Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of “fake clubs” – you know, like, creating the illusion of exclusivity and buzz around, well, nothing, really. It all started when I was joking with a buddy about how easy it would be to make people think something is super cool and in-demand, even if it’s totally made up.
So, I decided to put my theory to the test. First, I brainstormed a bunch of ridiculous club names. I’m talking stuff like “The Society of Avant-Garde Sock Collectors” and “The League of Extraordinary Pigeon Fanciers”. Seriously, the dumber, the better.
Next, I whipped up a super basic landing page. No fancy graphics, no real information – just the club name, a cryptic tagline (“Where the elite meet to… well, you’ll see”), and a big, fat “Request Invitation” button. I made sure the form asked for name, email, and a “brief explanation of your interest” – you know, to make it seem like they actually had to qualify.
Then came the fun part: spreading the word. I started dropping hints on my social media. Nothing direct, just vague posts like, “So excited about this new thing I’m involved in. Can’t say much yet, but it’s going to be HUGE.” and “Just got off a call with the other founders. Big things are happening!”. I even made a few fake accounts to comment on my posts, acting all curious and asking for more details. All smoke and mirrors, baby!
I also created a couple of super low-effort Instagram accounts for the “clubs”. I posted blurry pictures of, like, a half-eaten sandwich with the caption “Fueling up for another intense brainstorming session #exclusive #members_only”. It’s amazing what people will believe if you present it with enough confidence (and hashtags).
The “Request Invitation” button? Yeah, it didn’t actually do anything. It just sent the info to a spreadsheet I made. I wanted to see how many people would actually fall for it. The results? Let’s just say I was surprised. People were actually writing paragraphs explaining why they were passionate about “artisanal toast appreciation” (another fake club I made up).
After a week or so, I started sending out “rejection” emails. I used super formal language, like, “After careful consideration, the membership committee has decided…” and “We appreciate your interest, but…” The goal wasn’t to be mean, but to further enhance the illusion of exclusivity. I even had a few people reply, asking if they could reapply or get feedback on their application! It was wild.
- Step 1: Pick a dumb name.
- Step 2: Make a basic website with a “request invite” form.
- Step 3: Vague social media posts.
- Step 4: Fake accounts asking for info.
- Step 5: Blurry Instagram pics.
- Step 6: Collect “applications”.
- Step 7: Send out “rejection” emails.
So, what did I learn? It just confirmed how easy it is build it up. It’s all about perception. It just shows how much people crave to belong some group. It’s kinda scary, actually.
