Comments on: Viral Marketing is bullsh*t. Adoptive Marketing isn’t.

By: A Tale of Two Lunches « Resort Marketing, Don’t Forget, It’s All About Fun!

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:05:39 +0000

[…] secondly, guess it’s me, but I’ve come to hate the word “viral”, actually I’m not the only one, and I’d love to see an ambitious online effort made to try to connect with potential […]

By: Javabeanboy

Javabeanboy — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:02:50 +0000

I think the term came from the memetic’s lexicon. Meme is like gene, if you recall, but it’s still just an idea, thought process or cultural code. So in a sense the term adoption belongs to that biology metaphor. And it makes more sense as the product is a piece of sociological “technology”, which isn’t native to our memes.

By: Go Big Always - 10 Fantastic ways to f*ck it up

Go Big Always - 10 Fantastic ways to f*ck it up — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:37:33 +0000

[…] Those who follow me know just how much I love the term viral. The next time someone uses these words, slap them in the face and tell them it’s from Sam. Want to make something sticky or viral? Work on your terrarium. Those lizards could use the flies and artificial reality. The rest of us really don’t care for your pranks. […]

By: Viral Marketing

Viral Marketing — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:16:24 +0000

I’m missing the point of this article. The aspects you associate with adoptive marketing above are in fact the same aspects associated with viral marketing. Are you just attempting to change the term used to define it? Viral marketing relies on the natural inclination we have to talk about stuff that interests us, hense it retains “personal significance”. No one interested in something is forced to talk about it and so they “Control their own participation” and since the only type of ads that are mentioned are usually funny or peculiar they do in fact “improves their situation” in one way or another. This all boils down to one thing, emotions. This *is* viral marketing. I enjoyed the article but please, the mass has already agreed upon the phrase “viral marketing” and I’d rather not change it.

By: Ron Nobody

Ron Nobody — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:15:39 +0000

Thanks for some nice insights, especially “market something you believe in.” Every brand I’ve ever worked for has had a zealot somewhere in the company. It’s just a matter of finding him/her.

One thing: Sub Chicken was absolutely born from the spirit of the brand — Have chicken your way. That’s what separates ads from viral, the latter being pure gimmick. I guarantee you they don’t use the V-word at CPB.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:12:55 +0000

I guess I’m about to commit the sin of spouting off before I take more time to digest this very insightful post, not to mention the equally if not more insightful responses. In the vein of, “It’s all about the product” and the connection it creates, the question I have is whether it’s possible to have a great stable of products that are virally adopted, which is accompanied by average or even sub-average or even barely existent marketing/advertising in the conventional sense. And in my mind, a key exemplar is the Weber Grill company. I used to abhor Weber’s overpriced products until I bought one of their gas grills a few years ago. Shockingly easy to assemble, highly responsive customer agents, durable high quality…these are a few of the characteristics that have made me a raving fan, and likely the reason why I see so many Weber grills in so many backyards I visit (I regularly stalk houses in my free time).
And then there’s this product called the Weber Smokey Mountain, a premium smoker, and yet one that costs no more than about $200. This sucker is so “viral” that a fan base long ago created its own Web site, http://www.virtualweberbullet.com, that contains recipes, smoker lighting instructions, tips on techniques, a forum, etc. All this said, I can’t remember the last time I saw a Weber ad on TV or in print…or for that matter, when someone proactively talked about Weber over a drink. For these guys I think it’s ALL about the product.

By: Indeed, Viral Marketing is Bullsh*t. Adoptive marketing is the future of Socially Responsible Marketing. « Marketing 4 Change

Sat, 31 May 2008 18:44:15 +0000

[…] Posted May 31, 2008 I have had to take a few days to digest Sam Lawrence’s Go Big Always post on viral marketing. Don’t get me wrong, I was in full agreement with what he was […]

By: links for 2008-05-29 | JeremiahTolbert.com

links for 2008-05-29 | JeremiahTolbert.com — Thu, 29 May 2008 16:38:46 +0000

[…] Go Big Always - Viral Marketing is bullsh*t. Adoptive Marketing isn’t. (tags: marketing toread) […]

By: Steven R. Watts

Steven R. Watts — Wed, 28 May 2008 22:57:00 +0000

I think the question posed here is valid–at what point does “viral” marketing become a fad that has burned out its usefulness because everyone has “been there, done that”?

Or again, as mentioned, if you’re struggling to get something adopted, “viral” marketing doesn’t work if the product itself isn’t up to snuff–or your company’s support of the product doesn’t meet the product’s potential.

I see the point, though, which is simply get people talking about something.

By: Viral Marketing is Manipulation

Viral Marketing is Manipulation — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:47:29 +0000

[…] product usage like bringing in a stray dog? Shouldn’t we be pushing for Adoptive Marketing? Marketing that people want, that leads to products people want? Viral Marketing is merely the quick transaction of ideas. But if no connection is made to the […]