Bodyform Reveals the “Truth”

I am guessing by now that everyone and their mothers have seen Bodyform’s “apology” video to one duped Richard Neill, but it is still worth discussing because it really is a beautiful example of social engagement. It would have been easy to ignore the complaint, or arguably just as easy to respond with a few curt words. But Bodyform went above and beyond with a short video that was basically begging to go viral. A conversation-prompting Facebook question, a personalized reply on Twitter – that’s all standard stuff. But a satirical video from a maxipad company that performs double duty – leveraging conversation while poking fun at the very basis of marketing in the feminine hygiene product industry in which it belongs? That’s new. So it’s no surprise everybody suddenly stopped and paid attention… for once. Who said we consumers are a tough crowd to please?

I’ve laughed at the video with my friends, and it’s already been a hot topic of discussion in two of my other classes. Now that’s what I call conversation.