The success of bitcoin is dependent on more widespread adoption. Word will spread over time but what we are really after is a critical mass whereby bitcoin discussion will go viral and self-promote through its use.
Thinking along the lines of marketing, I remember Firefox did a promotional piece in glory days where donators gave money towards a full page spread in the New York Times. In return you got your name printed on the advert in a tiny font:
http://binarybonsai.com/blog/the-new-york-times-firefox-adIts a smart piece of marketing and for bitcoin, one which I would be happy to take part in.
I'd be interested to hear thoughts on the marketing of bitcoin and if anyone works in marketing, would you be willing to organise something like this?
If there is enough interest, we can get a crowd funded campaign like this up and running.
It's much more important right now to develop newbie-friendly user technologies.
We need a SOLID e-wallet. Easier deposit functions, and well, a legal decision about Bitcoin to legitimize it.
Once we have all of those technologies, I think Bitcoin will be ready for promotion, but right now, it's just not ready.
The recent funding of Coinlabs is a good step, we need more legitimate businesses with real funding behind them before Bitcoin can take off.
Edit:
In response to your idea, it's a solid one. There have already been some successful attempts to spread Bitcoin (Bitcoin-100 for instance). I think it'll be another couple of months before Bitcoin is ready for this push though.
