I neglected to reference the article: It's Made of 100% Cotton; Its Sales Are 99% Ironic By Mike Musgrove Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, May 22, 2009 Downloaded 22 May 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/21/AR2009052104 472.html Regards, Charlie -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Charlie Balch Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 8:38 AM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: [Air-L] Slapstick Marketing? 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 _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/