Ingen reklam tack! Men gärna Ikea-katalogen : En studie kring vad som händer när marknadsföringen kliver in i sociala forum på Internet

Sammanfattning: The social network services (SNS) on the Internet are becoming more common, and are starting to have a higher range of users, which is affecting Internet marketing. We (the authors) have a feeling that a growing online marketing within social networks could interrupt the order of social standards. That is why we in this paper have tried to figure out what position marketing has – and might have – within SNS, and what impact it will have on social relations. During qualitative interviews along with both representatives of public relation offices as well as with SNS users, we became aware of the occurring strategies of online marketing, and the users understanding of it. In the information from the interviews, we found some interesting contradictions on which this paper underlies. As a tool to try to sort the information from the interviews out, we had a closer look on what networking really is, and its significance for both relations as well as marketing, since networking is a keyword for both PR offices and SNS users. We also needed to find out more about client relations since it to companies is very much important to manage to keep their clients and create a trust among themselves. They have to know how and where to find their target group and learn their language, otherwise they will easily be seen through. The PR offices stress sincerity and honesty, so do the users. The difference, however, is the definition of its meaning. The offices say that it is most important to be sincere in the first contact, and as soon as the word-of-mouth (WOM) takes form it is no longer in their hands. This WOM method creates a ripple effect which gives the main message a push. The users, on the other hand, want sincerity by being given the opportunity to choose what commercial message they would want to take part of. But they have no idea that the recommendation from the friend really is a well-laid marketing plan. The fact that the SNS users really don’t know how it all works is something we see as an ethical problem. Mostly because the rules of friendship is changing, and that the social life of the human being is becoming a part of marketing. Something that can be prevented – through awareness.