LO,
Pretty well anything can be promoted successfully on the internet if you are creative about it.
Even if it’s unsexy and boring.
Exhibit 1: Blendtec
Consider the problem faced by Tom Dickson, founder of Blendtec.
He makes home blenders. Hardly an exciting item.
Here’s what he did to promote blender sales for his ailing company.
He asked the question “Will It Blend?”
And then he put various items into his blender, filmed the results, and posted the clips onto You Tube.
His campaign was a major viral success. Millions and millions of people watched as he put items like this into his blender, turned it on, and filmed the results:
- Marbles
- A can of Coke
- a running video camera
- an iPod
- 6 Cigarette Lighters
- A crowbar
- A McDonalds burger, fries, and a shake
- 2 Barbie Dolls
- An iPhone (Weep!)
And many, many other things.
The campaign was infectious - and you can see all the video clips on WillItBlend.com
And did it work? - Did it EVER.
His sales shot up by 500%, and his company gets free promotion and news interviews everywhere.
(He even sold the blended iPod on EBay for around $US900.)
He markets a line of “Will It Blend” merchandise, and earns thousands from the display of his videos as well!
Exhibit 2: HVLS Fans in Kentucky.
This company made High Velocity Low Speed Fans. Giant Fans several feet in diameter, that moved huge volumes of air around factories and warehouses.
Even more boring than blenders.
But they took a chance, and started promoting themselves with a name that shocked their competitors, and brought them to the attention of their market - and the general public - in a huge way.
They now call themselves “Big Ass Fans”, and are growing at an extraordinary rate, due to their marketing and the “buzz” that their name change has caused.
Their website featured hate mail from disgusted citizens, to which they provide witty replies.
So - in business, you can be either normal, boring, and forgettable.
OR; a bit crazy, colorful, unconventional and controversial.
You’ll go mad trying to please everyone.
Be a bit daring. Take risks. Do things that nobody else in your industry or profession does.
Sure, some people won’t like it. So what ???
What can YOU do to make your business stand out from others who do the same thing? And therefore make people talk about you, and become interested in you?
Regards,
Eric G.
