microsoftprojectviewer.com astroturfing

[american.guitars]

This site www.microsoftprojectviewer.com appears to be an independent
review of MS Project viewers. It strongly recommends one product -
Steelray.

The domain microsoftprojectviewer.com is registered to a Brian
Leach.

The Managing Director of Steelray Software is called Brian Leach.

 

[Gary L. Chefetz]

So you're not surprised that Brian favors his own product? Right?

 

[JulieS]

I'd hardly call one relatively obscure web site astroturfing
Julie

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

I'll confess my ignorance.....what does "astroturfing" mean? Self-promotion?

Never seen it in that context.

-A

 

[JulieS]

Hello Andrew,

Astroturfing is usually used in a political context and it refers to
a manufactured "grass roots" campaign usually to promote a
particular cause or agenda. In reality it is not a spontaneous
grass roots movement, but one that is carefully orchestrated by the
organizer often through blogs, postings to discussion groups, email
campaigns, letters etc.

In the context of "american guitars" original post, if this were an
astroturfing campaign, you'd see many posts in the newsgroups
allegedly from different people all commenting about their use of
the product and how wonderful it was.

I hope this helps.
Julie

 

[Andrew Lavinsky]

Thank you for the clarification.

Hello Andrew,

Astroturfing is usually used in a political context and it refers to a
manufactured "grass roots" campaign usually to promote a particular
cause or agenda. In reality it is not a spontaneous grass roots
movement, but one that is carefully orchestrated by the organizer
often through blogs, postings to discussion groups, email campaigns,
letters etc.

In the context of "american guitars" original post, if this were an
astroturfing campaign, you'd see many posts in the newsgroups
allegedly from different people all commenting about their use of the
product and how wonderful it was.

I hope this helps.
Julie

 

[JulieS]

You're welcome Andrew.

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[american.guitars]

So you're not surprised thatBrianfavors his own product? Right?

I wouldn't mind if he were more up-front about it. It's the pretence
that this independent site endorses his product that I find underhand.

 

[american.guitars]

I'd hardly call one relatively obscure web site astroturfing
Julie

It is the top result in Google for "Microsoft Project Viewer" so not
so obscure if that's what you're looking for.