Microsoft Makes Good First Steps with Windows Phone 7 Marketing
As you might have heard already, Microsoft made an announcement that every employee will get a Windows Phone 7. Microsoft has well over 90,000 employees and word of mouth marketing alone makes this a very smart move on the part of Microsoft. There isn’t much other info yet on when or what types of units they will get, but obviously details will emerge once WP7 gets closer to release. I wrote earlier on how Microsoft needs more “grass roots” type marketing involving the community, and think this is a really good first step in that direction, for a couple of reasons.
1. Word of Mouth
As I mentioned before, word of mouth alone with 90K employees can be a powerful thing if leveraged right. This is especially true that an almost countless number of them run or participate in influential blogs, sites, etc.
2. Apps, Apps, and Apps
Apps for mobile platforms are an absolute must for any mobile platform to thrive and survive. Microsoft has already done a good job by giving early access to dev units, handing out free tools to develop with, and even paying developers for solid apps. Now out of those 90K employees how many are developers, whether full-time devs or just “hobbyists” who have the knowledge to make some screaming apps? I don’t have a number, but I will bet a lot there are a lot of them. Maybe even offer some incentives to employees who create apps?
Recently there have been a few ridiculous posts like the one at InfoWorld which basically called WP7 a doomed platform. While I admit WP7 has an uphill path, they are in a great position considering the recent iPhone mishaps, and that Android is still a shaky platform. I’d like to see Microsoft also use MVP’s to their advantage to review and evangelize the WP7 as well. There are many of us who enjoy the opportunity to get our hands on review units, but honestly don’t have the “pull” that A-list bloggers or popular tech magazines have. Once again, this goes back to word of mouth marketing.
Bottom line today is I am impressed with the current direction they are taking, and I’m even more excited to see what WP7 has to offer.
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