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Preston Gralla's picture
Preston Gralla

Seeing Through Windows

Microsoft misleads with 'Get green, Stay green' marketing

Microsoft has launched a 'Get green, Stay green' marketing program that may convince people that it has something to do with helping save the environment. Nothing can be further from the truth --- it's a marketing campaign to get people to buy the Windows Live OneCare protection suite.

On the Windows Experience blog, and on this Windows Live OneCare page, Microsoft makes much of its new "Get green. Stay green" marketing slogan.

The term "green" has become synonomous with helping improve the environment, and has become a marketing buzzword. Whenever the term is used, it's clearly meant to imply that the product or service being touted is environmentally friendly in some way. Clearly, the marketing folks at Microsoft know that, and are trying to draw attention to OneCare by using the term "green" in its central OneCare slogan.

OneCare has nothing to do with helping the environment. The green slogan plays on the fact that when OneCare finds a computer to be in good health, its icon turns green. But Microsoft knows -- or certainly should know -- that when people read the slogan, they'll think that OneCare is in some way environmentally friendly. So it's time to pull the plug on this misleading campaign.

What People Are Saying

But green also means

But green also means 'GO'. I certainly don't think I'm helping the environment when I step on the gas when the stoplight turns green!

Now, if they chose pink, would you be complaining if their campaign said 'Go Gay'? Maybe the icon could be a little pink triangle! Or lavender? Or do you think people would be smart enough to know that your computer can't be gay? :-)

Yes, from now on it is a

Yes, from now on it is a crime to use Green (either the color OR the word) in anything over than an environmentally friendly context. Next we need to go after the Green Bay Packers and punishing them for having the same carbon footprint as the average NFL franchise.

Give me a break...don't you

Give me a break...don't you have anything better to do than sit and write pointless stories...you're not gonna find your pulitzer under this rock.

Right on! Isn't that what

Right on! Isn't that what marketing's all about?!? changing perception and word use happens ALL the time.