by Ana Hoffman 13 comments

Google’s Breakthough Into Pizza Market: Pure Genius or Insanity?



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google pizza video imageDid Google really do such a stupid thing?

You guessed it – no, not really.

But they did manage to tie their name to a whole lot of pizza; watch the video below.

Bizarre? Definitely.

Brilliant? For sure.

I know most of us watching the video thought how stupid it was, what a waste of time it was, etc.

However, ask yourselves these questions:

  • would you remember that this video was by Google and it was about their mobile services?
  • are you likely to share it with everyone you know, just like I am doing right now?
  • would you think of this video and Google mobile next time you feel like pizza?
  • would you join a conversation or two about it like these folks on Reddit did?

PRECISELY!

Bizarre sells! What is called “weird” today, will be called “innovative” tomorrow.

Remember Google’s 3M Super Bowl commercial last year? Yes, the one with no actors. No voiceover. There was only ONE PICTURE. Just words on screen, really.

It took off like wildfire, to say the least.

By the way, if you are in the mood to create your own videos just like that one, check out this post:

  • Video Marketing: Parisian Love for the Rest of Us

Marketing Takeaway:

Don’t be afraid to be DIFFERENT.

That’s what sells. That’s what will make you stand out. That’s what will brand you like nothing else.

And yes, this is one of those “don’t do what I do, do what I tell you to do” posts, since I am still looking for my own voice and my own way to stand out.

Let me know if you’ve got an idea!

Love it or hate it? Comment to show me that you’re alive!

ana hoffman google pizzaana hoffman yournetbiz

PS For more no-nonsense traffic generation and conversion tips from Ana, fill out this short spam-free form:

Thanks to Mashable for the idea for this post.


traffic generation cafe comment below

{ 13 comments }

Igor November 14, 2010 at 3:57 pm

Hi Ana

I am probably not in the right mood, today being Monday and all, so I stopped the thing on the “pizza” number 20 or so. Although the concept is sound, I did not find the image sequence engaging or quirky enough to stick around for what seems to be a travel imagery slideshow. Have I missed something by stopping it so early – everyone else seem to love it?

Cheers, Igor

Ana Hoffman November 14, 2010 at 9:23 pm

I don’t know of many people who did watch it to the end, Igor! :) Life is too short for that…

However, the point is that we are still talking about it and will remember it for a while. THAT’S the power of good marketing.

Best,
Ana

Rodney@new home building November 13, 2010 at 5:46 am

Being different is why they are top cat. And being different is why this video is on your blog and we’re discussing it. Google knows how to be different and they are very good at creating viral marketing that get’s results. Many lessons to be learned by watching and studying Google. Thanks!!

Ana Hoffman November 13, 2010 at 10:22 am

Definitely, Rodney. We can criticize Google all we want, but at the end of the day, they have a multi-billion dollar company and we don’t. :)

So whatever we can learn from them will be to our benefit.

Ana

Larry Rivera November 12, 2010 at 3:47 am

Hi Ana, lols I loved the video it gets the point across. I think ultimately we need to dig deep inside ourselves and find out who we really are.

We have to liberate ourselves from our own ignorance to really be free to express the person we are on the inside. Until we do that attraction marketing will never work in our favor and our brand will never be known , to us or anyone else.

The take home message for me is, if you are blogger and you want to get noticed stand out.

Thanks for sharing
Larry

Ana Hoffman November 12, 2010 at 6:59 pm

Well said Larry. You’re absolutely right. It will start within ourselves and we must learn how to take courage.

Ana

Jenni November 12, 2010 at 3:25 am

I think the fun thing is that it represents what Google’s all about – not being a serious stereotypical ‘corporate’ company, but being fun and different.

Ana Hoffman November 12, 2010 at 4:39 am

Well said Jenni. I couldn’t agree more.

Thanks for coming,

Ana

Heather C Stephens@internet network marketing mlm blog November 11, 2010 at 3:19 pm

Hey Ana,

When my husband and I were picking out our phones the salesman did the “pizza” thing and my husband was SOLD. lol. I have to say that I would remember that it’s google but I’m not sure if it’s because I have the phone?

This doesn’t hold a candle to the Parisian Love video in my opinion, but it is quirky enough to be remembered.

Thanks for sharing! :)

Heather

Stacy November 11, 2010 at 11:18 am

I can’t believe that I watched the whole thing! I must have been in the right mood because I found the whole thing funny.

It’s definitely a different way to stand out and it is very effective. I think that knowing how and when to be different is key. If we are carbon copies of everyone else then we will never get noticed. Yet if we are always being different and never following the ‘rules’ then respectability will be lost.

Thanks for sharing!
Stacy

Ana Hoffman November 11, 2010 at 5:03 pm

Hi Stacy,

Great point. Balance is the key. You have to weigh things as well and make sure that you can be different in a good way and that it would benefit you in the long run not destroy your reputation.

Thanks for the thought-provoking comment,

Ana

Peter Fuller MBA November 11, 2010 at 10:05 am

Hey Ana

I wonder how many people have watched the video from beginning to end.

After about 40 pizzas I was worn out :)

In the end though what is the point of doing and looking like everyone else.

Maybe in the beginning you need to, but sometime you have to figure out how to stand out, how to get noticed, amd more importantly how to get noticed for the right things.

Peter

Ana Hoffman November 11, 2010 at 5:09 pm

Hey Peter,

Thanks for the comment. You are absolutely right, that’s the real secret to stand out in the crowd. If we will just imitate others, some people might noticed us but it will not last for a long time and in this business we need to learn how to stay long.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ana

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