Sometimes the key to marketing success is just getting lucky. Fifteen minutes of fame from the right place at the right time does wonders.

Take for example the movie Juno, which features a retro hamburger phone. One month after the movie’s release, eBay sales of the hamburger phone rose 759%.

Or consider the Tickle Me Elmo doll. Appearances on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” and “Today” in the fall of 1996 launched Tickle Me Elmo into toy superstardom.

Finding such success can be elusive. Thousands of videos designed to be viral never spread. And most new products fail. There is one thing in common with these lucky breaks – the product is noteworthy. There is something unique, notable, and remarkable about hamburger phones and Tickle Me Elmo dolls. Although there is no guaranteed formula to achieve such success, there are three principles to keep in mind if you want your product to “get lucky.”

1. Average products rarely, if ever, get lucky. Even with publicity, people just don’t care about average.
2. Not all noteworthy products get exposure. There is no fairness to the limelight.
3. A noteworthy product and a good dose of exposure are your best chance at getting lucky. Even then, phenomenal results are not guaranteed.

[via Trend Hunter Magazine]