Re: Seth Godin's new book

From: Gil Lavie <coffee_at_netvision.net.il>
Date: Wed 26 Jul 2000 21:03:28 +0200

CHRISTIAN SARKAR <Christian_Sarkar_at_bmc.com> WROTE:
> Anyone read the new Godin book-"Unleashing the Ideavirus"??
> Download it free at http://www.agilebrain.com
> - read it today, then let's talk.

TO WHICH KEITH GILLESPIE <keith_at_clienthelpdesk.com> REPLIED:
> I personally was astounded at how poorly thought out
> Godin's _ideas_ are in his new book--which is, after
> all, about ideas!

Keith seems to have taken a rather antagonistic view of
the Ideavirus. I have to differ and after having read
the book, which I found to be rather enlightening, I
did not quite notice any contradictions.

For instance, Seth's reference to Macarena pertained to
"viral marketing" and not "ideavirus". Macrena used
viral marketing inadvertently only in the sense that
one needs to teach it to a friend and thereby Macarena
inherently spurs word-of-mouth. By definition,
Macarena is an ideavirus since viral marketing entails
being an ideavirus but not necessarily vice versa.

So where is the contradiction? Macarena is indeed a
"big idea" and a creation that spread very quickly by
virtue of word-of-mouth. Can you imagine coming out
with a product that spreads through earth that quickly?
No advertising was used. It was all done strictly
through the wonders of viral marketing and perhaps some
good PR.

Word of mouth does indeed die out but the idea behind
it can sustain, live and grow, depending on how well it
catches. Again, I see no contradiction. I think the
internet is the perfect example of this. Most of us
have heard about it through a friend. Do we spread the
word still today? No so much I believe. The novality
of the internet somehow wore out. However, where is
the internet today? Did it stop growing?

Gil Lavie
Tel Aviv, Israel




Received on Wed Jul 26 2000 - 14:03:28 CDT