--- title: "The Lincoln Fry Super Bowl ad Web tie in: Too oily for me" --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2005/02/the_lincoln_fry.html#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # The Lincoln Fry Super Bowl ad Web tie in: Too oily for me February 7th, 2005 2 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) Like all marketing and advertising professionals, I eagerly await the big budget advertiser's Super Bowl ads: What will companies spend money on this year? In a particularly strange ad, McDonald's spoofed the [Virgin Mary Toast](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4034787.stm) that fetched $28,000 in a recent online auction. Did you notice the URL at the end of the McDonald's ad -- [www.lincolnfry.com](http://lincolnfry.yahoo.com/)?  I did and I went to the site to see what was there. It seems McDonald's is using the tie-in site to create viral marketing buzz abound the french fry that resembles Lincoln's head. Obviously there was a lot of big-budget ad agency work behind the online efforts. And Yahoo! clearly ponied up some of the costs because the site is hosted on Yahoo and the prop french fry is for sale on Yahoo! actions (363 bids, latest bid $21,600 from "Golden Palace Casino"). The Lincoln Fry site, which appears to be built in Flash, features downloads "Celebrate the Lincoln Fry phenomenon with these fine digital souvenirs, a [Lincoln Fry blog](http://lincolnfry.typepad.com/blog/) (built in TypePad, just like Web Ink Now) and other stuff. The joke was kind of funny in the TV spot and the tie-in home page is OK, but when you enter the site the spoof just gets annoying. In typical Madison Avenue style, the site is heavy on graphics and style but short on real content. Each time you leave the Lincoln Fry site a rediculous "[Leaving McDonald's Web Site](http://lincolnfry.yahoo.com/bumper_auctions.html)" message with corporate disclaimers appears and you're dropped into the Yahoo! home page requiring a needless search for the action itself. I would have [dropped visitors right into the auction](http://page.auctions.shopping.yahoo.com/auction/89133085?aucview=0x23), but I guess that's Yahoo's marketing point -- you need to look through Yahoo! to find auctions and that helps consumers to see what Yahoo! has. But I think many people will become frustrated and click away, never to return. I come away from this valiant effort feeling a little bit violated. I think a better approach would have been to tone down the hype and just create a simple spoof site. Rather than all the high-end graphics and ad agency sizzle, I would have created the site in a way that an individual who had found a Lincoln Fry would have -- basic, bare bones, and with lots of content describing it. With all the bells and whistles and tie-ins, this seems too corporate to catch on through viral effects. The blog is better -- it has a stripped down minimalist feel, but how many people will go there? I read a bunch of articles from major media on the Super Bowl ads from [The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/07/business/media/07adcol.html?oref=login), [Newsday,](http://www.newsday.com/business/ny-bzsupe074137762feb07,0,670155.story?coll=ny-business-headlines) and[ The Washington Post ](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3941-2005Feb7.html)but none mentioned the Lincoln Fry tie-in site. So much for big media helping the viral effect along. I doubt millions spent on this effort will catch on in any meaningful way, but time will tell. Watch out for those Lincoln Fry t-shirts and if you see one, please let me know. [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Worst Practices ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/worst-practices) [ Case Studies ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/case-studies) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pirated%20books.jpg?width=1500&height=1000&name=Pirated%20books.jpg) ### Move Fast and Steal Things: Meta Pirated 53 of My Books and Stories to Train Their AI March 26th, 2025|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/move-fast-and-steal-things-meta-pirated-53-of-my-books-and-stories-to-train-their-ai) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Toyota%20website.jpg?width=1253&height=822&name=Toyota%20website.jpg) ### Automaker Website Frustrations Push Buyers Elsewhere December 10th, 2024|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/automaker-website-frustrations-push-buyers-elsewhere) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Do%20not%20play%20Yamaha.jpg?width=1500&height=1125&name=Do%20not%20play%20Yamaha.jpg) ### Please Do Not Play Without Permission November 12th, 2024|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/please-do-not-play-without-permission) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Teen%20and%20Young%20Adult%20AI.jpg?width=1338&height=886&name=Teen%20and%20Young%20Adult%20AI.jpg) ### Generative AI Not Understood By Young People… Educators Are To Blame July 9th, 2024|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/generative-ai-not-understood-by-young-people-educators-are-to-blame) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Crush%20Apple%20video.jpg?width=1500&height=845&name=Crush%20Apple%20video.jpg) ### Apple’s Soul Crushing, Creator Destroying Metaphor for what AI is Doing to Society May 8th, 2024|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/apples-soul-crushing-creator-destroying-metaphor-for-what-ai-is-doing-to-society) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_126631127.jpg?width=1500&height=999&name=shutterstock_126631127.jpg) ### Customer Testimonials Are Not Effective Storytelling March 26th, 2024|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/customer-testimonials-are-not-effective-storytelling) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/we%20annoy%20our%20clients.jpg?width=1000&height=670&name=we%20annoy%20our%20clients.jpg) ### We Annoy Our Customers March 5th, 2024|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/we-annoy-our-customers) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_272153462%20copy.jpg?width=1000&height=628&name=shutterstock_272153462%20copy.jpg) ### Legal Caution vs. PR Clarity: University Presidents' Legal Advisors Muddled Congressional Testimonies December 19th, 2023|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/legal-caution-vs.-pr-clarity-university-presidents-legal-advisors-muddled-congressional-testimonies-on-antisemitism) [![Man holding a tablet computer with tip options](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_2328873613.jpg?width=1500&height=1000&name=shutterstock_2328873613.jpg) ### Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should October 19th, 2023|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/just-because-you-can-doesnt-mean-you-should) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/max%20logo%20win.jpg?width=925&height=621&name=max%20logo%20win.jpg) ### Max Mayhem: Warner Bros. Discovery's Rebrand Fail April 21st, 2023|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/max-mayhem-warner-bros.