Crazy Bride's Crazy Sponsor

The crazy bride video going around on YouTube, and featured on the Today show is apparently sponsored by Unilever's Sunsilk? A lot of people thought the video was real, watching in horror as a bride freaks out because she hates her hair and starts cutting all her hair off a mere hour before her "wedding." But before you start wondering how such a freak found someone to marry her, or why her bridesmaids are laughing and taping the debacle, know that this video is an elaborate hoax! It's a fake, a fraud. But the thing is...Unilever, why are you deceiving us but making it have absolutely nothing to do with your product?

I know that a big part of WOM is getting your name out there, or just coming up with something that is going to be talked about. And this video was indeed talked about. It was viewed 12 million times on YouTube, and had segments on Jay Leno and Good Morning America.

But really, how effective is all this when no one really knows your company is related to the video? I guess the name got out a bit, but what about all the people out there who still think this woman really got married with super short hair that was frantically trying to be pinned up by her poor friends? They don't know Unilever is behind this.

And that's why while it may be effective in some capacity to send out a crazy viral video, make it either relate to your product, or make it available for people to discover that your brand was involved.

Otherwise, it's WWOM - WASTED word of mouth! oOOooOOOoo

More info about this at AdAge.com.