Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaign

[Confuseous]

A spokesperson from SingTel has responded to this article and explained:

"Singtel wish to clarify that we did not issue the brief.

Singtel uses different digital agencies for its campaigns. GushCloud was one of the agencies we had used in June 2014.

It is Singtel’s policy to focus on the strengths and differentiators when marketing our products and services. It is not our practice to run negative campaigns against any individual or organization. This is not the way we manage our marketing promotions. We will remind our agencies to strictly adhere to this policy when running campaigns for Singtel."

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SingTel is apparently engaging in widespread unethical advertising and is paying bloggers to throw m&d at their competitors on the quiet.

This was exposed by Xiaxue in another long expose on competitor Blog management company Gushcloud.

Xiaxue is arguably one of the most influential bloggers in Singapore and she recently had an online war with Gushcloud, SMRT Ltd (Feedback) and several other competitor bloggers.

Xiaxue is managed by Nuffnang, a blog management company which helps bloggers promote their blogs and drives sponsors to their blogs. She had a extended war with Gushcloud, a competitor of Nuffnang which she accused of falsifying their blogger's statistics and engaging in unethical practices.

Now, she has again exposed another unethical advertisement campaign engaged in by Gushcloud and their group of bloggers.

Xiaxue revealed that SingTel has paid gushcloud to get their bloggers to write false and negative complaints and reviews about their competitors, M1 and Starhub.

The evidence is damning. Gushcloud paid bloggers based on the performance of their tweets and complaints and how many sign-ups there were through them for SingTel services:

http://therealsingapore.com/content/singtel-paid-bloggers-complain-about-starhub-and-m1-services

 

[jw5]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig

Who stole the cookie from the cookie box?
Not me
Yes you
Couldn't be
Then who?

 

[laksaboy]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig

Never was a fan of the red telco. Never been their customer for mobile, broadband or tv. Never bought their shares.

 

[virus]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig

Never was a fan of the red telco. Never been their customer for mobile, broadband or tv. Never bought their shares.

so singtel not gg to issue a legal chArge against the fake angmor SPG? is there something fishy gg on?

 

[virus]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig

M1, StarHub to ask IDA to look into allegations of smear campaign against them


Published: 6:41 PM, March 16, 2015

SINGAPORE — Following allegations that a marketing agency hired by Singtel paid bloggers to complain about the services of its rivals, M1 and StarHub said they will be bringing the matter to the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).

In a Saturday post, prominent blogger Xiaxue said social media marketing firm GushCloud had promised incentives for bloggers who drive subscribers to Singtel by complaining about M1’s and StarHub’s services. She cited a brief that had been posted on faithingushcloud.tumblr.com that appeared to be from GushCloud.

Responding to TODAY’s queries, M1 assistant general manager of corporate communications Chua Hian Hou said it is aware of the allegation in the blog post.

“Such practices are unethical and we intend to seek clarification with the relevant operator on this matter,” he said. “We will also request IDA to look into this pursuant to the Telecom Competition Code, and will explore further action if necessary.”

StarHub chief marketing officer Jeannie Ong said: “We are deeply disturbed by the tactics employed and the possible damage to our brand. We will be engaging with both IDA and the relevant operator on this issue.”

When contacted, GushCloud co-founder Vincent Ha said his company is still investigating the matter and they have no further comments.

Questions have been sent to Singtel and the IDA.

On Saturday, Singtel had said that it did not issue the brief, and that GushCloud was one of the agencies the telco had used in June last year. Singtel also said: “It is not our practice to run negative campaigns against any individual or organisation. This is not the way we manage our marketing promotions. We will remind our agencies to strictly adhere to this policy when running campaigns for Singtel.”

http://www.todayonline.com/singapor...mpaign-against-them?google_editors_picks=true

 

[eErotica69]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig

I put on a condom to fuck a girl. My cock did not fuck the chee bye. It was the condom that rubbed against the vagina wall while my dick rub the condom from inside.

So, it was the condom and not me that fuck the girl!

Toi boh, Singtel and Alvin?

 

[Ultravox]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig


Telcos want IDA to probe alleged smear campaign

Lim Yi Han The Straits Times Wednesday, Mar 18, 2015

TELCOS M1 and StarHub are asking the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) to look into allegations that bloggers were asked to complain about their services.

