[Air-L] Slapstick Marketing?

[Charlie Balch]

In today's Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/21/AR2009052104
472.html 

We need a new term. Viral marketing doesn't fit.

... <SNIP> ...

For a day or two, a black T-shirt featuring an image of three wolves baying
at a full moon claimed the top slot at the online store's clothing
bestseller list, beating out the usual, unremarkable mix of Levi's 505
regular-fit jeans, Crocs clogs and Adidas running shoes.

And really, why wouldn't you buy the shirt, which is priced from $7.65 to
$17.93, depending on your size? Just read the long and growing list of
customer testimonials promising earth-shattering experiences or psychedelic
vision quests upon purchase.

"I bought this shirt and instantly old girlfriends started calling me
again," wrote one reviewer.

"My doctor says the cancer has gone into remission," wrote another. "Thanks
for changing my life!"

As retailers, media companies and even government agencies attempt to get
with the times and connect with an online audience, every once in a while
they get a reminder: Anybody, or any group, armed with a Web browser can
anonymously game the system and manipulate the marketplace at sites inviting
user feedback -- for profit or just for fun.
... </SNIP> ...

Charlie

Charles Balch MBA, Ph.D.
Professor of Business and Computer Information Systems 
http://virgil.azwestern.edu/~cvb