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Archive for publicity

Dec

Sprize! Gap Turns Upside-Down

Posted by: kristen | Comments (0)

Sometimes marketing and PR ideas come from the most basic ideas. Like the statements “we’re turning our customer loyalty program on its head,” or “you’ll flip for our new customer loyalty program.”

GAP turned those concepts into a sweet PR stunt that had me flipped. It was for the launch if Sprize, a new loyalty program that gives you the difference back if an item you purchased goes on sale within 45 days. Check out the video.

Categories : publicity, stunts

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Nov

Weezer Breathes Life Into Music Marketing

Posted by: kristen | Comments (0)

As social networking ingrains itself more and more into our daily lives our ties to different entities continue to build. We can follow businesses, products and celebrities on Twitter, become fans of TV shows, bands and fictional characters on Facebook, and sign up for regular communications via text or e-mail from all of the above. There are more than a few success stories in the social realm, such as everyone’s favorite Twitter example Ashton Kutcher or the Skittles campaign last spring, and definitely some failures.

One social media story that I think has met success is that of Weezer, the band that made geek chic in the 90s, took a few breaks along the way and are now stronger than ever. They’ve been tearing up all things social with a huge presence on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube and even the social music network imeem all combined with an e-mail campaign, web site and blog that’s dialed in with each of their social networks.

While the rock quartet surely has a marketing machine behind them, the content that’s being created is so true to the band’s identity and brand that it’s easy to forget that, while involved, Rivers, Brian, Scott and Patrick aren’t really at the helm. That authenticity filters through in stunts like the Weezer Snuggie, which includes a free copy of their latest CD “Raditude,” or their Twitterviews and video Q&A’s with the band.

Visit any of Weezer’s pages and you’ll be there for much longer than you anticipated, checking out tons of videos, blog posts, photos and more. And while some longtime fans have said the band is selling out, I think they’re just finally connecting with their audience and continuing to be relevant in a music landscape where so many artists never make it past their first album.

Categories : SocialNetworking, Technology, publicity

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Oct

Volkswagen’s Fun Theory

Posted by: emily | Comments (1)

Recently, I stumbled across a video (thanks to Facebook) that tested “the fun theory.” The video shows the everyday use of an escalator compared to the use of a stagnate staircase located right next to the escalator. It’s very apparent that more people chose to use the escalator in their daily paths. However, the idea was to test the theory that if an ordinary staircase was turned into something more fun people just might choose to take the stairs over the escalator.

Overnight, workers gathered materials and morphed the normal staircase into a piano staircase that, not only looked like a piano, but actually played music. The result was 66% more people than normal chose the fun piano stairs over the escalator.

The video is from a contest that Volkswagen is currently running to test the theory “that fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better.” In this case by using the staircase, 66% more people than normal are getting added exercise.

This contest is the perfect example of a PR stunt. Volkswagen is getting their name out to the public solely through viral buzz. The contest deadline is November 15 and contestants must come up with their own ideas that will change people’s behavior for the better whether that’s through themselves, the environment or some other entity…all in the name of promoting Volkswagen. Now that is great PR!

Categories : Community, YouTube, brand, fun, publicity, stunts

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