Use of Student Plants to Pitch Products Rising

theodp wrote to mention a Seattle PI article about software and niche companies using college-age hucksters to get the word about their product out. From the article: "Microsoft is among a growing number of companies seeking to reach the elusive but critical college market by hiring students to be ambassadors -- or, in more traditional terms, door-to-door salesmen. In an age when the college demographic is no longer easily reached by television, radio or newspapers -- as TiVo, satellite radio, iPods and the Internet crowd out the traditional advertising venues -- a microindustry of campus marketing has emerged. Niche firms have sprung up to act as recruiters of students, who then market products on campus for companies such as Microsoft, JetBlue Airways, The Cartoon Network and Victoria's Secret."

Comments

As Einstein once said...

[Anonymous Coward]

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

Re:If this actually worked, then kids would vote

[thesandtiger]

I don't mean to be rude, but don't you think the problem might be your attitude? You're referring to people as "the slobbering masses." I think you'd do better if you tried not insulting the people you're reaching out to.

Already a term..

[Bananatree3]

This is called Astroturf. (movements that look their grassroots, but in reality are sponsored by a company).

Re:Already a term..

[swillden]

This is called Astroturf.

Actually, there's a much older term: "shill".

Microsoft needs work, but Adobe needs a miracle

[mister_llah]

Microsoft does make signifigant student discounts, though they certain could make more, Office is still quite expensive for those of us who are broke.

I'd love to see *ADOBE* really cut their prices for students... God forbid an graphic design student actually want to buy a copy of Photoshop...