little bitty girl

So, I got an email sometime last week from a local Toronto marketing company called Matchstick, who had somehow found my blog and wanted to give me a free Nokia 6682 to test. They're a "word of mouth" marketing company who is doing a "buzz marketing" campaign. It's being offered to bloggers in the Vancouver and Toronto area who meet the following criteria -

• Hosts a popular blog with 400+ hits a day
• A current Rogers cell phone subscriber (phone only supported with the Rogers network)
• Between the ages of 22-35
• Keeps his/ her blog updated on a regular basis with pictures and video
• Very socially active

How "tipping point" of them!

I actually think it's great that a marketing company is actually paying attention to the power of bloggers. Even though some of the local bloggers have spoken negatively about the campaign (the problem being that they are getting "spammed" but I get spammed like a mofo regardless), I always think negative and positive press is all the same. At the end of the day, if someone is talking about you and your product, you've done your job. People will be curious.

It's funny because there still are a majority of people out there who think blogs are nerdy/dumb/weird. I often wonder whether they're naturally small minded, unwilling to try new things or just very insular and want to stay that way. Which is fine, having a blog doesn't define who I am (I was reading blogs before I ever decided to have my own) but it's another form of communication that people should be aware of. If anything, it's the only form of infomation out there that isn't so sugar and bull-shit coated.

My blogging experience has been such a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. I've also met some really incredible people through this forum and other than the occasional insult from random strangers, it's been my favourite way of gathering information about design, art, work, life and other miscellaneous things. And you all know, I am a purveyor of miscellaneous knowledge.

Stefan asked me whether I had to "sell my journalistic soul" for the goody but it turns out there are no obligations to say anything positive about the product. They just want an honest opinion of the product and to write about the pros and cons of using it. Even though I'm pretty design-art oriented, I have to give in to my culture's tendency of loving new technology. The fact that it's free and new technology? Papa Kang is sitting pretty proud right now that his errant, rebelious artsy daughter is giving in to her Asian nature.

It couldn't come at a better time since poor Lia broke her phone and has to wait weeks for it to be fixed. So she can just borrow my old one while I test the new baby out. This is why having a blog can sometimes be a good thing. Woo Hoo!