Viral marketing, defined by wikipedia as:
marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives (such as product sales) through self-replicating viral processes, analogous to the spread of pathological and computer viruses. It can be word-of-mouth delivered or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet.[1] Viral promotions may take the form of video clips, interactive Flash games, advergames, ebooks, brandable software, images, or even text messages.
has become a very useful tool for advertising over the internet. This instance of viral marketing that I found this morning on Yahoo struck me as particularly interesting and fun. In anticipation of it’s upcoming film Toy Story 3, Disney/Pixar has released a commercial featuring one of the movie’s new characters, Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. The commercial, which appears to be from the early eighties based upon the VHS-recorded quality of the video and the clothing of the children in it, shows a real Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear being loved by children. But do you remember Lots-o’-Huggin Bear? I know I don’t, and you shouldn’t either, because it is not and never was a real toy. Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear was created by Disney/Pixar specifically for the film. So, whats with the fake commerical? It is a great marketing ploy by the company to promote their new film and new character. I think the idea was really clever and well done. See the Yahoo! article here.
