Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

1.  

   You are trying really hard

   

   squik, Apr 17th, 2007 @ 11:34pm

   
   

   The video increases the value of a scarce product -- attendance at the conference. The video also increases the visibility of ideas presented at the conference, thereby increasing the demand to present at the conference.
   
   In short, the video is advertising. This isn't anything startlingly new. It is very old.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

2.  

   Re: You are trying really hard

   

   Anonymous Coward, Apr 17th, 2007 @ 11:53pm

   
   

   If you read what he wrote that's what he was saying

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

3.  

   All hail Squick the obvious, and irrelevant.

   

   Chris, Apr 18th, 2007 @ 12:25am

   
   

   This post along with probably 50 others on TechDirt continually point out that allowing someone to advertise for you is to your benefit. It's free, it spreads the word of your product, thus generating interest, and gives it a relevant agent through which the advertisement is delievered. Getting a random popup or spam e-mail is annoying. Going to a site devouted to selling networking equipment and seeing an add for really cheep blade servers is content the consumer wishes to be exposed to. So, if a tradeshow expands it's exposure services beyond the showroom floor, then it's obviously going to have a better turnout; for the vendors and patrons alike.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

4.  

   Re: You are trying really hard

   

   Mike (profile), Apr 18th, 2007 @ 12:33am

   
   

   In short, the video is advertising. This isn't anything startlingly new. It is very old.
   
   Indeed. That's exactly what I'm saying.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

5.  

   

   Overcast, Apr 18th, 2007 @ 6:02am

   
   

   Yeah, It's free advertising. Not just plain old boring TV commercials that make you want to run to the restroom, but it's a FREEBIE coupled with advertising.
   
   Of course it's going to get attention and of course people will respond.
   
   And I do not, of course, expect big old business to ever notice that..

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

6.  

   Advertising that's useful

   

   Luke, Apr 18th, 2007 @ 6:43am

   
   

   This is useful advertising. It would be awesome if more companies followed this line of thought and actually gave their users/consumers something powerful, meaningful, useful in an advertisement rather than just flashy lights and a catchy theme song. I always hate when I to go find information out about some product or event and the official page is nothing but useless advertising without giving me any direct information that tells me what's really going on.
   
   By giving away actual video of the conference you make it easy for someone to see what it is that you offer.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

7.  

   Wow

   

   Casper, Apr 18th, 2007 @ 7:24am

   
   

   This is one reason I hated dealing with economists in school. Even though they supposedly specialize in the economy, they lack a basic understanding of how trade works or how supply and demand works. In fact, I actually started a small software company back in the day and one of the biggest draws we had was our free software on our website.
   
   Distributing something for free will always generate a positive result as long as the expense of that distributed is of less then or equal return. In the case of software, music, movies, and all other forms of media in which replication costs almost nothing; you can't go wrong.
   
   It's really simple when you think of it as an artificial inflation of demand for products from your company (like advertising - except you are actually displacing possible competitors with your free product).

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

8.  

   Re: Wow

   

   Casper, Apr 18th, 2007 @ 7:28am

   
   

   One more thing: If you have not already done so, you should look into the Pharmaceutical industries methods. They distribute all kinds of free product in conjunction with their advertising and have (according to the last numbers I saw) been getting a 2:1 return... and they sell some extremely over priced products.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

9.  

   Street Marketing 101

   

   rEdEyEz, Apr 18th, 2007 @ 9:23am

   
   

   Yeah, I learned this tactic back in the 'hood, from a pimp, his hos, and a neighborhood pharmaceutical dealer.
   
   ...Once you're hooked, it makes its own sauce.

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

10.  

    Whawtever

    

    Jack Sparrow, Apr 18th, 2007 @ 10:37am

    
    

    Hey mates,
    
    Arrrrgggghhh,
    
    You can do better then this TechDirt mates, sure you can!
    
    These last ones has no so tech even so dirt...
    
    Gone :)

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

11.  

    Amen Amen

    

    Buzz, Apr 18th, 2007 @ 12:31pm

    
    

    I am 1000x more likely to purchase products from Google since they offer so many high-quality programs for free. Google Sketchup is one example that made me giddy once I discovered it. Bottom line is this: those who offer free stuff win tons of support from customers.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

Add Your Comment