Viral Marketing Gone Horribly Awry

Viral Marketing… it’s the holy grail of marketing. A video or other marketing device which gains a life of it’s own and is distributed with alarming voracity across the web. It’s great when the viral marketing is spreading the story of your success… it’s horrible when it’s spreading ill will.

Take for example, the new iPhone 3 G. The last thing Apple wants is for the public to be reminded of the huge price drop just a few weeks after the original iPhone introduction. As a matter of fact, the original iPhone marketing plan is a perfect example of how to piss off your customers.

The Soup however is more than willing to poke fun at the new iPhone… with this viral marketing masterpiece:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDZUk67FpB0

One thing about viral marketing is that you lose control very quickly of the message.  Web 2.0 provides LOTS of opportunities for your viral marketing to go horribly awry.

Apple has lost sight of the value of their customers over the long haul.  The latest iPhone release is a slap in the face to any previous iPhone customer.

The thing that takes any message to “viral” status is when it hits a nerve.  It appears the video featured above has done exactly that.

Posted by Kathy | Filed Under Advertising 2.0, Beyond Marketing, Customer Service 

Comments

One Response to “Viral Marketing Gone Horribly Awry”

  1. JR's Internet Marketing Strategies on July 15th, 2008 6:07 am

    This is a scary thing, this is just the reason that I always think twice about my viral efforts.
    Thanks

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