The Balloon Boy Hoax - A Missed Opportunity to Perhaps the Greatest Marketing Opportunity Ever

With millions tuned in worldwide, viewers were transfixed last week to their television or computer screens to  the possibility that a little boy was hidden within a Mylar looking, home made "flying thing" that was flying uncontrollably along the Colorado terrain, up to 6,000 ft. high. What was missed with this story that the media covered non stop for hours was the opportunity the perpetrators lost in advertising revenues. It appears as I write this that the parents, and it seems the father may be the gang leader of this ruthless bunch of promoters, were involved in a hoax to better the family's chances of securing a reality show gig. Crazier things have been done to get noticed for a TV appearance, do you remember Monte Hall?

As this silver, mushroom shaped balloon sliced its way across the Colorado sky and into millions of living rooms and offices it was apparent a huge marketing opportunity was lost, as everyone watched the balloon and the supposed hidden traveler via helicopter camera for hours. If the father was doing this stunt for the money, he blew a golden opportunity. When you consider the hundreds of millions of dollars a company spends on advertising, do they ever get an opportunity to be exposed on international media for two or more hours. Imagine if the father had sold advertising rights to, lets say, McDonalds to imprint their logo on the balloon. For two solid hours Americans and concerned world citizens who were genuinely frightened for the little boy would have been staring at a silver balloon with golden arches for two hours. What exposure, and what would McDonalds have paid for their golden arches to be sailing across the Colorado sky while millions were glued to their media screens.

How important is the power of the media? As a publishing and book marketing company, we understand the value of media exposure. Good or bad the value of being seen by millions is every marketers goal. There could have been some McDonalds backlash, but by then it would have been too late. The damage, or should I say the marketing would have been done. Lets keep a lookout for a copycat marketing stunt, but this time they may just take advantage of the opportunity. Perhaps we will see an ad for balloon mortgages or Colorado tourism, or even flying lessons.

Barringer Publishing has launched two new exciting children's  books by Dr. Molly Barrow. The reviews are coming in - "These are the kinds of books that parents and teachers as well as kids, have been seeking."

For more information regarding Dr. Barrow and her book, Malia & Teacup - Awesome African Adventure please visit www.drmollybarrow.com and www.maliaandteacup.com.

Barringer Publishing is a full service publishing house, offering cover and inside book design, editing and printing services, Web site design, graphics, illustrations, public relations and marketing for new books.Barringer Publishing is a subsidiary of Schlesinger Advertising & Marketing, a complete service marketing agency since 1986. For more information please visit www.barringerpublishing.com, email to js@barringerpublishing.com or call 239-262-1146