Direct Hit Solutions Branding Makes Me Want To Puke
Just like the ripoff they did with the Microsoft logo.? I just received my spam email from President?Brian Reiff (breiff@directhitsolutions.com) that just makes my blood boil. First off if you’re a Search Engine Optimization company you should know the spam rules, shame on you.
But here’s the subject title of this piece of spam, non-viral piece of crapola: “An SEO?Company That Has Lost Their Minds! Funny Video!”
I watched the video. It’s ah, er, horrible. What’s worse is that they made it part of their homepage. It’s just keeps looping on and on. Crap over crap.
They’ve completely violated at least 6?copyright laws by taking the Microsoft, Yahoo and Google logos (maybe they could slip under through parody but it’s not funny). Even still they couldn’t afford the lawsuits by all three of them. Then they ripped off a few songs that I highly doubt they got the licensing for. More lawsuits.
All to get some backlinks to their miserable website. I’m not going to give them the link credit but if you want to view this “video” just go here: http://www/. directhitsolutions.com (broken link on purpose).
They have one page on “brand web design” which is a complete joke as they obviously know nothing of branding. If I were a client I would question a few things:
1. SEO companies that spam are easily persuaded to conduct black hat SEO tactics. Not saying they do, but I’d bet a paycheck on it.
2. Branding is much more than web design (marketing 101).
More on this topic at Make the Logo Bigger.
My thoughts, these guys are amateurs, avoid them. What say you?
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
April 28th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Ah, just got a letter from Direct Hit Solutions. Apparently they didn’t like my opinion of them spamming and putting up a really horrible video:
From: Brian Reiff [mailto:breiff@directhitsolutions.com]
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 12:29 PM
To: swhite@brandidentityguru.com
Cc: ‘David – Direct Hit Solutions’
Subject: Advertise on the BIG Blog
My company has a very poor review on your website that looks like it was put there to intentionally ruin my company?s positive reputation.
Please take this link down as it doesn?t provide any useful info at all or I?ll have my company?s attorney contact you directly.
The link can be found here ? http://www.brandidentityguru.com/wordpress/?p=626
Brian Reiff
President | CEO
Direct Hit Solutions, Inc.
847.231.3089 Ext:5
Maybe Brian should waste his time and money on creating non spam, videos that are professional (just my opinion as a branding guy).
April 29th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Hi Scott,
I am the lead designer at Direct Hit Solutions and the one who is managing our Youtube, Facebook, etc. accounts.
We haven’t commented on our video, though we have deleted some negative comments (as Youtube allows us to do).
I have more or less stayed out of this whole issue, but I do want to thank you for providing us with the exposure you’ve given us thus far. Brian is a salty dog, and some people bristle at his personality, but many others find it a refreshing change to the stiff suits at big corporations (most of our clients can curse it up as good or better than Brian).
As you can see Brian is more experienced with SEO than public relations- but all in all, backlinks, traffic, people talking, etc. are all good things in our eyes- even if you are presenting it as negative press.
(no offense but I’m removing your comment since it isn’t true.)
Thanks again and take care.
Daniel Allen
Lead Designer
Direct Hit Solutions
September 26th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Ha! Nice work! I always enjoy your blog.I think this company’s VERY amateur work is a testament to their inability to run a company. They will continue to receive the type of customers they deserve, and the lifestyle’s as well.
I don’t know anyone at DirectHitSolutions, but I hope they can someday learn to contribute quality, meaningful work to the business world. Learn to take your inspiration for companies who really know what they’re doing. I.E. HornallAnderson.com or Duffy.com. And most of all, learn to use criticism to improve your business.
Thanks!