the errors they make there were some that were soo off the wall I wasn't sure how they could believe what they are say...

Pointless, you have ring leaders who are very well informed, they know exactly what they're doing, and are careful with the words they use. They attract what can only be described as low life scum/idiots/chavs who spam boards 24/7 as entertainment, and to protect their $99 invesstment.

Each one of them is being taken for fools by MS who wish for both formats to fail, you really couldn't make it up.

reiella · 12-08-2007, 01:32 PM

Viral marketing, pretty much, you get agencies to create buzz in certain areas.

And that's pretty much it.

Stuff like the Halo webspace that happened with both Halo 2 and 3.

Think of it like advertising in the National Enquirer. Which does work.

buckshot · 12-08-2007, 01:48 PM

I would just like to throw this out there. if any of these marketing companies are out there reading this I am available to ***** myself for whatever you want, as long as you pay me. send me a pm if you're interested. I will also accept subway gift cards as payment.

actually I have been called one of these before. someone at highdefdigest.com asked me ''how's that project hydra money working out for you?'' I guess that's one of the firms?

once again I am a cheap *****. PAY ME!!!!!!

reiella · 12-08-2007, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckshot

I would just like to throw this out there. if any of these marketing companies are out there reading this I am available to ***** myself for whatever you want, as long as you pay me. send me a pm if you're interested. I will also accept subway gift cards as payment.

actually I have been called one of these before. someone at highdefdigest.com asked me ''how's that project hydra money working out for you?'' I guess that's one of the firms?

once again I am a cheap *****. PAY ME!!!!!!

LOL, that's part of it the funny part.

The way viral marketing works, one or two folks start the buzz, the buzz catches on to normal folks, and they continue the buzz. Hence, 'viral'.

Very similra and related to guerilla marketing.

Clark Kent · 12-09-2007, 01:48 AM

It can really be insidious. Sometimes it just takes one or two influential posters to sway the group's opinions or introduce blatantly false info as fact. Forums are so susceptible to groupthink that one has to be careful and always consider the source.

yakman · 12-09-2007, 06:22 AM

A really good place to see viral marketing is on the speaker board at AVS. There are two new internet direct companies that have become a favorite recommendation for speakers suddenly. I've heard products from both of them now and am not impressed.

12-07-2007, 11:23 PM	#6
Beta-guy Expert Member Member since:Jul 2007 Blu-ray collection:23 Blu-ray reviews:1	I debate with alot of them, they piss me off so much I can write a thesis on the errors they make there were some that were soo off the wall I wasn't sure how they could believe what they are say... Last edited by Beta-guy; 12-07-2007 at 11:34 PM.

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12-07-2007, 10:59 PM	#2
JAGUAR1977 Special Member Member since:Aug 2007 Blu-ray reviews:1	Do you want me to give you a list of names?

12-07-2007, 11:13 PM	#4
mattym Expert Member Member since:Jun 2007	viral marketers post BS and get a rise out of it, best example being sa0cd on here with the warner thread(though i called it as lee stewart on page 1...go me) viral marketers also seem to work for 800lb gorillas. Directly and indirectly. Some folk are soft in the head, if you tell them the sky is pink, their eyes glaze over and they murmer '..pink....sky..' then they go and tell anyone who will listen (normally also soft in the head)

12-07-2007, 11:13 PM	#5
cartier Expert Member Member since:Jun 2007 Location:Pacific NW	This is one instance when wikipedia is helpful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketing

12-08-2007, 05:30 AM	#7
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	Viral Marketers are people usually paid to post in forums to spread certain messages or help sale certain products. But they don't tell you this directly, they try to blend in and act just like any other user on the forum. Other times a company will approach a couple of key veteran posters covertly to endorse their product for bribes/payouts. Because those posters already had credibility in a particular forum their endorsements don't seem so fishy. It's a highly unethical way for companies(think Micro$oft) to push products(think HD DVD) on forums where there is a natural interest in the product. It's an artificial way to create what was called "word of mouth" or "buzz" in the pre-Internet days for products. It happens on lots of different types of internet forums. I've seen it happen for videogames, speakers, High def video formats, and other products/services. AVS happened to be taken over by viral marketers for a certain HD format and made that site almost unreadable.

12-08-2007, 12:51 PM	#8
gandley Special Member Member since:Feb 2007 Location:The Drowning Pool	it has been said that MS for instance have a full team of people who are paid just to surf the net and stamp on any bad info that crops up in any forums about there products. (they are used also to promote products by pretending to be consumers who think the product is just wow etc) the xbox360 failure rate was a good example with viral posters posting that there is no problem, its media hype etc etc, On one forum an 'X' xbox employee exposed some of the posters as old fellow employees posting to hide bad info, and exposed many of the techniques used to rubbish other members actual real experience posts. To say it was an eye opener, would be a massive understatement. However i doubt MS are alone in this and companies have become wise on how to use forums as a source of surpression and free advertiseing. Its sad but now you dont really know if a consumer review was really a consumer at all. forums arent gospel, be sure to always confirm so called facts.

12-08-2007, 01:32 PM	#10
reiella Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2006 Home Theater Gallery:1 Blu-ray collection:237 DVD collection:1	Viral marketing, pretty much, you get agencies to create buzz in certain areas. And that's pretty much it. Stuff like the Halo webspace that happened with both Halo 2 and 3. Think of it like advertising in the National Enquirer. Which does work.

12-08-2007, 01:48 PM	#11
buckshot Blu-ray Guru Member since:Feb 2007 Location:san die ego Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:9	I would just like to throw this out there. if any of these marketing companies are out there reading this I am available to *** myself for whatever you want, as long as you pay me. send me a pm if you're interested. I will also accept subway gift cards as payment. actually I have been called one of these before. someone at highdefdigest.com asked me ''how's that project hydra money working out for you?'' I guess that's one of the firms? once again I am a cheap ***. PAY ME!!!!!!

12-09-2007, 01:48 AM	#13
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	It can really be insidious. Sometimes it just takes one or two influential posters to sway the group's opinions or introduce blatantly false info as fact. Forums are so susceptible to groupthink that one has to be careful and always consider the source.

12-09-2007, 06:22 AM	#14
yakman Member Member since:Aug 2007	A really good place to see viral marketing is on the speaker board at AVS. There are two new internet direct companies that have become a favorite recommendation for speakers suddenly. I've heard products from both of them now and am not impressed.

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