all talk and no action

On the magazine I work for we publish our Live Messenger addresses so readers can get in touch easily with questions and comments. Here’s a chat I had a couple of days ago with someone who had a novel approach to getting ahead in a competition we’re running.

I’ve changed a couple of bits, namely the reader’s name and any identifying information, but the rest is a direct transcript from the chat.

Reader says: i was looking at the magazine agen
Reader says: and i read tht ther are 25 copies of [the prize] to be won - i would like one
Reader says: how can i get it
Reader says: obviously with ur help
Reader says: but stil, how?
Me says: [link to competition entry form]
Reader says: ye but if i enter the competition thers a small chance of me getting it
Reader says: howevr if the boss of the magazine could help me
Me says: oh I get it - we fix the competition so you win a copy!
Reader says: wel ye
Me says: That's an interesting idea
Reader says: wel its not so much of a 'fix' its more tht u as the boss says ill give this guy it
Me says: Is just one copy enough?
Reader says: ye obviously
Me says: You don't want an Xbox 360 as well?
Reader says: because as a younger person i can encourage other of my frends to buy the magazine - wtih a bit of encouragement
Reader says: this encouragement wodd be the [competition prize]
Reader says: i didnt reed of the xbox
Reader says: didnt no bout tht
Me says: Your enterprising spirit should be an encouragement for kids everywhere
Me says: But we can't fix a competition, sorry!
Reader says: i see wat u meaan
Reader says: however u can look at it as an oppertunity to increase the sails of ur magazine
Reader says: because young people these days are increasingly interested in computers, and with a helping hand the number of sails can increase rapidly for u
Reader says: and for wat?
Reader says: for simply giving me a copy of [the prize]
Me says: Hmmm, how many extra copies would we sell?
Reader says: a lot,, obviously i dont hav an exact number of sails, howevr
Reader says: usually only students and older people are interested in buying these magazines?
Reader says: am i rite?
Reader says: and by inspiring the yunger genrations to buy it they tell their frend and family and there will be an increase
Me says: Are you an economics student?
Reader says: haha no
Reader says: i study law
Me says: Maybe a marketing student?
Reader says: however i am interested also in business
Me says: You study law ? Interesting. Maybe you didn't get to the fraud part of the course yet.
Reader says: how?
Reader says: its not fraud
Me says: Oh OK. You're the lawyer.

Hi,

Did you mention competitions? Well, I know of this great site that has stacks of weekly comps that anyone can enter:
Femail.com.au
It’s an online mag, with lots of useful articles and product reviews as well..

Cheers

Ah, so you've remembered how your blog works then? ;¬)

Enterprising young man. I can see he'll go far, especially with such elegant prose

I've been in magazine launch hell for the last few months, and I almost forgot I had a blog, let alone how it works ;)

I was sort of impressed that he'd thought through some kind of strategy - and quite tempted by the idea of "increased sails" :)

Hmm yes, I'm sure giving him a prize would significantly increase the mag sales... what an idiot.