Some Thoughts On "Viral Marketing"

"Viral" is like sex. (Gettig laid.) It's something which is very desirable, so much so that the target of the marketing/proposal often wonders if the virality is the actual point of the interaction as opposed to real utility. There are so many parallels that come to mind, I wonder if there is a general game-theoretic dynamic at work?

One parallel: it's better to be casual about being viral. It's not good to seem over-anxious.

Was hoping to see at least one outstanding failure at viral marketing. You know they must be out there, you just never hear about them ...

I remember reading in a book that playboy had spent a few million on a social network that was losing its ass. I think it even used ning

http://techcrunch.com/2007/08/22/new-playboy-social-network-...

The article says at that point in time you even needed a .edu to signup for the network.

youtube is littered with the remains of failed viral attempts

Agree, I'd like to see a massive failure as well.