iPodrocks.com is Apple’s latest effort to win the hearts and minds of teen consumers interested in its iPod digital music player. It’s a new Web site and a fierce bit of guerilla marketing that combines high-impact graphics and animation along with several popular music tracks, and is chock full of creative ways that teens can try to convince their parents of how much they want, need and deserve an iPod this holiday season.
The site explains how the iPod works, how much music it holds, and how the device connects to the computer. But the site goes further, offering kids some helpful propaganda to sway their parents’ opinion, such as the iPod’s ability to record voice notes (using an optional peripheral made by Belkin), its built-in alarm clock, calendar and contact management abilities.
Under the “Convince your parents” section, iPodrocks.com offers up suggestions like “ask nicely,” stake your grades on it,” “do a good deed,” and “try subliminal advertising.”
In fact, Apple’s even helping the process along by offering kids a bunch of iCards to use to “butter up Mom and Dad.” A mini grade calculator helps kids figure out how far they have to go before their parents see a noticeable shift in grades. And a series of downloadable “coupons” redeemable for good deeds like taking out the garbage, cooking dinner and doing laundry all are there to help kids seal the deal with otherwise recalcitrant parents.