Grounded In Reality

A shout out to Skype for a full day to make free global computer-to-landline calls on Mother’s Day, May 12.  If you’re in the U.S. or Canada, call your Mom for free between 5 a.m. EST on May 13 to 4:49 a.m. EST on May 14 for up to 200 minutes per computer.

The promotion is well covered by MacWorld, Gizmodo, Engadget, and The Boy Genius Report (a popular mobile blog).  But why only 6 diggs and no Techmeme mention (yet)?

It is true that no promotion can be made viral (people get to decide what is viral) but one can certainly make it easier to be viral: mention it on the Skype blog; offer a “e-mail this” button on the promotional page; conduct proactive outreach to international student networks on Facebook, travel blogs, foreign language sites and forums (based in the U.S. or Canada); and shoot a brief video touting the offer–if done “right,” users will share it.

The first two are low cost and shouldn’t break the bank.  Plus such a great Mother’s Day promotion ought to sell itself in terms of justifying marketing spend to promote the brands.  (Intel is a co-sponsor.)

Bonus factoid: Mother’s Day is not, as known in popular lore, invented by Hallmark.  Mother’s Day was a call by social activist Julia Ward Howe after the American Civil War to unite women against war.