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jono · Decorated Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 299

What story would fit an ARG for a unusual product?

Nighthawk

Hey, you're the one who asked...

**Posted:** Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:11 pm

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natas

**Posted:** Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:58 pm

Rogi Ocnorb

Does the tern, "FDA Cleared" have questionable merit to anyone else?
Or, is it just me?

**Posted:** Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:56 pm

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TheIllustratedMan · Decorated Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 203

Actually, every product probably could benefit, if integrated properly. It couldn't be a case of "This ARG is for this product only," but rather a clever placement of the product. In the case of the pregnancy test, it could be as simple as having the character make a post (blog, vlog, whatever) to the effect of:

**Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:57 am

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Nighthawk

"...and whoever the father was left this weird jumble of letters written in a notebook and Morse code on my answering machine. Can you help?"

**Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:05 am

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TheIllustratedMan · Decorated Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 203

Not really my point. Perhaps the fact that she's pregnant is relevant to the story. Telling about picking out a test makes it more real.

Anything could be slipped in there like that, and it costs nothing in terms of production, so it would be worth it for companies to pay $50 to be mentioned as versus $50,000 to make a commercial. Or whatever.

No, $50 won't pay the bills, but it's a start.

**Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 11:28 am

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Rekidk

But where do you draw the line between product placement and viral marketing? It's tricky.

**Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:31 pm

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Dream · Boot Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 48 Location: The Dreaming

If you're using product placement then there really is no line to cross considering how much stuff has to be used in everything.

**Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2008 10:27 pm

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TheIllustratedMan · Decorated Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 203

Yeah, if you're talking viral marketing, as in "this ARG/ARE/CF/whatever is centered around this product only", there are a limited number of things that fit well. You could probably still do a "Christmas Story" type ad for anything, but it would be less disappointing to have a product that fits an interesting story.

The real question is: "What kind of story fits products that don't easily lend themselves to an interesting story?"

So what can we come up with for the pregnancy test?

**Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:28 am

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jono · Decorated Joined: 07 May 2008 Posts: 299

**Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:33 am

konamouse

Home remodeling stuff.

Carpets
Window covers/drapes/blinds/shutters
Flooring
Painting
Tile/Counters.

I dare you to come up with a story for that! Cool

**Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:31 pm

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Agent Lex

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Razz

**Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:34 pm

Dream · Boot Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 48 Location: The Dreaming

**Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:53 pm

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Rogi Ocnorb

Monster House!
Either the series or the movie.

I'm off to start growing trees that have sekrit messages embedded in the grain of the wood.

I already have the Formica� colors code worked out.

**Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:54 pm

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