Is Clicky Already Groupon's Biggest Failure?

Well, that was quick. Remember Clicky, Groupon's new Facebook game-thing unveiled this week? Somehow, it's already being declared a "creepy failure."

Isn't that a tad premature? Business Insider doesn't think so. To that publication, Clicky the Clickable Value-Wheel is proof "things have gotten so bad at Groupon that the company doesn't even seem to believe in its own marketing tools anymore."

Really? It's a failure within the first week? That's a bit much -- the company understandably has drawn its share of ire and criticism since its IPO, but give 'em a chance.

Sure, entering the Facebook-game fray in 2012 after being around so long -- or at least so long in Internet terms -- seems a bit goofy, but you can say this much for Groupon: It knows how to generate press.

And it's Groupon. They're goofy. Goofy companies do goofy things. Right?

Okay, so, one strike against Clicky? The release circulated about it admits, "The chances of winning are slim, but not impossible." And that's coming from Mike Bennett, the project's lead developer.

So, what is the measure of success for Clicky? Whether it costs Groupon oodles of sweaty stinky cash? Or whether it grabs the attention of the public and media alike? If it's the latter, it certainly isn't a failure. And if it's the former, well, Groupon is a business like any other business -- and unlike some of the companies that align themselves with Groupon, Andrew Mason's company isn't one to blindly take huge risks.

It might seem that way from the outside, but come on: Does Groupon have to give away thousands of dollars in vouchers to be considered a success? Then they'd just wind up shuttering their doors like so many places that ran Groupons with doing the legwork into it.

Let's face it, though: Groupon is damned if they do and damned if they don't at this point. At least they're trying new things, to be fair.

Groupon's stock, meanwhile, is holding strong at $19.05. Just a wee bit higher to go to get back to where it started… $20. 

David Wolinsky is a freelance writer and a lifelong Chicagoan. In addition to currently serving as an interviewer-writer for Adult Swim, he's also a columnist for EGM. He was the Chicago city editor for The Onion A.V. Club where he provided in-depth daily coverage of this city's bustling arts/entertainment scene for half a decade. When not playing video games for work he's thinking of dashing out to Chicago Diner, Pizano's, or Yummy Yummy. His first career aspirations were to be a game-show host.

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