Is Bad Marketing... Good?

The Eviction Notice That Wasn't

Two years ago, I came home from work and found a letter taped to my door. The words "Eviction Notice" in big red letters screamed at me, and I was stunned. What could have gone wrong? Had I missed a payment? Everything should be up to date. Could this be a mistake?

With my heart pounding, I yanked the note off the door and started reading. To my relief (and annoyance), it wasn’t an eviction notice at all—it was an advertisement for cable! As I calmed down, I noticed other houses in the neighborhood with similar notices, while some didn't have any. It was a targeted guerilla marketing ploy. Sure, it was effective in catching my attention, but at what cost? It definitely didn’t make me want to sign up for their service. Instead, it made me want to give them a piece of my mind for using such a nerve-wracking tactic.

This got me thinking: is bad marketing actually good? The ad not only grabbed my attention but also drew the curiosity of the neighbors. It became the talk of the neighborhood for weeks. Fios may not have achieved a great return on investment with this ad, but it left a lasting impression. Even though they never repeated this stunt, the memory of this ad still lingers whenever someone mentions cable or WiFi. Did Fios ultimately succeed? I'll let you be the judge.