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

Reminds me

[Lord_Dweomer]

Reminds me of an excellent book called Everybody In Silico. Basically it takes place in the future where advertising has run even further amok and people are transitioning permanently to a new cyber world.

What reminded me was that in the book, they have people who go up and pitch things directly to other people, and they have watches that listen for audio cues, and when they've successfully pitched someone, money is deposited into an account for them.

And while I should know this since I'm in advertising.....how do these companies make sure these kids are actually pitching? How do they know they're not just paying them to go dick around with their friends and not do anything? There's no real sort of metrics for this sort of thing nor is there much control.

Apple! Uck!

[mister_llah]

I have seen Apple use a lot of college plants here at Northern Illinois where I go to school.

Not only that, but I have, myself, been approached by Apple. Last year I ran a film festival for amateur film makers, they approached me about running it again, and changing it to use only Apple products and the iMovie format.

I have heard from a couple of dissatisfied members of the Mac support group here on campus that it has become little more than a sales convention every other week when it meets.

That same group had an event on campus called "Who is your Mac Daddy", which was basically just a tupperware party for Apple products.

It's sick...

Re:If this actually worked, then kids would vote

[QuantumG]

They're clearly smarter than you and recognise that the US political system has been thoroughly gamed such that it is impossible for any radical change to ever happen. You have a choice, Bob the Republician or Bob the Democrat, both of who believe the same things, but for slightly different reasons, except for the few insignificant details that should never decide the outcome of an election but innevitably do because it is impossible to change the system without first defeating it.

Compare this to some European countries where anyone can write up a proposal for a referendum, collect signatures, submit it and their government is required by the constitution to put it to a national vote.