AMD possibly linked to viral marketing

[Icepick]

I just came across this link over at ngohq.com and found it interesting. They are making a claim that AMD is using shills in a viral marketing campaign across the net. I didn't see any direct evidence that this is taking place. Rather, there is a series of circumstantial evidence that leads to this conclusion.

Link: http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=articles&go=read&arc_id=112

Basically, the forum admins noticed a series of suspicious posts arise on their site. They traced the IP's back to a marketing firm called Design Reactor. This firm boasts that it's biggest client is AMD. When asked about their practices an associate admitted that they freely use viral marketing practices.

Is AMD about to receive a backlash from the enthusiast community? Or does it even matter since the enthusiasts are currently flocking to Intel's Core2Duo leaving AMD with the more forgiving budget-minded customers?

This topic sparked some lively debate around the 'net back when nVidia was suspect. It Doesn't seem to have damaged that company's reputation in the long term so maybe this is a moot point.

What do YOU think?


Edited to add link.

 

[dexvx]

I wouldnt expect more or less. Theres no law saying you can't post what someone paid you to do, and its a decent marketting opportunity with larger forums that focus on a specific venue.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I think AMD is coming to Design Reactor for marketing, and Design Reactor decided to use the "viral marketing" method. It sounds like Design Reactor is the one to blame for the specific method but then I am no authority on this stuff so I could be dead wrong.

 

[Conky]

I really hope there aren't any more of these viral marketers here. There was that one for AEG/Nvidia who was ultimately banned but it wouldn't surprise me even a little bit if there were dozens more for other companies.

I almost feel like a viral marketer for Intel and ASRock after my latest upgrades. I guess that's the big problem... how do you tell a viral marketer from a happy customer who may want to share his good experiences?

 

[Icepick]

That's what bothers me about viral marketing. Noobs come around to tech forums to obtain honest advice from people who have used the products. Shills who flood the forums with posts that have no other purpose than to sell a product dilute the good info and devalue places like this as an information resource. That's just deceptive IMHO.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: Icepick
That's what bothers me about viral marketing. Noobs come around to tech forums to obtain honest advice from people who have used the products. Shills who flood the forums with posts that have no other purpose than to sell a product dilute the good info and devalue places like this as an information resource. That's just deceptive IMHO.

Not really; when you have 10 other forum regulars to disprove him, the newbie will be like... hmmm...

 

[Regs]

It seems that whenever one has a worse for were product on their hands they are accused for viral marketing. Like Nvidia and their 5200, 5400, and 5800. I can also likely search for topics when Intel had their Prescott and Celeron D up against a Sempron or A64 Clawhammer.

Maybe the marketing becomes more visible or obvious when one has a noticeably less justifiable product.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Where do I sign up to get my check?

I was pimpin AMD long before it was Fly!

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Where do I sign up to get my check?

I was pimpin AMD long before it was Fly!

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Where do I sign up to get my check?

I was pimpin AMD long before it was Fly!

Somebody owes VinDSL a check too! :laugh:

 

[DrMrLordX]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Where do I sign up to get my check?

I was pimpin AMD long before it was Fly!

Well hell, why shouldn't they hire a guy like you? If your opinions are honest and your advice is good, that's the best kind of marketting available. That's what "viral" marketting SHOULD be about.

It isn't about know-nothing spammers paid to flood forums with FUD that reeks of viral nonsense. It's about hiring on knowledgeable people to spread the truth and to debunk lies whenever possible. The more you have to lie and/or spin to market your product, the worse off you are. Naturally it gets harder to market an inferior product, but you still dont' have to lie or misrepresent the truth just to confuse people into buying a worthless item.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Where do I sign up to get my check?

I was pimpin AMD long before it was Fly!

Well hell, why shouldn't they hire a guy like you? If your opinions are honest and your advice is good, that's the best kind of marketing available. That's what "viral" marketing SHOULD be about.

It isn't about know-nothing spammers paid to flood forums with FUD that reeks of viral nonsense. It's about hiring on knowledgeable people to spread the truth and to debunk lies whenever possible. The more you have to lie and/or spin to market your product, the worse off you are. Naturally it gets harder to market an inferior product, but you still don't' have to lie or misrepresent the truth just to confuse people into buying a worthless item.

The minute he's being paid directly by AMD, it calls in to question his objectivity. If/when AMD starts slipping, is he going to tell the truth and risk losing his job, or pretty things up to keep sales up and money flowing in to his own wallet? I'm not saying GD is dishonest(in fact I highly doubt he is), but it's the same problem no matter who this magical person is.

