Ask HN: Is Spamming the only way to get users?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5664262

by rush-tea • 13 years ago

7 12 13 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Last week we heard about how Path spams its users by contacting every single one of the users contact in the address book. Even now FB is blocking Path API access to FB friends.

Previously, we heard the same thing about airbnb, that airbnb spams Craigslist by making fake ads and then ask users to go to airbnb.

So now at least we know 2 startups that made its way to glory by spamming. I mean, yeah, users acquisition is part of the game, but I wonder if to be succeed, you have to play 'dirty' and spam along the way.

momchenr• 13 years ago

Wait, I thought AirBnB called it 'growthhacking'.

keenahn• 13 years ago

User acquisition is probably the biggest challenge for an early-stage startup (http://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html). Your definition of "spamming," is pretty broad.

"Spamming" by itself is not malicious. In the case of Path, the app is only as valuable as my network of friends who is on it, so you can be damn sure I'm going to invite them. In the case of AirBnB, people saw the ads, signed up and ostensibly got value out of AirBnB, so what was the harm?

Not sure what your problem with "spamming," is (even though you have provided two examples that are pretty different), but I imagine that yes, startups will continue to grow at all costs because they have to in order to survive.

rush-tea2• 13 years ago

My definition spamming is by market your product to untargeted audience. for path example, it's clearly the contacts in your address book is untargeted people as they have no interests in Path.

As for airbnb, this is more like junk emails, where everything is automated, fake, and you just pray that you can get 1-2% hits. yes, it's kind of targeted audience since the users are clicking the ads, but the ads itself is a FAKE ads because it does nothing but directs you to another site, just like the nigerian million dollar spam. I mean airbnb is a real site, but the ads content is 100% fake. maybe phishing is a better word than spam.

dangrossman• 13 years ago

Airbnb essentially just e-mailed people that listed rentals on Craigslist with a message that said "hey, you should list this on Airbnb.com too". You could call that spam, but there's nothing fake about the content of the message, nor is the linked website purporting to be anything it's not.

tptacek2• 13 years ago

Who did Instagram spam? Would you rather have been Instagram or Path?

FramesPerSushi• 13 years ago

Who did Facebook spam? Would you rather be Facebook or Instagram?

I don't have a strong opinion on this topic, just pointing out a flaw in your logic.

tptacek2• 13 years ago

Who did Facebook spam?

jtcchan• 13 years ago

2 startups is hardly enough evidence to say that's the only way of acquiring users.

Besides, if the "spam" is actually helpful and appropriate, what is spam to you may be a welcomed way to learn about a new product for another person.

That said, never trust a marketing messaged signed by the Prince of Nigeria. ;)

Ask HN: Is Spamming the only way to get users?

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