Cyber graffiti with WiFi network names as advertising

You're on the road, perhaps at a coffee emporium, and you want to find a free WiFi network. Hey, we’ve all done it...

You look at the network names and there's the usual assortment: People who default to use a WiFi name like 'linksys,' some who use their family name 'Jones_Network,' some random nonsense like 'FJ8673UHNN4,' and the credit-card-required paid networks like 'Boingo_Hotspot.'

But then you see a network called 'Hipster Doofus.' Ha ha ha ha! What fun! Someone has a sense of humor!

But wait.

Imagine how many people are seeing that network name. If it's in a crowded city, it could be thousands a day.

How about using the 32-character SSID space to broadcast a marketing message?

Here are some ideas. (If you have some fun ideas, please comment).
An auto dealer: Free_test_drives
A pub: Try_Joes_Martini
A bookstore: Stop_hacking_and_read_a_book

The idea of wifi names as a marketing tool came to me courtesy of Alexandra Janelli.

In 2009, Alexandra was at a bar on the Lower East Side of Manhattan when she noticed the network her iPhone brought up was 'Alcoholics Shut In' and that prompted the creation a blog-turned-website WTFwifi.com to chronicle interesting WiFi names.

"Wireless router names are breaking through the walls of homes carrying with them virtual messages, airwave graffiti, or warnings only to be decrypted by our smart phones and computers," Alexandra says. "They are monocles into the cryptic world around us."

During Alexandra's Warwalking, she learned that people use their WiFi names to send messages.

"In many cases the messages relate to staying off their connections," she says. "However, you do get the users who will send very direct messages such as 'Fat Man on the 7th Floor is a Douche' or 'We Won Too' which plays off of another WiFi networks name 'We Won', or even 'Hipster Doofus' and 'Son of Hipster Doofus'. While this is not a conventional form of social media its certainly an easily changeable medium where people are becoming more and more aware of its uses."

Got any fun WiFi names near you? Why not share by commenting here.

Anyone out there using a WiFi name as a marketing tool? I'd love to hear about it. I'd like to add some good examples in a future book.

Here are some of Alexandra's favorite WiFi names:
Uncle Hooterville
Stuck in the City
Squirrel Power
I Eat Children
Internet is for Porn
EatMoPossum
Cheese Has Protein
Cupcake Bomb Squad
Dirty Diapers for Lunch

Images via WTFwifi.com

Comments

[Jen]

Nice. I use mine to make political statements.

[Raul]

I guess most of the one's I have around me are in Spanish or are not adequate for sharing here. I use my twitter username on my Overdrive in conferences.

It makes it easier for me to connect with people.

Example I use @rj_c's hotspot and people when they see it usually send me a tweet opening up the opportunity to meet someone in an innovative way.

It worked greatly at @chirp and the @cmsummit last year. Will test it out next month on South By Southwest.

[David Meerman Scott]

Raul - Wow great idea. I've never thought of that. Thanks!

[Sacevero]

Wow, using a WiFi name is the last thing I would think of when marketing--how cool! Thanks for this post, I'm on a quest through the city this weekend to see what interesting WiFi names I can find.
--Stacey Acevero
Social Media Manager @PRWeb
http://www.bloggingprweb.com

[David Meerman Scott]

Let us know what you find, Stacey

[Alexandra Janelli]

You will be amazed at what you find. Over the past two years of collecting names there are moments when I think I have seen it all and then I find another WiFi name that blows my mind!

Happy WiFi hunting everyone!

[David Meerman Scott]

Thanks for showing the way on this one Alexandra!

[MicroSourcing]

You won't imagine the number of funny WiFi names out there. One neighbor's WiFi is named "Twistan's Buwah Hah Hah". Needless to say, it's a locked connection.

[Lucy Thorpe]

Our home network is called Batville because our surname is Batstone - it sounds a bit like we live in the bat cave and I like that!

[David Meerman Scott]

Lucy -- I love Batvile!!

"Twistan's Buwah Hah Hah" Also fun.

Thanks for sharing

[ugetme jeremy]

Thanks for wifi network.. Its very useful for us.. Through this post only i know about this..

[Dan Evans]

Our home router is named '4 chickens and a dog'. If one of the chickens becomes dinner or we add a dog I'll need to adjust, but for now it works and the kids think its fun. Who knew...

[David Meerman Scott]

Dan - '4 chickens and a dog' - Terrific!!

[RewardStream]

Great post! Would be an interesting way to market...

Personally, I've seen ones like 'The Batcave' and 'Jake and the Fat Mat'.

[Sara_G_N_Kerr]

I don't know of any funny ones, but this made me laugh out loud! So cheers to wireless funny people!

[Note_to_CMO]

David:

Much like radio advertising for things you can't access while you're driving, I wonder if WiFi SSID spaces are "branding" opportunities.

They may be visible, they may raise a chuckle, but seconds after clicking it, you're doing what you really wanted to do. It's a one time thing, it cost nothing, there's no residual stickiness (IMO, at least).

If an impression falls in the forest, is there a sound at all?

[Eflamm]

For @CapozzisNYDeli, how about BestReubenEvah!

[Amy Spitko]

2 names near my house:

Casa de Filth
&
TheBaumShelter

[Amy Spitko]

I knew I forgot one!

ImTooStonedToThinkOfAName

[David Meerman Scott]

Amy -- I love those! Especially the last one! Thanks so much.

[khuyen mai]

They may be visible, they may raise a chuckle, but seconds after clicking it, you're doing what you really wanted to do.

[Lori Grannis]

So if you were launching a product in a single city (for ease of discussion here) just what would you do to further your message? What are the steps?

[Lori Grannis]

Sorry, what are the steps for creating this messaging all over the city using this editable SSID space?