5 Ways Al-Quaeda is Using Internet Marketing

Internet Marketing is not dead. But it may have caused the death of a few people.

Let's take a look at how terrorist organizations are using Internet Marketing to recruit and spread the word.

1. Case #1: Dirty Kuffar

Yeah boyeeee!

MC Osama is in da hizouse - and the roof ... the roof ... the roof is on fire (really).

In the old days, ask any young man what he wanted to be when he grew up and he might say 'a fireman' or 'a policeman.'

Now little boys want to grow up to be gangstas. And why not? They get all the hos ... You know they got the bling-bling ...

'How you gonna tell me my rims ain't clean?'

Sign me up!

And what bigger gangstas are there than terrorists?

Well, a rap MC calling himself 'Sheik Terrah' (apparently spelling corruptions are just another way to 'stick it to the man' - you go boyee!) has released a new hip hop video called 'Dirty Kuffar' and it's all over the web and the file sharing community.

It is a pretty simplistic hate diatribe that lists a lot of western personalities and calls them 'Dirty Kuffar' (Kuffar = Infidel).

'Yeah, Ronald Reagan is a Dirty Kuffar

George Bush he a Dirty Kuffar

Michael Jackson is a Dirty Kuffar'

Yes, the creative genius is staggering.

Seriously though, the marketing effect was pretty pronounced.

For a while there, it was all over the place ...

2. Case #2: F*ck'n USA

Do a search for the above phrase in Google (without the deleted letters) and you'll find many links to a very interesting anti-American propaganda video created by the North Koreans.

It's the animated music video for a catchy little ditty about 'The Great Satan' that is America.

'Blah blah blah ...

And you were the cause of our country's division ...

ba! ba! F*ck'n U S A!'

(The F*ck'n refrain is in English, the rest in Korean.)

Hmm, kind of sticks in your head.

The video was subsequently played on Japanese and South Korean television (probably intending to capture viewer-interest because of the controversy), but that wasn't the end of the anti-America free publicity blitz.

The video with English translations popped up on websites all over the world and on file-sharing programs. So easily the message of hate is spread ...

SIDE NOTE: A clever guy translated the video into English and is advertising himself along with the translated video. (More on this tactic below.)

3. So, How Do They Do It?

How are these terrorist groups getting all this free grass roots advertising and publicity?

Let's break it down:

** Sub Viral Marketing **

This is a tactic where a piece of media (usually video) is created that on the surface is not appearing to advertise the target brand.

Coke, for example, is reported to have created funny videos where the Coke brand appears, but it doesn't look like an ad. People passed these videos on in purely on the merits of their humor. Little did they know, they were inadvertently adverting Coca-Cola.

The two case studies above were definite tools to gain favor for their organizations (the North Korean dictatorship and Al-Quaeda), but people were passing them along for reasons other than that.

They were passing them along because they liked hip-hop music, or they thought they were funny, or they liked the anti-America/Ronald Reagan/Michael Jackson/whatever message.

An interesting mutation of the sub-viral gene! More on these mutative factors below ...

** Pop Culture Predators **

If you can associate your cause with pop culture, it's easy to gain favor for your marketing message. Corporations are dedicating time and research into discovering what kids think is 'cool' and getting their brands to fit. Of course, kids are extremely insecure and at their core, they have a desperate fear that they are *not* cool. So, if you can convince them that doing something will make them cool, the influence is quite profound.

** Current Event Free Rides **

If a particular topic is popular, people are going to scour the net to learn more about it. Hitch your wagon to one of these stars and you get some free publicity.

Can you think of a few ways the above two videos did that?

SIDE NOTE: Remember the Monica Cigar? Here's a clever example of how a marketer hitched his wagon to current events to get free publicity. I remember The Monica even getting a little blurb on Fox News as a matter of fact.

** Enigmatic Content **

Who is that sexy Sheik Terrah?!

Since no one knows who he is, it adds to the controversy and gets more people talking. This spreads the virus even more ...

Further, look at how easily Bin-Laden's messages are spread. If Osama speaks, the whole world listens now. The media runs it as it's top headline. You stop everything and listen. You tell your friends.

