RealNetworks uses p2pnet as focus group
p2pnet news view P2P | Advertising:- TekSavvy is a Canadian ISP.
Mp3Rocket is a US p2p file sharing application.
RealNetworks is a US company trying to turn online music into paying (for it) concern.
Apart from the fact they all depend on the Net in one way or another, what else do they have in common?
You may be surprised at the answer.
They’re possibly the first three companies to understand people with products and services they’re trying to promote and sell online have to talk — really talk — to the people they’re trying to sell to.
It’s called P2P.
Person2Person. People2People. Peer-to-Peer.
TekSavvy figured that out long ago and has an amazing one-on-one relationship with his users via such sites as dslreports.com, where it has a constant presence.
MP3Rocket’s Paschal, “engaged in a lively dialogue with p2pnet readers which resulted in the company changing its approach,” I said in an OpEd which suggests the Net means advertisers have to change their ways.
And now on p2pnet, RealNetworks is interacting in a very real and very positive way with people whom it wants to convince should at least try one of its products.
Free online focus group
Hollywood is suing RealNetworks, claiming the company’s latest product, its RealDVD ripper, is encouraging copyright infringement.
However, not only is Real hotly denying the allegation, in the face of it, it’s continuing to promote the application.
And p2pnet is one of the venues on which it’s doing so, using p2pnet comment posts to generate free publicity and free RealDVD advertising at the same time.
Plenty of other companies have also tried to use p2pnet Readers’ Writes to promote whatever it is they’re trying to flog.
They don’t last long, but for now, I’m allowing RealNetworks to use p2pnet in this way because I’m intrigued by both the efforts of the company’s Lacy Kemp to convince readers that: RealDVD is, in fact, real; and, readers’ responses to her efforts.
It’s a kind of free online focus group. And it isn’t costing RealNetworks one red cent.
This is the way online advertising has to go. There has to be interplay where anything can be said — and rebutted.
Suing the people who keep you alive is a really stupid idea.
Talking to them as reasonable people isn’t.
It’s the way to go — R – E – S – P – E – C – T, as I say in Online advertising and the New Consumer.
So (and I can’t believe I’ m actually saying this) Way to Go, RealNetworks.
And TekSavvy and MP3Rocket, of course. 
Cheers!
Jon Newton – p2pnet
Los Angeles Times – , September , 2008
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October 1st, 2008 at 2:38 pm
You are in the wrong business
October 1st, 2008 at 2:44 pm
btw jon, the realnetworks weblog has p2pnet listed as a link
in their “Our Favorite Sites” listing.
October 1st, 2008 at 2:47 pm
heh
Cheers!
October 1st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I theenk joo are trying to get them to advertise. They won’t are too cheap.
October 1st, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I don’t have to resort to this. I asked direct a while back. Not interested. It probably means Lacy is the only one on their staff who knows her gluteus maximus from her elbow
Cheers!
October 1st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
for us lowly mortals wtf is a focus group
October 1st, 2008 at 3:36 pm
“A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people is asked about their attitude towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. Questions are asked in an interactive group setting where participants are free to talk with other group members.”
Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focus_group
Cheers!
October 1st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
“They don’t last long, but for now, I’m allowing RealNetworks to use p2pnet in this way because I’m intrigued by both the efforts of the company’s Lacy Kemp to convince readers that: RealDVD is, in fact, real; and, readers’ responses to her efforts.”
I’m enjoying the exchange as well. It’s refreshing to see an actual person from a company interacting with users, instead of talking to the braindead zombies most companies have working support.
October 1st, 2008 at 5:37 pm
yup, I agree with Rekrul
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Real used to be a great company. I even bought their Real Player Plus back in the 90’s. Unfortunately, they made some bad decisions. No, more than that. They made some really unbelievably incredibly stupid decisions. Idiotic, and possibly fatal decisions. Still, let’s hope that this open discussion is a sign of things to come.