I was very excited to receive a bulging package in today’s mail from some kind of promotion. I always love bulging packages because a free pen or piece of wacky swag is always a welcome diversion for the day. I mean, since the Big Pharma decided that idiot doctors are too easily influenced by free pens, swag pens are harder to come by around these parts.
So, imagine my disapointment when, upon stripping the envelope off the package, I discover a measly pack of Smarties hot-glued to a card. Lame!

Showing this packet around to my colleagues was met with mixed reaction. One colleague said: "Smarties? I'm not in 2nd Grade!" Another said: "Sweet. Smarties!" and ate them.
But here's the thing: None of us are going to book a conference in Chicago because of the Smarties and the card they were attached to is already thrown in the garbage. At least a free pen keeps your logo and name on my desk for a few weeks.

Post Script:Perhaps you think that they were gambling on the fact that I would blog about the promotion and therefor provide some of that magical Social Media(tm) viral marketing stuff that all the kids are peddaling these days? Perhaps you are an idiot. Those two sentences do not nesessarily need to be related, but I suspect they are.