Social Media Success Story: Romeo the Cat
I was recently invited by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce to present a short Social Media success story. I featured my friend Caroline Golon’s hobby project titled Romeo: The Cat’s Meow of Social Media. Caroline combines her savvy media relations skills and creativity with her love for shelter animals. The resulting pet project (pun intended) has raised over $17,000 using Twitter, Facebook and a blog. Here’s a slideshow from the event:
Juicy Juice & VW: Advertweeting?
In a recent ad campaign by consumer package goods giant Nestle, Juicy Juice banner ads are integrated with viewer Twitter messages (”tweets”). You simply send a tweet to a designated hashtag to have it displayed within the Juicy Juice banner ad itself. This format has been dubbed “Twitter Pulse” — ostensibly reflecting there heartbeat of consumers’ thinking.
While it’s easy to dismiss this concept — I mean seriously, who wants to write something to display in a banner ad? — don’t be so quick. There’s a human element that is drawn towards interacting with a brands we enjoy. We plaster our bodies with conspicuously branded products: Nike shoes, Polo shirts, Gap jeans, ad nauseam. Seeing your name and Twitter message (even for a short time period) associated with a brand you respect is attractive to many people.
In the offline world, Mini Cooper started using RFID technology in 2007 to recognize their car owners when they drive by billboards which digitally display a custom message based based on their owner’s name and car information. Even in 2005, Brits could send short text messages to a designated number and have them displayed on a digital construction sign (you know, the ones that warn us about traffic accidents) which was used to promote a Creative Technology Festival, go figure. So the idea of customized advertisement isn’t new, it’s just new to the Twitterverse.
Another example is from Volkswagen. You simply enter your Twitter name and it “analyzes” your Tweets to make a recommendation on which VW car is best for you. Below are screen captures of the basic animation sequence:
Corny? Yes. But it is entertaining and attempts to do “something” that helps create a link in potential buyers’ minds. I applaud them for pushing Twitter and animation technology this far as you must admit, it is innovative and fun. It’s not a homerun, but it’s a decent bunt single. And in today’s day-and-age, getting on base is half the battle.
So how will you use Twitter to better engage consumers with your advertising? Would love to hear….
PS: I’ve already registered “advertweeting.com” — sorry suckers!
Trip to the 2009 Webby Awards – Part 2
The Webby Awards gala was held at the swanky Wall Street Cipriani — a massive ballroom decorated in Greek revival style. Host Seth Myers quipped that “there was no better place to celebrate innovation and vision than Wall Street. What?! Were there no rooms available in Detroit?”
Unlike most awards shows, the Webbys limit acceptance speeches to 5-words. From a marriage proposal to comedienne Sarah Silverman’s “Holocaust. Did it happen? Yes…” the quips were as crazy as you’d expect from a ballroom of uber-creative people. They’re all available for viewing on YouTube so check them out.
Normally, I don’t really care about celebrities. Really. But when they’re in the same room celebrating internet oriented achievements, it’s pretty damn cool.
The biggest attraction for me was meeting the inventor of the World Wide Web – Tim Berners Lee. I brought along the book he wrote “Weaving the Web” and got it autographed. He was impressed I read it; the dogeared pages with scribbled notes from a decade ago proved my case proved that indeed I was nerdy enough to read a novel about his invention.
Here’s a photo of us walking on the red carpet. Note the book — oh yah!
Here’s a shot of Nicole (right) and our friends from Black Magic Marker (Holland). Both are gorgeous, the picture really doesn’t do them justice. And before you tease me, YES I KNOW I’m a lucky dude.
After the awards gala, we briefly met Seth Meyers and thanked him for emceeing the event. He’s amazingly quick witted, endearing and sincere. And he was cool enough to let us snap a quick photo:
In the end, it was a fantastic weeked. And my 5-word speech? “Geeks Will Inherit the Earth.”
