Generating Product Buzz with PPT - Pay-Per-Tweet

So Intuit is paying social media users to post reviews and plugs of TurboTax in Facebook, Twitter and elsewhere by paying for a mention of its flagship tax preparation software. This may be a good example of a corporation embracing Web 2.0 media savvy, but I think it is just as bad -- perhaps worse, if the relationship is undisclosed -- as pay-per-post used to create blogosphere traction by compensating those who post favorable comments. At the very least there has got to be transparency when a product placement is made for compensation. At the worst, it still stinks IMHO.

Posted via email from glenn's posterous

Comments

[sdgully]

This is Scott with TurboTax as well.

TurboTax is holding a contest by which you update your Twitter or Facebook status using TurboTax in a fun and engaging way. This is not paying someone to Tweet or to write testimonials on Facebook.

We engage with customers all year round via social media and our own Inner Circle. I think the discussion of companies paying people to tweet their products is one thing; this is another.

Intuit and TurboTax are always transparent with our social media activities. Please feel free to contact me on Twitter (prgully) and we can answer your questions.

Thanks for the discussion and I am glad to clear up this confusion.

[Glenn Manishin]

I am glad to have this quick and simple explanation from Intuit, and am even more happy that the company is not paying for Web testimonials. Excellent!