IanSchafer.com

Just in Time For Thanksgiving Football, Astroturfing.

There is a burgeoning controversy happening on the top gadget sites about a shill for Motorola haplessly blathering on about the qualities of the Motorola Krave.

It's happening on BoingBoing.

It's happening on Crunchgear.

And it's happening on many other places as well.

Posting as a shill in the comment sections of blogs is a practice commonly referred to as astroturfing. And blog readers are too smart to let it go unnoticed.

Here's an example of what's been going on:

I’m so glad my boss isn’t like that! I’m working with Motorola right now, and became a huge fan of the Krave (motorola.com/krave). I especially like the full touch screen display and html web browser. It’s awesome!

And:

Oh man this looks awesome! I hope they release a version for the Krave by Motorola. Ever since I started working with Motorola I have became a huge fan of the phone (motorola.com/krave). With a full list of features, like a full touch screen, I can’t stop obsessing over it.

This is a PR fiasco for Motorola, at a time when they can't really afford one. Their PR firm (or employee) made the client look bad, which is a big no-no.

Learn a lesson here. Don't astroturf. And don't listen to anyone that makes those kinds of tactics part of their 'social media strategy'. You will get found out in a moment, and it will work against you. Ironically, I mentioned this in the very first post I ever made on this blog.

Full circle. Gotta love it.

My Trip To The Wired Store.

So it just so happens that the Wired Store opened up just 2 blocks from my apartment.

I took a quick visit there this evening, and in case you can't make it, I took some photos for you. Enjoy!

See? I'm A Human With Emotions. And So Is My New Daughter.

I'll keep this short and sweet, but last night, my wife Cheryl gave birth to our first child, our beautiful daughter, Carly.

She's 7 lbs. 1 oz. of cute overload.

I'm keeping her away from public social media. No official websites, no social networking profiles, no boys until she's 25.

Welcome to the world, Carly.

Posts and tweets will be light as I enjoy the best few days of my life -- so far.

See Me at SXSW Interactive in March 2009.

It's official.

I'll be speaking at SXSW Interactive in March of 2009 co-leading a discussion with our fine clients at Electronic Arts on the marketing of the hit video game DEAD SPACE. We played a big role by developing the immersive website experience, NOKNOWNSURVIVORS.COM.

The official description of the panel is:

This in-depth case-study reveals the method and the madness behind Electronic Arts use of cross-platform marketing to communicate separate, self-contained elements of the much anticipated release of their first survival horror game, Dead Space. For this release, EA packaged a comic book, a prequel DVD, and an online experience in order to build, create, and cultivate an audience around the Dead Space brand prior to the official “street date” launch.

Together, we used the arts of transmedia storytelling and cross-platform marketing to deliver a unique experience that kept people, literally, transfixed. We're proud of the results, and look forward to a fun, comprehensive discussion and analysis of how it all came together.

Book your rooms now. They go fast. Trust me. And this years SXSWi should be the biggest and best one yet.

YouTube Unveils New Features for Embeddable Video.

YouTube's released a set of new features that make the embeddable video product a more complete one.

Here's what they've just rolled out, via the YouTube Blog:

* High-quality start images (thumbnails) – Before you press play on embedded YouTube videos, the thumbnails for the video will be presented in high-quality. We're pleased with the results – let us know if you agree.

* Search in embeddable player – At the close of an embedded video, along with the usual recommended videos and URLs, a search box will appear. Not only will you be able search from within the embedded player, you will be able to watch videos through the same window. That's right, you can search all of YouTube from the comfort of your favorite blog, news, or humor page.

* Integrated video annotations – Annotations enable video producers to incorporate text information into their videos, create choose your own adventure-style stories or add links to any YouTube video. People watching videos through the embedded player can now join the fun.

* Integrated closed captions – Back in August we started allowing video creators to add captions to their videos. Closed Captions are now available in embedded videos like this one:

These are important updates, as they enhance the functionality of one of the aspects of YouTube that are responsible for a huge amount of views, the embeddable player. The more functionality afforded to the portable nature of content, the more engagement audiences can have with it -- and the more reasons they will have to share it.

Should I Be at Ad:tech Today?

I already know the answer to this, but I thought I'd put it out there...

Online Surveys & Market Research

CNN Uses Holograms.

hologram
Originally uploaded by Ian Schafer

Anyone see this on CNN last night?

Just checking.

Obama Wins.

Remember today. Remember what's important.

Remember what it felt like right before a sorely-needed change.

And remember what it felt like right after it happened.

The Jam on Bad Social Media Marketing.

So I was listening to 'Start' by The Jam and the lyrics got me thinking of every example of a failed attempt by marketers to use social media marketing tactics to execute on a flawed social media strategy -- especially those brands with image problems.

Take a listen, and see how/if it gets you to rethink things.

It's not important for you to know my name -
Nor I to know yours
If we communicate for two minutes only
It will be enough
For knowing that someone in this world
Feels as desperate as me -
And what you give is what you get.

It doesn't matter if we never meet again,
What we have said will always remain.
If we get through for two minutes only,
It will be a start!
For knowing that someone in this life,
Loves with a passion called hate
And what you give is what you get.

If I never ever see you -
If I never ever see you -
If I never ever see you - again.

And what you give is what you get!

What do those lyrics mean to you?