Peer pressure as a marketing strategy for flawed products

The internet has made it easier that ever to perform due diligence. In theory that should make the extinction of flaw products and services more likely. That conventional wisdom may be flawed. While instant communication and collaboration can help identify and rectify flaws, and ultimately kill bad products, it can also perpetuate them. In fact, the power of the clique can overcome even the worst of flaws. Sound far fetched? Today’s news feed has two very good examples.

Consider Facebook. As the world’s top  social networking site, membership is nearly compulsive as friends and family made it the center of communication. Even recurring problems securing users data, along with aggressive monetization of user data with blatant disregard for privacy haven’t slowed user growth. In fact Facebook is expected to reach 500 million members within days.

Then lets take the iPhone. Now in it’s fourth incarnation, the cute factor initially overcame annoyances like a proprietary headphone, a non replaceable battery, and being forced to pay upscale rates to AT&T for iffy service. In fact, recurring issues with the hardware itself and inconsistent service would have killed any less clique-ish device. Response to complaints has typically been snarky with half fixes like the one for antenna problems in the new model. Never the less, the iPhone clique keeps growing.

Could it be you d0n’t have to build a better mouse trap to succeed as long as you can build a cult around a bad one?