Geek Syndicate Issue 9 March 2014 | Page 30

Geek Syndicate Digital Ninja: Michael Molcher Digital Ninja: Michael Molcher If you’re reading this magazine then it’s probably a good bet that you spend a lot of time looking at various websites to get the latest content on new films, television shows, books, games etc. Some of us even take a chance and enter a few competitions (probably without much luck) or download an infographic or two. While a lot of this content is put together by the bloggers themselves, there is an invisible group that works with the bloggers to provide content for stories, access to cast and crew for interviews, prizes for competitions and more. These shadowy digital Ninjas work on behalf of their clients who can range from film and television studios, publishing houses through to game companies and retailers shops. The types of marketing campaigns they run can be just as diverse as the clients they represent. Like their historical counterparts these digital Ninjas move through the Internet largely unseen. The work they do is carried out behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. Their weapons of choice are varied but usually come down to a smartphone or a computer and as much coffee as they can stomach. A lot of the content displayed on the Geek Syndicate website comes via these digital ninjas. Over the years I have become more interested in the inner workings of their shadowy work. “...the integration of social media into everything we do will only accelerate and therefore the opportunities and the pitfalls - for the digital marketers will only increase” 30 At great personal risk I have managed to corner a one digital Ninja and return alive to reveal some of the secrets of these shadowy marketing puppet masters. Michael Molcher is the PR Co-Ordinator for 2000 AD and is also known as Michael-San.