Two men have been accused of placing electronic advertisements for a cartoon around Boston that some people feared was a bomb. It is obvious that the city of Boston did not recognize the display for what it was.
Implications - The two men were actually hired by a marketing firm called Interference Inc. The men placed the advertisements with flashing lights all around the city. The ads had a picture of a character from the show Aqua Teen Hunger Force on them. It's apparent that not many people knew the cartoon very well! Even though the men were hired by a company they were still charged with "placing a hoax device in a way that causes panic and disorderly conduct."
Guerrilla Marketing Gone Bad
Boston Hoax Turns Into Million Dollar Mishap
Trend Themes
1. Guerrilla Marketing - Opportunity to explore creative and unconventional marketing strategies to grab attention and generate buzz.
2. Public Safety Awareness - Need for increased education and awareness campaigns to help the public differentiate between harmless advertisements and potential threats.
3. Crisis Management - Demand for effective strategies to handle negative publicity and mitigate potential damage caused by marketing stunts gone wrong.
Industry Implications
1. Advertising & Marketing - Innovation opportunities lie in developing safer and more effective guerrilla marketing tactics that captivate consumers without causing panic or confusion.
2. Entertainment - Potential for disruptive innovations in promoting TV shows or cartoons using unconventional methods that are memorable and don't lead to public alarm.
3. Public Safety & Security - Opportunity to create and implement educational campaigns and technologies that help people distinguish between harmless marketing tactics and suspicious objects.