Misplaced Word of Mouth

Three random emails in my inbox this weekend have me scratching my head.

YouIntern was lighting a fire under me, noting that the deadline to apply for an internship with Staples was today. Initially I was flattered by the misstep, and then I wondered if this wasn’t an unvitation.

Well it doesn’t matter as Staples has their summer intern locked in. Always the bridesmaid...

Then I received two emails from consumers on some old posts.

Old Spice (Packaging) Stinks?

A comment on the P&G Expands Word of Mouth Efforts post:
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On Saturday, May 17, 2008, my wife purchased a bottle of Old Spice Cologne for me which cost $9.99 + tax. The Old Spice Cologne box contained a small cheap plastic bottle with 2.5 fluid ounces of cologne. I've been using Old Spice Cologne since college, and am now sixty years of age. I was completely shocked by this cheap marketing gimmick to take advantage of consumers. Someone might think you're selling oil instead of cologne. Your R&D and Marketing Departments are in need of major change. I will never again purchase or use Old Spice Cologne. I'm also going to avoid other P & G products, as your company's ethics are now in question. Your are a major dissappointment.
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Google Thinks I’m a Wiener

A comment on the Marketing’s Summer Road Trip post:
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I am a grandmother of a future graduate from High school, and she was a little girl I always told her I would have the weinermobile for her to ride arround in on that day. She is a terrific kid straight A and a very sensible girl, and plus she is beautiful. You would have quite a group of people, and think of the publicity. You would make a grandmothers wish come true and help me fulfil a wish I had for her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart weather you acept this or not, thank you >NAME< By the way this would be in the Year 2009...
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OK, I have about three pages of comments on my Summer Road Trip post from folks asking for the keys to the fuel-injected frank. Back in 2005 I even contacted Kraft to alert them. A well-intended customer service agent cited “rules and regulations” when telling me these requests would not be considered.

What’s my point? Have you checked your search RESULTS lately? Do search results on the key words important to your brand point to someone else’s site?

In the cases above, I assumed one glance tells you this blog is in no way shape or form affiliated with P&G, Kraft or any of their respective brands. But sometimes passionate consumers take the fastest/shortest path to get their voice heard. In this case that was one click from a Google search before hitting send.

Justine Electra uploaded by Mas-Luka
tags | advertising | marketing | blog | SEO | brand

Comments

[Lally]

Occupational hazard of having one's contact info on the net. I've had people find my name on a news release, track me down through 411 and CALL ME AT HOME.

This was for a client I hadn't worked for in two years.

Thank gawd for email in that regard.

[Kevin Dugan]

This explains why you protect your direct dial as if it were THE launch code.

[Martin Edic]

It's not enough to rely on search these days- you need to monitor social media and standard index-based search doesn't bring back results in real time- there's a lag which can mean missing a trend while it picks up speed.

[Brisbane Internet Consultant]

What on earth is a weinermobile? Sounds like something that get rolled out at a gay and lesbian Mardi Gras :)

[Laptop Bags Australia]

An interesting collection of thoughts. I must learn how to do that photo editing thing where all bar one area is in greyscale. The red top makes the photo very interesting.

[RSA training]

Interesting stuff. Weinermobile huh? I saw one of those in an old movie once.