• by Gavin O'Malley , Staff Writer @mp_gavin, February 21, 2006

Be warned that the next time your mother reminds you to drink your Ovaltine, she may have been paid to do it.

That's because Experience, Inc. has taken its online brand influencer services offline. The company now uses non-professional recruits to spread the word about particular brands and products via blogs, e-mails, product placements, casual discussions, posters, fliers, and sampling. Recruits are also expected to encourage friends and loved ones to complete brand surveys. Experience focuses on influencing free-spending and easily influenced 18- to 34-year-olds.

"Our job is to develop brand ambassadors," enthuses Jennifer Floren, founder and CEO of Experience. The firm's Web-based platform reaches more than 3,800 universities, boasts 3 million registered candidates, 100,000 employers, and some 800,000 job and internship opportunities. Clients include CareerBuilder.com and Microsoft.