A lot of startups use this tactic, it's not uncommon. The email clearly says you're on the list, if you don't like waiting, tweet about it. What's wrong with that?
Thanks for signing up for an invite to join Sway Preview. We've reserved a spot for you.
Hate to wait? Follow us and tweet why you're excited to use Sway, for a chance at earlier access.
I would give out invites first to people telling the world why they're excited to use my product. It's better for my product, really, what's wrong with it? They don't force you to tweet to get an invite, that would be different (and tactically, but not morally, wrong).
I think that's it. Asking me for free advertising for a product I haven't even had the chance to use feels like you just want to use me to promote your product, no one wants to feel used even if that means getting something out of it.
I would give out invites first to people telling the world why they're excited to use my product.
...before they've used it. It's deceptive marketing in that sense. I was surprised and annoyed when Ello wanted me to to promote in exchange for early access, after all that aspirational talk in their manifesto.
I agree, shouldn't a new service (especially one from Microsoft) be able to get traction without asking people to use another social network to help publicize itself?
The need for marketing does not go away when you become as big as Microsoft and what larger marketing platform is there in todays world than social media. I'm confused by the number of folks on HN who are confused by the use of social media for marketing.
