How a Publicity Stunt Can Get You on the Today Show

It happened over 10 years ago and people are still talking about how Half.com, a startup online company, got onto the Today Show with a bit o’ the green stuff and a lot of ingenuity.

Pretty much admitting that it was a publicity stunt, they persuaded a rinky dink 3 horse town, (population: 89 people and a few horses) Halfway, Oregon, to change it’s name to Half.com to bring attention to the startup. The story also made The New York Times, The Wall St. Journal and was featured in Mark Hughes’ wonderful book, Buzz Marketing: Get People to Talk About Your Stuff. Half.com eventually got bought out by ebay and according to the town’s website, “some” of the commitments made by half.com to the town were kept. I had heard the story years ago, but thanks for the reminder Steve Harrison. Just another example of how often the only thing standing between you and some international eyeballs is an idea.