FOST

Last week, I got this viral marketing question in the form of a comment -

I am building a new web application that sends reminders in the form of text messages, emails and voice messages to subscribers. The idea originated from my wife’s situation, being a soccer mom and everything, and having four kids, its hard sometimes to keep track with all the practices and games… so she either carry a notebook with her all the time, or she checks her emails. To make a story short, i am thinking now of having this public service web site, and people can subscribe for a small amount of money. Do you think such an idea can be marketed some how?

Initially, I like the idea, (my wife struggles with the same problems) but I do see some problems with this service actually taking off (and making any money) and the main reasons is because of Cell Phones. Everyone has them, and everyone for the most part, carries them with all of the time. Most cell phones these days, like the Blackberry my wife carries has notifications that do just what your service is offering to do, and it would be for free. I know my iPhone does the same thing, and I use it all day long to remind me of what I need to be doing.

With that said, if you were going to go through with it, and market this kind of a service, I see you having no problems finding some pretty amazing viral marketing ideas that you could use to promote your site with. The first headline that sparks my interest right off the bat (because of all the Hockey Mom talk with Gov. Palin) would be “10 Things Soccer Moms Got That Hockey Moms Don’t” (or vice versa) - start some controversy right off the bad and get these “Moms” going back and forth with each other etc. It could be funny, and interesting all at the same time. I mean, what guys doesn’t like a good cat fight right? The service you are offering fits right in because these are the kind of people who you are targeting with your business model, so even though the service itself is pretty boring, you have lots of topics surrounding it that are not, that would make it very exciting.

After doing a quick search on Google Videos and You Tube, I also found some pretty interesting videos show casing some pretty angry and aggressive Soccer Moms during their kids games. (Side note - some of the stuff I saw was actually sad, and I can’t believe some Moms act this way during games.) Always thinking like a marketer