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Instant messaging is now a mainstream communication platform for Web users, according to new data collected by America Online and Opinion Research Corporation, and the new usage figures are prompting the world’s largest Internet Service Provider to aggressively market the Instant Messaging client as a unique opportunity for marketers.
Strong usage has prompted AOL to develop unique marketing innovations for the IM client, which remain free to both members and non-members.
Its newest product, which AOL Media Networks Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Michael Barrett calls “the secret sauce” of the AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) marketing program, is called AIM Expressions. AIM Expressions is a service that was only available to AOL members, but with the launch of 5.9 in September, all AIM users will be able to participate. However, Expressions is a subscription service, priced at $1.95 a month, or $9.95 for annual subscriptions.
AOL’s marketing plan is crap. Seriously, how could that appeal to anyone in their right mind?
Expressions used to be a much bigger thing than they are now, people would download them and use them on AIM and thought they looked cool. Then the shine wore off, and they were extremely boring. They aren’t skins…they aren’t high quality…and the free ones were just like putting Ads on your IMs and buddy list.
IMO, there shouldn’t be an IM marketing “strategy”. Expressions don’t make the IM experience better, they just clutter the buddy list. I seriously hope AOL reads these forums and realizes I am the target audience for this BS.
Quote:quote:Because AIM Expressions is completely opt-in, Barrett said there’s no danger of bombarding users with messages.Yeah, since when has any opt-in service of AOL’s ever taken the safe route when it comes to bombarding users.
The truth is, AOL has screwed up everything they have ever attempted. Let’s go over a brief history of AOL’s new “strategy”:
AIM 5.0 “It’s a big leap forward.” – We now have expressions!
AIM 5.1 Um…
AIM 5.2 We now have: IM Forwarding: one-way expensive piece of trash…
AIM 5.5: Screen Name Linking: Poor attempt at cloning. Games: Spyware Ridden poo. Video IM: Has anybody gotten it to work?
…and somewhere in here: AIM Business Services, for short: AIM BS…later renamed AIM@work (uh okay?)…For you can get !
Now AIM 5.9…the old AIM Expressions have gone away to be replaced with the AOL version…just what users want…something from AOL. -_- Oh, and You’ve Got Pictures… another feature from AOL…I have a message for anybody who works for AOL: WE DO NOT WANT AIM TO BE EVERYTHING, NOR DO WE WANT AOL TO BE EVERYTHING. So, in the words of Teresa Kerry: Shove it! It isn’t a warrented version number either… 5.5 to 5.9 over two new features: one of which has nothing to do with the actual program at all…
My God…why do people have to continue to use AIM? Why can’t everybody just freaking switch once and for all and this retarded company wouldn’t persist in putting out such horrible software?
Great post Charles.
AOL just doesn’t get it, if they weren’t so stubborn about marketing, AIM might have a future. Most of the non-retards on my list now are running AIM <=5.1 or Trillian. AOL doesn't realize that they are killing the client, and their own network. I never have, and never ever will use AOL as my ISP. I've had the misfortune of using AOL 9.0 on a friends computer once. Not only is it a piece of crap, but it tries to be everything. I want an IM client, I want to be able to send text strings to other users. I don't want to talk to anyone. I don't want to see anyone. I don't want to warn anyone. I don't want to be warned. I don't want to have to deal with what, 4 pop ups at startup now? I don't want sound ads. I don't want games. I don't want Expressions. I don't want to do to AIM.com. I don't want to See 'AIM Today'. I don't want to be flooded by some moron with 200 bots. I don't want to link my screen names.
AOL is on it’s way down, and they are going fast, they can either make AIM stable, secure and usable, or they can add more bull**** to it. It’s their decision. All I know is that I will cheer when they go bankrupt.
I’m a proud user of Trillian, shouldn’t you change today? Never, ever again will I allow AIM to be installed on any computer I own.
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