Comments on: Dell “Digital Nomads” Site Engages With Younger Buyers

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:25:02 +0000

Bruce: Great to have you back, but you forget to let me know when I’m going to receive my Michael Dell-signed laptop.

I’ll just wait here.

By: Bruce Eric Anderson

Bruce Eric Anderson — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:20:25 +0000

@Graham — Sorry, I was away from this site for awhile and missed all the chatter on what we’re doing.

I apologize if you think http://www.digitalnomads.com is for U.S. citizens only. It is a site that is open to everyone worldwide.

However, the sweepstakes is for U.S. only due to legal requirements. The language you pulled is from the sweepstakes rules page.

If you look at the site today, we just recently uploaded a video from someone who is not an American, Dave Stewart. Pretty cool.

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:47:47 +0000

Graham: OK, but never say we didn’t try to make you rich.

By: Graham Strong

Graham Strong — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:21:15 +0000

Lol – I’ve always been a bit leery of becoming a domain name speculator/squatter. And generating leads for the competition would firmly put me in another realm.

But it did cross my mind to create the Canadian (or better yet, an International) version and sell it to Dell.ca. Not sure how they would react to that though… Besides, who has the time for spec work like that?

~Graham

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:52:45 +0000

Thank goodness they figured out you were a Canadian before It Was Too Late (The Plaid Menace From the North).

Why not grab DigitalNomads.ca, set up a registration site, and then sell the leads to HP? Just an idea.

By: Graham Strong

Graham Strong — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:45:23 +0000

Well, took another look today and even went as far as to sign up as a member. But, sadly, Dell is only accepting digital nomads from within in US borders.

“DO NOT PROCEED IN THIS SITE IF YOU ARE NOT LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES.” (Emphasis theirs, not mine.)

A quick domain check shows that digitalnomads.ca is still available for purchase, which I guess means Canadian nomads (and everyone else in the world for that matter) will be wandering alone for some time to come!

Pity, just when I was buying into the concept!

~Graham

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:26:53 +0000

Vadim: I noticed that too, but the footprint’s a nice match with the Digital Nomad theme.

I’ve got another Linux post coming soon.

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:58:55 +0000

Bruce: Thanks for stopping by. Good luck with Digital Nomads. As a copywriter who just pitched and landed an engagement marketing/microsite project, I follow sites like Digital Nomads with some interest.

Now when will I receive the Dell-signed laptop I clearly won for being such a good sport?

By: Vadim P.

Vadim P. — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:39:03 +0000

Interesting, but their logo reminds me of the Gnome logo:

By: Graham Strong

Graham Strong — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:29:34 +0000

@Tom – Very true about Nike. But then they trade more on brand than Dell does, I think. You can get away with saying “Is it the shoes?” but if you said “Is it the computer?” you’d probably have a riot on your hands!

But I imagine that Digital Nomads is likely a campaign designed in part to elevate the Dell brand which has been a little tarnished of late. It certainly seems to mesh well with their latest TV commercials. (As a matter of fact, I do feel orange today.)

It will be uphill though — I think it is hard to move from the image of inexpensive, mail-order computers into the realm of Hip (there is a reason why Apple has never competed on price…)

This site certainly has an Apple feel to it, and talk about engagement marketing! Not only will it be interactive, but your own customers (and even potential customers) will be providing content.

So, we’ll get to see how engagement marketing used as an image booster unfolds here AND get to see an experiment in the value of free content (perhaps from both the writer and the publisher perspective).

Looking forward to it!

@Bruce – Good luck to you — I’m sure this is the product of many sleepless nights. Must be quite exciting and exhausting!

~Graham