i think advertising to people/sites/businesses that might accept Bitcoin is good.

exchanges, swipe mechanics, and integrating the two are key.  we need a way to auto-load plastic from exchanges with one click.

advertising to aunt tillie out there in the heartland - not so good.  a waste of money.  we agree that the usability infrastructure (* cough * UI client * cough *) needs quite a bit of work.  and the security infrastructure needs to be as transparent as internet banking.

There should be a single product or service, that depends on BTC to function.

Make a commercial about that service, don't even mention Bitcoin.

The reason I put out my 30-second spots on YouTube was to have something that isn't a long technical presentation, just enough to grab someone's imagination. It doesn't promise riches, success in trading or lots of babes relaxing on a pristine yacht. I think that is the tack to take - don't push the speculative nature, just the core principles:

Decentralization

Low fees (if any)

Robust Security (blockchain, with client additions to be added.)

If we can keep hitting on these three points, I think it will win over people who don't understand the true nature of what bitcoin is.

Personally I'd love to see a shortened & edited version of this go on the air as soon as possible:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um63OQz3bjo

I'm with Gavin feeling the need for Bitcoin infrastructure needs to advance.. We need reputable secure online wallets, escrow services, ways to buy bitcoin faster, and of course more merchants selling products and services for bitcoin.

Start advertising bitcoin and at this point a flood of people will come in without secure wallets, getting ripped off trying to buy and use bitcoin, and more speculative investors driving market price up beyond where economic exchange can sustain it.

BitCoin itself will survive any of this, but widespread adoption and trust in bitcoin may not survive if we grow too big too fast. You just can't advertise the benefits of a race car when the only place to drive it is a gravel road.

I have absolute faith that all of the infrastructure we need is being developed or is in the brainstorming stages currently.  The next six months to a year will have amazing expansion in the Bitcoin infrastructure. Then it will be time to try out the full horsepower of the bitcoin economy.

To everyone out there working on a bitcoin business model, good luck and may all of your passion and inspiration propel Bitcoin further than we ever thought possible!

Looks like computer says no