Almost a year ago, I mentioned Save My Finger. It was a certain link-bait scenario. Pretty sleazy, really. There were plenty of people, myself included, who rubber-necked at the accident.
In April, we learned what we already knew: Carl, scheduled to lose his finger, was fictional. It was a viral marketing “experiment.” Using that word is another way of saying it wasn’t an out-of-the-park hit. The site didn’t make it to the two million unique visitors that it needed to save Carl’s finger.
Yet, SaveMyFinger guy calls it a success:
My point in this experiment was to prove that it IS possible to open up a website and within days if not hours be receiving massive traffic. Internet marketing is a numbers game, regardless of what you are selling or how you are monetizing your website, Traffic is KING!
Egads. Anyone ever built a campfire? With a match and newspaper, it’s easy to get a flame. It doesn’t last long. For that you need wood. You need patience. You need to do good stuff.
I wouldn’t write off viral marketing. There will always be hucksters and used car salesmen doing it badly, burning the newspaper, and catching the momentary attention of the rubber-neckers.
I hope I have the patience not to be one.
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