The Psychology of Marketing ‘Mistakes’: Strategy or Stunt?

Meme Image: "Hide the Pain Harold" (Widely circulated stock photo)

You know a company has reached a different level of success when its target audience is willing to commit murder.

I once said “Nicol Bolas should’ve won” in a card shop and was immediately met with a brigade of angry nerds explaining, in excruciating detail, how Jace Beleren is God’s gift to the world. Even now, as I stare at his full Phyrexian form and hear his ominous utters about ending the universe, I know deep down in my heart that people still believe he is truly the Messiah of Magic: The Gathering.

Being a nerd specializing in B2B communications has given me an interesting perspective on corporate decision-making. While my friends passionately vent about Bungie’s disastrous State of the Game update—where the backlash got so bad that leadership had to step in and “make things right” by unveiling a new armor set—I tend to ask a different question:

Did they mess up on purpose?

Because here’s the thing—bad business decisions aren’t always mistakes.

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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/bad-decisions-brilliant-stunts-when-companies-mess-up-megan-payne-hgklc/?trackingId=wRKqNGXNTka133I0kthWpg%3D%3D