Fun Archive

As we develop our startups and hope to grow our businesses, could injecting a bit of fun into the experience create more demand? Would the bit of fun help drive word of mouth marketing and introduce new potential customers to your service?

Volkswagen has launched a new initiative called “The Fun Theory”. They describe the initiative as, “dedicated to the thought that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better.” There is a competition to find other fun theory tests and there is 2500 euros in prize money.

Would you take the stairs over an escalator if the stairs were more fun? Would you throw your trash into a garbage can, instead of on the ground, if the trash can was more fun?

Share your thoughts on how you add a bit of fun to your startup in the comments.
Continue reading “Can a Bit of Fun Help Your Startup?” »

I thought this commercial was pretty funny. Nothing worse than someone yapping on the phone while you are trying to do some business. Bigfoot makes an appearance in the video too. Happy Friday everyone!

Last week we wrote about the TripAdvisor redesign and how disappointed we were with it. Today TripAdvisor gets some redemption points with a list of the funniest traveler comments of the past year. Here’s the list:

Not So Great Expectations

"I could have done without the blood-stained mattress and the (actual) chunk of poop on my bedspread, but I didn’t expect the Hilton."

Rest in Peace

"I spent the night in the (hotel) room and experienced a friendly spirit. This presence got into bed with me, an old lady, she was nice and I just patted her on the head and we had a comfortable restful sleep. I think I will ask for a different room next time."

Mime Over Matter

"The neighborhood is filled with aggressive mimes, including one sitting on a toilet bowl (how creative). Room cards are changed for no reason and you cannot understand why you can’t get into your room. All in all it was a very unpleasant stay."

Deep Thoughts

"Time could be spent pondering over the meaning of some of the many safety signs around the complex. Out of the several we managed to identify, the two we found to be of greatest use were 1. Not to step on any crocodiles whilst bare foot, and 2. No ugly, or spotty children to frequent the pool."

Is That Really What You Meant?

"I echo the sentiments of the previous reviewer. The ambience is lacking to be sure, but the food is like angels copulating on your tongue."

Freezing Over

"Sleeping in the street during a blizzard would be better than staying at this hell-hole. The place should be imploded."

No Accounting for Taste

"Subject: Crab Trap Restaurant. We enjoyed our experience at the Crap Trap. The food is very good with nice size portions and reasonable prices (especially for the shore). The only down side is the wait."

A Sore for Sight Eyes

"Food not special, and the couple that lives there with their dog is very ‘homey’ and ‘folksy’ types. Not for everyone. The premises are well kept, but some private parts we could see thru open door were not."

Leave It to Beaver

"Imagine awakening at 4:00 am to the sound of loud footsteps in the stairwell, only to realize that someone is drunk and knocking on your hotel door saying, ‘Beaver…it’s me. Let me in, Beaver.’"

The Last Laugh

"In fact, I told the management there that I was putting a review on your website about their poor service and they laughed at me and said go right ahead, nobody reads the TripAdvisor site."

I thought this would be a fun addition to CenterNetworks. Check out some cool works by other great writers. If you have ideas for future Blogolove episodes, just tag links on del.icio.us with "for:centernetworks" and we shall check them out. Feel free to post your blogolove as comments (just don't post your own stuff, that's no fun).

• DemoGirl has a screencast review of simplyseating.com (great for when you don't want the inlaws sitting near each other!)
• The WebSquirrel has a post demonstrating how a new voting tool works. Appears just as many people like Paris Hilton as like Arrington. Scoble is not even close.
• Tara needs your support to stay in Wikipedia and not be deleted.
• Markus has spent some time out-widgeting the mybloglog widget. If you use this widget, dangit make it look nice.

Alright, there you have it. Now I am off to find more blogolove links for you.

Mark sent me the following links earlier today. The quality of the flash video and the entire piece is just spectacular.

Take a break from whatever you are doing to check out these 2 Flash clips from Ikea.

• http://www.kominigarderoben.se/
• http://www.ikea.com/ms/de_DE/stockholm_launch/campaign/index.html

Drop a comment on your thoughts on the above. If this isn’t the new web, I don’t know what is!

(make sure your sound is on before clicking)