“Faux Social Media” not a good “choice”

July 19, 2007

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AT&T is rolling out their U-verse product in select markets. The product allows people to get television over the Internet (along with high speed service). Now the potential for that is interesting, although as cable companies such as Time Warner Cable and Comcast have improved their service offerings and their service over the years, the argument for change is not a clear one.

To promote U-verse in Norwalk, CT, AT&T has a campaign under which they supposedly award free U-verse for a year to go named, conveniently enough, Bobby Choice. Get it, you have a choice. Uh yeah… They’ve put a bunch of videos on YouTube. Here’s one.

Ok, so did that nauseate anyone else? We discovered it here in the office off of YouTube, and we immediately agreed that it was fake and cheesy. So why pretend that it’s real? To AT&T’s credit, they’ve admitted in the media that it’s a campaign. But why pretend he’s “won” this service? It deflates it, it minimizes it. He could’ve been just a funny spokesperson.Ironically, in some ways it’s better more in-depth information than is on the rest of the U-verse website, but the whole “faux social media” attempt just feels like another Wal-mart like mistake by a big company trying to understand the new rules of marketing.

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Posted by Jim Tobin | Filed Under Social Media News, Blog, Advertising, News 

Comments

One Response to ““Faux Social Media” not a good “choice””

  1. Maria on July 19th, 2007 10:46 pm

    Gag me with a faux ad. Pass the cheese… Not one likes to be taken for a fool, and this guy isn’t fooling anyone. Social media is not for those who are not saavy and not smart. If you don’t get it, don’t do it! And the Wal-mart thing is just so incredibly dumb and arrogant. Don’t they know that many communities oppose the building of Wal-marts in their neighborhood because of the fact that RVs park in the lots overnight. News flash… many communities don’t think that is the best thing for their neighborhoods. Anyone bother to study the issues before plunging into a FAUX SOCIAL MEDIA VENTURE? Be smart or stay home, that’s what I say!! (Now, done right… that’s another story…)

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