As for AMD, they deserve a refund for how poorly Design Reactor performed, and then a public flogging for hiring someone who does forum spamming(it's not "viral marketing", it's spam, let's not use words to hide the truth). There's no excuse for this stuff, it needs to stop now otherwise they'll destroy our communities just to make a buck.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: DrMrLordX

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
Where do I sign up to get my check?

I was pimpin AMD long before it was Fly!

Well hell, why shouldn't they hire a guy like you? If your opinions are honest and your advice is good, that's the best kind of marketing available. That's what "viral" marketing SHOULD be about.

It isn't about know-nothing spammers paid to flood forums with FUD that reeks of viral nonsense. It's about hiring on knowledgeable people to spread the truth and to debunk lies whenever possible. The more you have to lie and/or spin to market your product, the worse off you are. Naturally it gets harder to market an inferior product, but you still don't' have to lie or misrepresent the truth just to confuse people into buying a worthless item.

The minute he's being paid directly by AMD, it calls in to question his objectivity. If/when AMD starts slipping, is he going to tell the truth and risk losing his job, or pretty things up to keep sales up and money flowing in to his own wallet? I'm not saying GD is dishonest(in fact I highly doubt he is), but it's the same problem no matter who this magical person is.

As for AMD, they deserve a refund for how poorly Design Reactor performed, and then a public flogging for hiring someone who does forum spamming(it's not "viral marketing", it's spam, let's not use words to hide the truth). There's no excuse for this stuff, it needs to stop now otherwise they'll destroy our communities just to make a buck.

:thumbsup:

I agree completely, deception is just bad business anyway you look at it. If they had been totally up front and said something like "Hey, XYZ company just sent me this for free to check out and they asked me to tell you guys about it", but I guess if they did that they would be breaking the forums TOS. The bottom line is any use of forums bandwidth for paid advertizing/testimonials for other companies is an infringment on the forum owners, and if done deceptively is misleading and a diservice to the forum members.

Damn, I was countin on that check too.:brokenheart:

 

[DrMrLordX]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
The minute he's being paid directly by AMD, it calls in to question his objectivity. If/when AMD starts slipping, is he going to tell the truth and risk losing his job, or pretty things up to keep sales up and money flowing in to his own wallet? I'm not saying GD is dishonest(in fact I highly doubt he is), but it's the same problem no matter who this magical person is.

As for AMD, they deserve a refund for how poorly Design Reactor performed, and then a public flogging for hiring someone who does forum spamming(it's not "viral marketing", it's spam, let's not use words to hide the truth). There's no excuse for this stuff, it needs to stop now otherwise they'll destroy our communities just to make a buck.

It may call his objectivity into question, but it is up to him (the marketter) to maintain that objectivity nonetheless. He loses value as a marketter once the money starts changing what he says. If he's good at what he does, marketting for one company isn't his job so much as marketting period is his job. He pulls out once the products being marketted are simply too inferior to plug in an honest manner. Once AMD (just an example) starts bugging him to change his message or start harping on minutiae in order to show their products in a good light, he cancels his contract with them and signs on with someone else. Good marketters do not endorse shoddy products unless they want to lose credibility as a marketter.

Radio and TV pitchmen have to deal with this kind of thing all the time. Why viral marketters think they can spam up a storm on message boards and receive positive results is anybody's guess.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy


I agree completely, deception is just bad business anyway you look at it. If they had been totally up front and said something like "Hey, XYZ company just sent me this for free to check out and they asked me to tell you guys about it", but I guess if they did that they would be breaking the forums TOS. The bottom line is any use of forums bandwidth for paid advertizing/testimonials for other companies is an infringment on the forum owners, and if done deceptively is misleading and a diservice to the forum members.

Damn, I was countin on that check too.:brokenheart:

That is a good point; no matter how well-conducted the marketting campaign may be, if it breaks the terms of service then it breaks the terms of service. That is probably the motive for deception in the first place; it lets marketters break into forums closed to their pitch.

 

[Seero]

Sorry, it was not my intention to zombify this thread.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

I googled "viral marketing AMD" and the first site that pops is this (after the ads of course)
http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=articles&go=read&arc_id=112

This was spread quicker than forest fire towards most technical forums at that year(days within that month). How did it ended up having no proof of AMD's viral marketing nowadays?

You necroed a FIVE-YEAR-OLD thread. D:

EDIT: lol.

 

[Idontcare]

Locking this necro'ed thread, serves no productive purpose to the community at this juncture.

Idontcare
Super Mod