Shiver Me Timbers

What’s the difference between a free sample and piracy?  Aside from the differing associations marketers and consumers have about the words "free sample" and "pirated software," I would argue: not much.

By now, everyone and their mother knows, or should know if they’ve been coming to this site , the power of the user and the marketplace. Smart marketers embrace the brand ambassador at large; others don’t see how making it easier for people to interact with their product is a good thing.

So what is piracy except outsourcing production, generating consumer research and embracing the wisdom and voice of the crowd ?  Assuming that a replication of a company’s product is accurate and not lacking in attention to detail, an acknowledged big IF, pirated product is a free sample that even the company did not pay for.  If no one uses the pirated software, a company receives a pretty strong message that their product is not destined for great heights.  But if early users give these unauthorized, unaltered versions rave reviews, how will that hurt sales?  Those that are influenced by these recommendations are likely to outnumber those who simply pirated and did not purchase.

So I encourage marketers to walk the plank, er, step up to the plate and encourage the leaks that flood their coffers.