My Marketing Idea - yay or nay?

So I won't post the link to my website here because I'm not sure it's allowed, but I have a spoof news website which I set up a few days ago. I've been promoted it mainly on Twitter and Facebook so far, but decided I needed something that would make it unique.

At the moment, because it's so small, I had the idea that I should offer to promote small businesses through spoof news articles. Three small businesses/individuals looking to promote themselves have already taken me up on this offer, and I've written fake and funny news articles which include their name with a link to their website/profile.

The idea is that apart from helping them to promote themselves in a more creative way, it also means that they'll share the article will their friends/fans/followers.

Good or bad idea?

 

It's a good idea, as long as you don't do it too often. Don't let your site become basically what would be described as a link directory. Do stories that aren't promoting businesses and individuals a lot more than you do stories promoting them.

 

Bad, good, spoof, etc. advertising is better than no advertising.

Some businesses purposefully smear their own name to get max exposure. It can backfire, of course, but it can also bring in a fresh flow of customers.

So I say, yay.

 

Are you basically looking for new ways to promote your website?

 

Yeah it seems a pretty good idea. With social media still growing, you can't go wrong with the viral sharing method. But I think the kind of businesses who are keen to advertise this way may be limited, so you shouldn't expect to retire on his revenue model!