BranchOut will not Grow on Me

When first I noticed BranchOut I thought it might be my cup-of-tea. It offered a great way to advertise my skills on Facebook and I really like the logo. However I noticed very quickly the privileges it required from my FB account. After signing up, I noticed it started posting stuff I didn’t want posted. I just deleted the app and forgot about it.

Earlier today BranchOut seemed to have gone viral within my “friend” network. With the little annoying app flooding my newsfeed I was spurred to do a little research on it. Within SEO circles I found some discussion on the service.

I found some chatter comparing it to MafiaWars and Farmville. Now, if I was to give up Facebook for good, it would be the aforementioned games! Its these apps that post information on your profile, on your wall, everywhere. Useless information that you didn’t want shared with that guy you may have known in High School but you may have got confused with your dentist’s husband...

A very good argument against BranchOut came from Quora user and blogger Gautam Ghosh. I agree with his view that the automatic assumption that your connections endorse you is a key irritation. Apps like BranchOut should stop this practice. There are people in this world we would not offer a job to but will enjoy a beer with...

Some people think that this is viral marketing. Just because something goes viral, does not mean it has a good effect. Like many black hat techniques in eMarketing its a quick and easy tactic with amazing short term results. However, in the long-term the product or brand suffers.  It ends up in, if you excuse the malapropism of the SEO term, a bad neighbourhood. Lets say you use such a technique. At first you get a steady stream of leads. However, after a while the consumer in the know will catch on to your dirty little tactics and avoid you. The consumers who catch on first are also more likely to be influencers within their communities... Only customers that remain loyal will be a less sophisticated, less informed bunch. I am sure this would happen to BranchOut. ...Unless the change their tactics drastically.