Ever heard of Mister Splashy Pants? Back in 2007, Greenpeace ran a poll to name a whale for their anti-whaling campaign. They expected serious names. But the internet had other plans. Someone suggested Mister Splashy Pants. People loved it. The name blew up on Reddit, won the vote, and Greenpeace had to roll with it. The best part? That silly name helped the campaign get massive attention, and it helped stop the hunt. Itâs a reminder that sometimes the internet behaves in unexpected ways, and if you stop trying to control everything and loosen up a bit, something surprisingly good might happen. So, whatâs the lesson? đ Donât fight what your audience loves If theyâre having fun with something, go with it. Even if it feels off-brand, it might be the most relatable thing you post. đ Make room for real moments You donât need polished words all the time. A meme, a typo, or a funny comment could build stronger trust than a perfect pitch. đ Test silly ideas (on purpose) Try a random poll. Use a weird name. Start a conversation thatâs not too serious. Youâll know quickly what people want more of. Sometimes the internet just wants Mister Splashy Pants. Need ideas like this for your business? Try asking ChatGPT: âGive me silly or unexpected content ideas that could help my [business/product/brand] go viral.â See what comes up. Stay curious, Minosh. P.S. If silly ideas work, so do free marketing tools. Here are 10 from Google. â |
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