YouTube video by Hall and Oates, arguably the world’s best rock duo, continues to illustrate the collaborative power of Gone Google Story Builder – 11 months and 11 million views after it launched.
How do you engage influencers? Simple (if you have the budget). Put really cool, highly personalized exclusive content in their hands. That’s what HBO did to create and control even more conversation about the eagerly awaited Season 3 of Game of Thrones, which premieres tomorrow. HBO hit a ‘nerd double’ (at least) when Joe Rogan & Patton Oswalt both shared via Twitter and Rogan’s top-rated podcast special packages they received, created for their own “Houses”:
These buzzmakers received packages containing seasons one and two on Blue Ray, a personalized t-shirt and box that included a secret hiding spot that can be opened by way of a hidden button. What did it cost to make? I’m sure it wasn’t cheap, but it didn’t cost a king’s ransom. What is it worth? Oswalt has 1.1M Twitter followers, and is routinely crowned ‘King of Geek Culture’. Rogan also has about 1M Twitter followers, one of the most downloaded iTunes podcasts, and over has 13 Million Views on Ustream. That’s some pretty royal ROI…
~ Jaime Hamel (aka @stophameltime), Digital Strategist, The S3 Agency
This headline-less ad from Burberry says so little and yet so much, thanks to the brand’s strength and the crisp-yet-bold visual that actually got my attention whilst surfing the Internet.
When you roll over the ad (as directed by the discrete arrow at left, no garish blinking “click here” box to be seen), the box gracefully expands to tell you about Burberry tailoring.
This may be the most elegant-yet-effective online ad campaign I’ve ever seen. It truly is banner advertising. Good show, old chaps.
~ @AdvertGirl
Cat lover or not, the phenomenon of internet cat videos can’t be denied. But there’s one cat who’s not impressed…meet the up-and-coming socialite, Grumpy Cat.
With over a million followers on all of her social media sites (that’s right, she has her own Facebook, Twitter and blog) Grumpy Cat has become an internet sensation which culminated in her appearance last week at SXSW in Austin, Texas, where guests have included Al Gore, Joss Whedon and Dave Grohl. I guess you could say she’s the cat’s meow.
Check out the full story here: http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/10/tech/web/grumpy-cat-sxsw/index.html
~ Ashley Waitts, Production Artist, The S3 Agency
Q: How many dominoes does it take to thank 8 million Facebook fans?
A: 50,328. Domino’s Pizza spent more than 120 hours building this Facebook milestone YouTube video – and less than a minute to topple it.
Facebook fan milestone celebrations are another interesting way brands can simultaneously show customer appreciation and express their creativity, further expanding their brand personality via social media. I look forward to hearing about the next fun one!
~ Lori Faigin, Account Supervisor, The S3 Agency
Entrepreneurial superstar Mike Michalowicz & I chatting on MSNBC about the differences between public relations and advertising (and the need for both). We even sneak a little social media in there… ~ @AdvertGirl (aka Denise Blasevick, CEO, The S3 Agency)
Every first day of Spring, Italian ice connoisseurs flock to various Rita’s locations across the country for a free cup of their favorite flavor. Now they’ve added various forms of social media – and the hashtag, #ritasfirstdayofspring – to their sweet marketing mix, so fans can share their refreshing treats with their friends and followers. After getting their free Rita’s ice, people can follow the brand and post their pictures on Twitter and Instagram (@ritasice) for a chance to win free ice for an entire year. The chain also joined the QR Code bandwagon, adding two codes (one for Apple Devices, one for Android) on their cups for consumers to earn Rita’s Rewards.
Props to @RitasItalianIce for diligently monitoring their Twitter account today, which boomed with activity, thanking followers for participating and encouraging others to have a try for themselves. They even had a few shout-outs, albeit unanswered, to various celebs asking if they had tried their Italian ice.
The chain has essentially claimed this day as their own holiday, “Rita’s Ice Day,” giving away a little (ok, a lot) of product but getting a lot in return. People now associate Rita’s with Spring – and look forward to getting their free ice to kick off the season. I know I do. This year, I enjoyed Mint Chocolate Chip, but it was a difficult decision to make!
~ Nicole Mazewski, Account Coordinator, The S3 Agency
Farting is the new smoking, or so sayeth our friends up north with their new anti-smoking ad campaign, “Social Farting.” Comparing smoking to farting, this ad gets its point across quickly and humorously, without the need of smell-o-vision (thankfully). ~ @AdvertGirl
When searching to fill an open position, many businesses prioritize creativity – especially if that business is a tattoo parlor. Berrge Tattoo in Turkey has taken recruitment searching to a new level, thinking outside of the box by having applicants color inside the lines! How? With QR code technology, the usefulness of which seems to have escaped much of the advertising industry.
The tattoo parlor placed an ad in newspapers where job hopefuls could fill in a QR code – after all, a good tattoo artist needs to have a steady hand. Once the QR code has been filled in perfectly, it can be scanned to bring the inker an official application.
What a clever way to stand out in the classifieds, making a “help wanted” ad act as a cursory talent pre-screener. This ad also differentiates Berrge Tattoo from its competitors, showcasing the brand’s creativity to job seekers and tattoo seekers alike. And it certainly proves that, for the creative, there is a place for QR codes.
~ Stefanie Fernandez, Account Supervisor, The S3 Agency
Source: http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/tattoo-studios-brilliant-help-wanted-ad-makes-applicants-carefully-fill-qr-code-147693
Shamrocks. Leprechauns. Green Beer. And now, #Lucky. Gotta love Twitter and its brevity! ~ @AdvertGirl