Skillful manipulation.

***

So, there you go. Now you too can use terrorist tactics for fun and profit.

Obviously, I'm not supporting terrorism in any way shape or form. I only wish to describe their Internet Marketing tactics as they may, indeed, be useful to marketers.

Copyright 2004 Val Halla

About The Author

Val Halla is a web marketing consultant specializing in traffic generation and conversion analysis. She may be reached at: webgoddessvalhalla@yahoo.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Just Ask! Using Surveys to Improve Your Business

Just ask!You can learn useful information about your business, customers,... Read More

What is Internet Marketing?

Since I sold my last business in 2004 I have... Read More

Marketing Your Networking Group

Several months ago I went on the cruise from hell.... Read More

A Hitchhikers Guide to the Internet

"Where do you work?""Planet Earth."Sound familiar? No? Well, it should.... Read More

Identify your Target Market by Tracking and Exploiting Profitable Search Engine Keyword Phrases

There's a very lucrative "marketing formula" to targeting prospects on... Read More

6 Tips To Create Effective Solo Ad That Pulls Results

How many times have you... heard that running solo ads... Read More

Online Marketing And Promotion: 10 Profitable Ways To Recycle Your Content

You may have heard the expression that "content is king".Yes,... Read More

You Attract Who You Are On The Internet!

Being online is not only about getting your piece of... Read More

Marketing Trends from the Digital Frontlines

The web and ways to market on the web continue... Read More

6 Steps to Establish Your Expertise

Like the Internet itself, online marketing resources such as blogs,... Read More

The Power Of Free

Free can set you free...The powerful word "FREE" is an... Read More

Find Your Niche

If you haven't heard the word 'niche' being batted around... Read More

Success in On-Line Business

Here is a story of four traders who each started... Read More

Six Lesser-Known Online Marketing Ideas

Uniqueness is what separates each business, its services and its... Read More

9 Secrets to Kick Your Internet Marketing Efforts into Overdrive

Let's face it, most of us know the basics of... Read More

The Magic Upsell Technique

Just like the infamous thank you page that a buyer... Read More

The Essentials of Free Internet Marketing

Given a solid product, a well-developed Web site, and a... Read More

Internet Marketing Promotion And Advertising Can Build Your Business

Internet marketing promotion & advertising are crucial for your website's... Read More

Top 10 Marketing Tips for Newbie To Start

Looking for some tips on being a newbie in the... Read More

Do You Really BELIEVE You Have What It Takes To Make Your Website A Success?

Last week, on a cold, dark Friday night I stood... Read More

Developing Your Export Import Business Using Internet - Part I

Since most of the businesses throughout the world have access... Read More

Internet Marketing And Public Speaking: Ten Tips For When The Twain Shall Meet

Internet marketing and public speaking? Not quite ham and eggs,... Read More

How I Shot Myself In the Foot.. No, Wallet!

I need to let you in on some very important... Read More

10 Ways to Exceed Your Clients Expectations Every Time!

The following tips are just a few of the things... Read More

In Depth Analysis of a Successful Niche Product

The product is about teaching your parrot how to talk.... Read More

10 Psychological Desires To Insert Into Your Ad

1. Most people like surprises because it's a change of... Read More

Competitor Analysis - How Writing Rubbish Can Give You an Edge

The Gobbledygook Competitor Analysis TipWhen typing cap can tell you... Read More

Fast Forwarding Your Business with Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging is rapidly becoming accepted in the business community... Read More

Online Marketing & Promotions: Joint Ventures Super Secrets Revealed

What is a Joint Venture?How can this online marketing and... Read More

How to Get 100s of People into Your Downline(s) in Just a Few Months

I've been "seriously" working the Web since late 2000. I... Read More

Double Your Revenues with Joint Ventures

The best way I know of to multiply your online... Read More

Google AdWords and AdSense - A Dynamic Small Business Marketing Duo

Unless you have been living under a rock for the... Read More

10 Things You Should Try To Barter For Before Buying

1. Information Products - it could be ebooks, "how to"... Read More