How NOT to promote your Social Network

Have you ever saw a commercial or advertisement, laughed to yourself, and thought “What the hell were they thinking?” That is what I thought when I saw OpenBC’s promo video for their new re-branded site Xing (See Video Here).

If you can manage to sit through the painful three minute experience, please tell me how this video is going to help Xing sign up more members? Not only does the video tell you absolutely nothing about the sites features, but it just repeats meaningless statements followed by a person crossing their two index fingers in the formation of an X….soooooooo cool. ÂÂ

I wonder how much time was wasted on putting this video together. If they would have spent the same amount of time on a brainstorming session, I wonder what new ideas for site features could have been developed.   They could certainly use that brainstorming session, because according to their “Sneak Preview” there is nothing revolutionary or new. Xing promotes their new easy to read messages, and cleaner forum design as 2 of the new “major” improvements to the site.

Xing is an attempt to take an old website, and make it seem new with a different design. I am all for new and cleaner designs, but with the amount of social networks that are being made, focus needs to be placed on innovative features.

For another ridiculous promo video, see Facebook contender, CommonRoom.com.

Sorry to have been so cynical lately. I will post something positive soon

[tags]Social Networking, Social Network, OpenBC, Xing, CommonRoom, Bad PR, Facebook[/tags]