1 Good Reason - Internet Marketing

[This is a new occasional feature 1 Good Reason will be doing covering those "did you really think this through" ideas from the world at large.]

BLUF: in the spirit of www.WebPagesThatSuck.com these are examples of what not to do in marketing your products, or ideas.

#1 Boy Scouts of America- The man in the new BSA Monument (erected in Wash DC) is naked. Let me repeat that the man is naked! WTF? I was a boy scout and I think this is the stupidest possible representation they could have chosen. For god’s sake people it’s about the boys- not the men and women they become.

I can understand how via some convoluted path that they got there. But how could all of the people involved let it happen? Didn’t someone say something like, “Hey the Man is Naked!” Don’t you moron’s read the papers? It’s just stupid, IMHO.

#2 Google Friend Connect- Google’s new Friend Connect service promotes itself with their first Example Site which shows the following video:

Is it just me, or do you think that a soulless person killing himself is a poor choice for a promotion?

Maybe I’m too old for this stuff anymore, but I think it’s a poor choice and a terrible perception to give your visitors. There are literally a gazabijillion sites Google could have chosen, why pick something depressing? Why pick something with religious overtones? Why not pick something good, uplifting, positive instead? I just don’t get it.

#3 E*Trade Baby Puke- This commercial has been saturating CNN recently. The version I found on YouTube is 30 seconds but the most common version I’m seeing is 15 seconds ending with the baby puking.

So Mr. E*Trade Marketing person answer me this- why do you wish to leave the image of a baby, or anyone at all, puking as the last impression your potential client sees? Why not have the baby laughing/excited/joyful, instead?

I just don’t get it- can someone, anyone please explain this crap to me?