M1's spokesman Chua Hian Hou said: "Such practices are unethical and we intend to seek clarification with the relevant operator on this matter. We will also request IDA to look into this... and will explore further action if necessary."

StarHub's chief marketing officer Jeannie Ong said that it was "deeply disturbed" by the tactics employed and the possible damage to its brand.

These allegations came to light on Saturday when blogger Xiaxue, whose real name is Wendy Cheng, put up "leaked" documents allegedly issued by social media marketing firm Gushcloud to the bloggers it represents.

One directive in the alleged document asks bloggers to complain about the services of other telcos as part of a promotion strategy for Singtel's youth plan.

A Singtel spokesman said Gushcloud was one of the digital agencies it used in June last year for its campaigns but it did not issue the brief.

"It is Singtel's policy to focus on the strengths and differentiators when marketing our products and services. It is not our practice to run negative campaigns against any individual or organisation," she said.

Gushcloud co-founder Althea Lim, 30, told The Straits Times that it is currently investigating the matter and would not comment further. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Gushcloud wrote: "The publicly posted brief was an internal brief prepared by Gushcloud for its influencers. The brief is not meant to be read in isolation without the full context and verbal briefings given by Gushcloud."

When contacted, IDA said it is aware of the matter and that operators should abide by the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice, which states that all advertisements should be legal, decent, honest and truthful, and should not unfairly attack or discredit other products or organisations.

"In the spirit of fair competition, IDA has always encouraged our licensees to focus on promoting the availability, price and quality of their own services or equipment, and refrain from negative campaigns against their competitors. This will allow end-users to make informed choices," it said.

[email protected]

 

[halsey02]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig

Never was a fan of the red telco. Never been their customer for mobile, broadband or tv. Never bought their shares.

Cancelled the land phone when mobile came into being, initially no choices, have to contract Stink & Tell mobile, others, came along & later Pre-paid, never subscribed to their services, not even broad band or even their cable...Yeow! TV...:roll eyes:

Shares, entitlement given years ago...sold, made money, never look back, never gone back...

 

[Otherside]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig


Singtel and Gushcloud say sorry for negative marketing campaign

Published on Mar 17, 2015 11:50 PM
By Lim Yi Han

SINGAPORE - Singtel and social media marketing firm Gushcloud have apologised for a marketing campaign that ended up disparaging rival telcos M1 and StarHub.

The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), which regulates telcos here, yesterday also said that it is investigating the matter.

Singtel's consumer marketing vice-president Johan Buse said in a statement last night: "Further investigations have revealed that our staff who worked with Gushcloud on the marketing campaign last June did not adhere to Singtel's marketing standards."

The campaign was meant to promote its youth mobile plan.

Last Saturday however, "leaked" documents were posted online by Ms Wendy Cheng, a blogger who goes by the name Xiaxue.

According to the documents, Gushcloud's bloggers were allegedly asked to complain about the services offered by Singtel's rivals.

The revelation prompted M1 and StarHub to write to Singtel to clarify the matter, and to ask IDA to look into it.

Yesterday, Mr Buse said: "We apologise for this isolated incident."

He also went on to say that Singtel will emphasise to its staff and agencies the importance of adhering to guidelines including the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice, which states that all advertisements should be legal, decent, honest and truthful.

Minutes after his statement, Gushcloud chief executive Vincent Ha released his firm's apology saying that "we have let our influencers and client down with the way the campaign turned out and we are sorry. It goes against the management's belief to use the Internet for spreading negative messages".

Influencers are people who have a substantial reach and following on social media platforms, and can shape the opinions and behaviour of others.

Mr Ha criticised Ms Cheng for her expose, saying "it has done far more harm than good to our industry".

But Ms Cheng, who in December alleged that Gushcloud inflated its "influence", hit back at him for trying to divert blame.

Calling Gushcloud's action "not ethical", she told The Straits Times: "This is a warning to the rest in the industry to engage in honest practices."

[email protected]

 

[wendychan]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig

so there is a scapegoat and singtel is blamless

 

[halsey02]

Re: Singtel does an Alvin Tong - "The agency did it. We didn't" over M1 smear campaig

so there is a scapegoat and singtel is blamless

Actually, the Butler did it!...how can these impeccable people be blameless??