-discoverys-rebrand-fail) [![T-shirts and ball caps with letter F for fandom](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/fandom.jpg?width=1974&height=1256&name=fandom.jpg) ### Every Customer Touchpoint Is A Way To Build Fans (Or Not) November 16th, 2022|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/every-customer-touchpoint-is-a-way-to-build-fans-or-not) [![Photo of somebody using the LinkedIn app on a smartphone](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LinkedIn.jpg?width=1500&height=995&name=LinkedIn.jpg) ### Why Salespeople’s LinkedIn Profiles Don’t Sell October 5th, 2022|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/why-most-salespeoples-linkedin-profiles-stink) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Summer%20Sale.jpg?width=2456&height=1652&name=Summer%20Sale.jpg) ### A Focus On Product Alone Results In A Race To The Bottom August 16th, 2022|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/a-focus-on-product-alone-results-in-a-race-to-the-bottom) [![subject line of an email from Citibank](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/shutterstock_1554045272.jpg?width=1500&height=928&name=shutterstock_1554045272.jpg) ### Branding Gone Amok™ August 9th, 2022|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/branding-gone-amok) [![Ticketmaster lusting for Bruce Spreensteen tickets](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Springsteen%20tix%20after.jpg?width=2132&height=1638&name=Springsteen%20tix%20after.jpg) ### Bruce Springsteen and Ticketmaster Anger Fans with AI Dynamic Pricing Fiasco July 25th, 2022|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/bruce-springsteen-and-ticketmaster-anger-fans-with-ai-dynamic-pricing-fiasco) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/nobody%20cares.jpg?width=1135&height=635&name=nobody%20cares.jpg) ### Back to the Basics: Nobody Cares About Your Products (Except You) January 31st, 2022|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/back-to-the-basics-nobody-cares-about-your-products-except-you) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gobbledygook%20manifesto.jpg?width=1628&height=1184&name=Gobbledygook%20manifesto.jpg) ### Two Super Simple Actions You Can Do Right Now to Create Fans of Your Business January 18th, 2022|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/two-super-simple-actions-you-can-do-right-now-to-create-fans-of-your-business) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/email%20spam%20shutterstock_172545959.jpg) ### Non-Targeted Broadcast Public Relations Pitches Are Spam November 18th, 2021|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/non-targeted-broadcast-public-relations-pitches-are-spam) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Facebook%20Anger.jpg) ### Your Own Content to Educate Instead of Spreading Hatred Through Facebook November 3rd, 2021|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/your-own-content-to-educate-instead-of-spreading-hatred-through-facebook) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Merch%20table.jpg) ### Real and Perceived Scarcity as a Marketing Strategy October 26th, 2021|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/real-and-perceived-scarcity-as-a-marketing-strategy) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/LinkedIn%20messaging.jpg) ### On LinkedIn, Educate and Inform Instead of Interrupt and Sell September 21st, 2021|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/on-linkedin-educate-and-inform-instead-of-interrupt-and-sell) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/junk%20mail.jpg) ### Sorry, no, I am not your colleague September 3rd, 2021|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/sorry-no-i-am-not-your-colleague) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/Made%20by%20We.jpg) ### When Fandom Turns Into a Cult August 25th, 2021|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/when-fandom-turns-into-a-cult) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/An%20Ugly%20Truth%20cover.jpg) ### An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination July 14th, 2021|2 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/an-ugly-truth-inside-facebooks-battle-for-domination) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott" }, "datePublished" : "2005-02-07T11:44:33.000Z", "headline" : "The Lincoln Fry Super Bowl ad Web tie in: Too oily for me", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2005/02/the_lincoln_fry.html", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/_Assets/Logo/david-meerman-scott.png" }, "name" : "David Meerman Scott" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#person", "@type" : "Person", "description" : "Marketing and sales visionary, international bestselling author of 12 books, keynote speaker in 47 countries, and advisor to emerging companies.", "email" : "mailto:David@DavidMeermanScott.com", "image" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hubfs/DMS-Homepage-Featured.jpg", "jobTitle" : [ "Keynote Speaker", "Author", "Business Growth Strategist", "Marketing Advisor" ], "knowsAbout" : [ "Content Marketing", "Fandom Marketing", "Newsjacking", "Real-Time Marketing", "Public Relations", "Sales Strategy", "Business Growth" ], "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "sameAs" : [ "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Meerman_Scott", "https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmeermanscott", "https://x.com/dmscott", "https://www.instagram.com/dmscott/" ], "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#website", "@type" : "WebSite", "author" : { "@id" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/#person" }, "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "potentialAction" : { "@type" : "SearchAction", "query-input" : "required name=search_term_string", "target" : { "@type" : "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/search?q={search_term_string}" } }, "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com" } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "David Meerman Scott", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott" }, "dateCreated" : "2014-09-10T21:35:22", "datePublished" : "2005-02-07T06:44:33-0500", "description" : "", "headline" : "The Lincoln Fry Super Bowl ad Web tie in: Too oily for me", "image" : [ "" ], "inLanguage" : "en-us", "keywords" : [ "Worst Practices", "Case Studies" ], "learningResourceType" : "article", "name" : "The Lincoln Fry Super Bowl ad Web tie in: Too oily for me", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://413105.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/413105/_Assets/Logo/david-meerman-scott.png" }, "name" : "Freshspot Marketing LLC" }, "timeRequired" : "2 minutes", "url" : "https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2005/02/the_lincoln_fry.html" } ```