Dumb and Dumber Marketing Award

Somebody’s gotta say it, and I guess it’s me.

Is the world becoming more stupid, or what?

Reality show this, reality show that…survivor
show this, survivor show that… I guess people
watch this stuff to make them feel smarter than
the people on the show, or something like that.

And what’s amazing to me is how this dumbing down
trickles into every marketplace.

(human nature really is fascinating, isn’t it?)

Here’s some recent examples.

(now I know I’m going to be sending lots of traffic
to these sites, which makes me question my own
dumbness. Just to let you know it’s really not my
intent to promote these things, but there’s no other
way to show you what I’m talking about)

Maybe you heard about this video of some “Emo Kid”
whining about leaving Britney Spears alone, he
got millions and millions of people watching him
whine and cry (spoof or serious, I don’t know).

Here it is, watch a few seconds (or more if you
like this stuff):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc

Now here’s my real rant (naw, I’m not really upset
about this, I just think it’s ‘Dumb and Dumber
Marketing’):

Here’s two guys, you may know them, doing a ‘spoof’
of the Britney video:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/828609/leave_john_reese_alone_blog_rush_is_a_human_being/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiL2i5x0I2g

Believe me when I tell you, I’m not promoting them
or the fellow’s program they whine about, I’m
just awarding them my new award…

“Dumb and Dumber Marketing”

(by the way, both of these guys are very sharp
fellows, and really know what they’re doing…
and yes, this approach gets them lots and lots of
traffic, even from me mentioning it now, doesn’t
it? … some would say it’s brilliant marketing,
and yes, it probably is… it’s just not my style,
I guess

How about you?

- – -

As the Monty Python show used to say…

Now for something completely different.

Here’s the schedule of my Internet Success System
Live Master Mind Conference being held in Atlanta,
October 18-21, I thought you might be curious
what goes on there (not a bumch of sales pitches):

http://www.internet-success-system.com/schedule-october2007.pdf

If you’d like to join the ISS program and get to
know some very successful internet entrepreneurs,
now’s the time to signup. I’ve only got 3 seats
open for this conference (I had a couple that
had to cancel due to personal reasons), check it
all out here:

http://www.internet-success-system.com/home.html

- – -

Thanks for hanging in there with me while I am doing
the final tests on my email system, I know it’s
frustrating to get multiple copies of the same
thing — imagine how I feel when it happens.

I feel kind of… well… “dumb and dumber” …

As always, my best to you –

Mark Hendricks
aka… Originator of the “Dumb
and Dumber Marketing” Award

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Posted in Seminars and Workshops, Training

12 Responses to Dumb and Dumber Marketing Award

Ad Alchemy says:

at 10:09 pm

I briefly, very briefly, watched the John Reese video. Would I recommend to any of my clients that they watch it? I DON’T think so …

Success Always,

Hannah

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California Jerry says:

at 12:08 am

I like your branding of the name “Dumb and Dumber Marketing”… so true. I think it’s a case of just having to focus on the quality marketers and ignore the rest. I suppose it’s like any kind of spam though, it’s time consuming to weed through it.

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Pete says:

at 1:07 am

I found the ‘leave Britney Spears alone’ video a few days ago and watched the first few seconds of it but it’s not worth my time! I’m fairly new to Internet Marketing and have been struggling to master video production as I realise the potential. I eventually found a quick and easy program to make unique stylish videos (www.runwebs.com) so I’m now ready to start video marketing. I may not be a ‘Spielburg’ but whatever happens, I won’t be making stuff like ‘leave Brintney alone’!

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Coach Rosemary says:

at 1:18 am

If those two clips are “marketing”, then I’m a monkey’s uncle!

While I can see imitating a viral video as a marketing technique, these guys picked the wrong one to copy! Your “Dumb and Dumber” award is right on the money. These rants make Britney Spears seem normal (well almost).

While imitation may be the highest form of flattery, it’s not the best way to market. In the long run, creativity and innovation in communicating will attract and keep more loyal customers than a copy cat approach.

Best,

Rosemary H.
Creativity & Innovation Coach
Impact Coaching International™
Minneapolis, MN

Reply
Paula says:

at 1:43 am

That is Dumb I agree. I will go as far as to say “what utter crap”.

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Scott says:

at 3:37 am

I have heard that Video marketing is hot and even started checked out a few vids and some software.
But I feel like the dumb one here, because I don’t see how they can convert the zombies that watch these dumb vids into any sale or optin.
Or will these dumb video watching zombies do what ever you ask after you give them a dumb vid fix?

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Mark Sandquist says:

at 3:45 am

Hey Mark.

Yep. I couldn’t agree with you more. I actually participated in a thread on this issue in the warrior forum, the other day and, was among very few who expressed disappointment in the marketers who made these videos, with the intent to help market their wares.

Sure, they’re getting traffic but, certainly not credibility.

I don’t care what anyone says, this is NOT Rock-n-Roll and, we are NOT Rockstars.

Bad publicity is good for Rockstars, NOT for Marketers.

Cheers,

Mark.

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Craig says:

at 5:05 am

I think someone should contact John Reese and let him know that someone is trying to destroy his reputation. He has been around the internet long enough to know better then to try using such a childish ploy that does not send a marketing message of any kind to the viewers. If he was involved in this tragic video – read on. Your future on the internet could be affected by this.

Investing time, energy and money into some new method of marketing should always be encouraged but review and over site for a new idea is critical for anyone who is new or well experienced.

Credibility suffers on many levels when something so public as this video is shown.

Especially for someone who is well known in their peer group and trade.

John is lucky the video has only been seen by a few hundred viewers over one month. He has time to remove it before it becomes a major example of “What Not To Do” on the internet for market exposure.

I for one will examine carefully any teachings from John.

[Note from Mark] – Interestingly, I became aware of these two ‘spoof’ videos on John’s blog, he was showing them to all his readers

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10 Minute Opt-in Success says:

at 8:01 am

Copycat marketing is one of the reasons that there is a slump in the market for a few marketers – mainly because they aren’t original enough to come up with something new.

The first video you show is clearly a spoof of the Britney Spears abomination… But is there anything being promoted?

The second one is Dr. Mike Woo Ming doing a promo for his JV partners. Looks more like entertainment than anything else, but the product he is going to be launching looks to be quite the cool piece of software. But I don’t suspect that the video was meant for consumption by everyone. Although as a side effect, it definitely did grow some legs.

I can’t really give any comment one way or another, especially after my video promo I did for the Site Swiper launch… I still get laughs from people.

Have an amazing day!

Micheal Savoie
jvalertnews.com
productinaweekend.com

Reply
Roger Carr says:

at 8:28 pm

My comment will be quick because I have to run and take an asprin for my headache the videos caused. I couldn’t watch any of them to the end. I think you have appropriately named the award and found some great winners. What do you think they will do for their acceptance speech?

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Judith says:

at 8:23 am

Mark,
I couldn’t even take the time to watch the Britney videos. I will take your word for them. You are showing your age with the Monty Python quote. I am watching the video on religion and politics.

Good Luck with your ISS. I will be at the next October one.

Judy

Reply