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August 15, 2007
A Free Trial of GoToHellWithYourCallousMarketing?
Passed along from a friend who questioned the ethics of this "news release." It's bad enough that this went out, but what's just as disheartening is the number of outlets that picked this up automatically just because it carried the right "key words." Any carbon-based journalist would have tossed this sucker in the trash or called the company out. I guess there is a downside to the "optimized" news release.
Citrix makes a good product, but how could this possibly have passed muster as a good idea? I'm imagining a conversation that went something like this...
Marketing Exec: A bridge collapsed in Minnesota. Can we sell stuff? We've got numbers to make.
Product Manager: Our product is perfect for those commuters who can't get to work. After all, they're victims too, and it'll increase our installed base and make the analysts happy. Let's give a "free" trial. It won't cost us a thing. It's a win-win!
Marketing Exec: Wow, you mean we can make money AND do our part?
PR Person: Let's do a press release!
sigh...
(Clipped portion of the actual release follows)
August 09, 2007 03:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Minneapolis Commuters Affected by Interstate 35 West Bridge Closure Can Still Access Office Computers from Home, Conduct Presentations and Training with GoToMyPC and GoToMeeting
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Minneapolis-area commuters who rely on their office PC can avoid roadway detours – yet stay connected with their workplace, customers and employees – using remote access and online meeting services offered by Citrix Corporation for free. Citrix® GoToMyPC® allows workers to securely and easily access their workplace computer desktops from any other PC with an Internet connection, and use all of their files, e-mail and other applications just as if they were sitting at their desks.
The Minnesota State Department of Transportation has advised motorists to adjust their work hours in an effort to relieve highway congestion during peak commuting times. The department has also urged workers to telecommute if possible.
“We’d like to help Minneapolis commuters with easy-to-use telecommuting and online collaboration solutions,” said Bernardo de Albergaria, vice president and general manager, eCommerce, for Citrix Online. “Citrix Online offers a simple, highly secure way to connect to an office PC or present to a customer from the convenience of any computer with Internet access. We are inviting employees and employers to immediately begin using our remote-access services - free of charge for the next 60 days.”
The extended free-usage period includes...
Posted by Matt Kucharski at August 15, 2007 9:27 AM
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Comments
Spot on, my man. At the very least, there should have been pushback on said marketing exec by pr person. But there always will be ambulance chasers. It's up to the journalists and their organizations to be wise enough to ignore bad ideas and bad releases.
Posted by: Rich Sharp at August 25, 2007 12:53 PM