Adultery website gets free ride without paying TTC a cent - GoFuckYourself.com

drriley · 12-13-2009, 10:23 AM

From the Toronto Star.
Read the full article online at:
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...ing-ttc-a-cent

Ashley Madison won't be advertising adultery on TTC streetcars, but it doesn't have to.

No ads were purchased, yet traffic to the company's website is up. Media experts are calling it a coup for guerrilla marketing.

"We tend to put ourselves in the situation where we win in both situations," Ashley Madison chief executive Noel Biderman said. "That's what good marketers do, and we believe we're as good as it gets."

AshleyMadison.com helps people cheat on their partners. On Thursday, the company alleged the TTC was backpedalling on an already approved deal to wrap six streetcars with the slogan "Life is short. Have an affair."

"We're not backing out of a deal. We have the right to accept or reject ads that we feel are appropriate or not appropriate for the TTC," said Councillor Joe Mihevc, vice-chair of the transit commission.

The TTC urged its review committee to reject the ads, and they did so Friday, with five councillors voting against it. Councillor Anthony Perruzza abstained.

"Just as we would not promote `Life is short, steal from your boss,' so to hear `Life is short, cheat on your spouse' or whatever, is not appropriate on a public transit vehicle," Mihevc said.

But Tim Richardson, professor of marketing at the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus, said the TTC's blessing ? or lack of it ? is irrelevant.

"They got AshleyMadison.com on the front page of the Sun," he said.

Ashley Madison garnered around a dozenmainstream media mentions on TV, radio and print Friday.

Sidney Eve Matrix, who teaches media at Queen's University, said the streetcar imbroglio was "social advertising at its best" because it connects people to an emotionally charged issue.

"It's ready for the water cooler, Facebook. It's purpose-built to go viral," Matrix said.

baddog · 12-13-2009, 10:26 AM

One day in a newspaper > than every day on the city streetcars?

Doubtful.

Iron Fist · 12-13-2009, 10:56 AM

Just a stunt to get into the papers.... this is how we market in 2009....

12-13-2009, 10:23 AM	#1
drriley Confirmed User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 263	Adultery website gets free ride without paying TTC a cent From the Toronto Star. Read the full article online at: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...ing-ttc-a-cent Ashley Madison won't be advertising adultery on TTC streetcars, but it doesn't have to. No ads were purchased, yet traffic to the company's website is up. Media experts are calling it a coup for guerrilla marketing. "We tend to put ourselves in the situation where we win in both situations," Ashley Madison chief executive Noel Biderman said. "That's what good marketers do, and we believe we're as good as it gets." AshleyMadison.com helps people cheat on their partners. On Thursday, the company alleged the TTC was backpedalling on an already approved deal to wrap six streetcars with the slogan "Life is short. Have an affair." "We're not backing out of a deal. We have the right to accept or reject ads that we feel are appropriate or not appropriate for the TTC," said Councillor Joe Mihevc, vice-chair of the transit commission. The TTC urged its review committee to reject the ads, and they did so Friday, with five councillors voting against it. Councillor Anthony Perruzza abstained. "Just as we would not promote `Life is short, steal from your boss,' so to hear `Life is short, cheat on your spouse' or whatever, is not appropriate on a public transit vehicle," Mihevc said. But Tim Richardson, professor of marketing at the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus, said the TTC's blessing ? or lack of it ? is irrelevant. "They got AshleyMadison.com on the front page of the Sun," he said. Ashley Madison garnered around a dozenmainstream media mentions on TV, radio and print Friday. Sidney Eve Matrix, who teaches media at Queen's University, said the streetcar imbroglio was "social advertising at its best" because it connects people to an emotionally charged issue. "It's ready for the water cooler, Facebook. It's purpose-built to go viral," Matrix said.

12-13-2009, 10:56 AM	#3
Iron Fist Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 23,400	Just a stunt to get into the papers.... this is how we market in 2009.... __________________ i like waffles

12-13-2009, 10:26 AM	#2
baddog So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: the beach, SoCal Posts: 107,090	One day in a newspaper > than every day on the city streetcars? Doubtful.