HOVERBOARDS ARE REAL!!!

The Hoverboard Debacle:  Funny or Infuriating?

One of the most important steps when planning an event or launching a product is building hype. There are tons of tried and tested methods that marketers and event planners have been using for years, but none of them are guaranteed. The key to really building hype around your event is originality, creativity and a sense of mystery.

Now let’s talk about one of the top trending topics on the internet this week – the Hoverboard hoax. If you’ve been hiding under a rock all week, then here’s the video to catch up on:

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The video stars a bunch of famous faces including pro skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, musician Moby and Back to the Future actor Christopher Lloyd. You don’t get more exciting news then the launch of a fictional cinematic device that fans have been eagerly awaiting for years. Add all that star power and you’ve got some real hype and viral power. 

For a few days it seemed like the whole world was “on board” with the concept of hoverboards finally being available and HURv Corp were the guys to thank. But before long, the clever folks of the internet figured out that it was all a hoax. That’s when online comedy site Funny or Die released that the HURv Corp Hoverboard was all part of a sketch that they had created and the video was 100% a hoax. 

After all that excitement, Back to the Future fans and people eager to get their own hoverboard were quite simply outraged that such an elaborate trick had fooled them. This saw a lot of apologies from all parties involved and even some behind the scenes videos which showed us exactly how they managed to create a seemingly real looking floating board. 

So, what’s the moral of the story? Creative campaigns can do wonders for your product or event, BUT be sure not to stretch the truth too far, or you’ll end up with a lot of unhappy customers. There’s a fine line between tricking people and using creative concepts to build awareness and excitement around an event. Stick to mystery without leaving too much room for fiction that may end up angering a lot of people. 

What did you think of the Funny or Die Hoverboard hoax? Leave us a comment below.