Want the oh-so-desirable HTC Desire but wary of Telstra’s $779 up-front price tag? The carrier is giving away 25 of the Android smartphones in a new ‘social review’ program.
Telstra is kicking up its social media efforts and customer engagement through a newly-launched ‘social review’ program which will give away 25 HTC Desire smartphones to Australians who will review the device.
Telstra promises this is isn’t a ‘cash for comment’ or ‘product for praise’ deal – they’re not looking for glowing reviews.
“We are not looking for ‘yes people’” writes Ben Bevins on the
Telstra Exchange blog.
“You don’t have to say nice things about the handset or Telstra to be selected. We are looking for honest reviewers who are happy to participate in robust discussions about their HTC Desire Telstra Next G network experience.”
“We’re looking for a mix of perspectives, including people from metro and regional Australia,” Bevins notes, with the scheme open to existing Telstra mobile customers “as well as people who currently subscribe to competitor services” (although the handset will be delivered with a Next G SIM card).
Wanna-be reviewers need to register and complete an
HTC Desire Reviewer application form by 5pm Monday May 10th, after which Telstra will choose 25 ‘social reviewers’ to participate in the scheme, reviewing the HTC Desire on a rolling basis over a two week period (which means two weeks of mass exposure for the product and its performance on Next G), after which reviews will keep the handset.
“Reviewers need to be active participants in social media conversations (be it YouTube, blogs, forums, Twitter etc) and share an active interest in mobiles and how they can help us find new ways to stay connected” Bevins explains.
“Once we have selected our reviewers they will be asked to regularly participate in discussions on Telstra Exchange about their HTC Desire experience on the Next G network for a two week period. We will be encouraging our reviewers to share their thoughts on other social media channels too... of course, reviewers will need to disclose their participation in the program when blogging or Tweeting etc.”