Category Archives: Contests

Travel Industry Flying High When It Comes to Social Media Presence

Posted on May 29, 2013 | Leave a comment

The travel industry sure knows what its doing when it comes to social media presence as four out of the top five companies in the recent Social Brands 100 survey belonged to the travel and tourism industry.  American Airlines took second place honors followed by Lufthansa (#3), Thomson Holidays (#4) and Thomas Cook UK (#5).  Entertainment company Battlefield took top billing in the survey results, according to an article on AviationPros.com.

Twenty percent of the first 50 brands in the survey were travel industry related.  The criteria for the survey was how the company leveraged Facebook and Twitter to communicate with fans, and how the brand handled customer service issues.

American Airlines secured its second place ranking with promotions such as a current Twitter contest where fans can win a free travel to New York City and a meeting with chef Mario Batali on the set of his new show “The Chew.” Also, the company recently launched a new boarding program where individuals without overhead luggage can embark the aircraft ahead of other economy class groups.  The kickoff to this particular initiative was a live Twitter chat with the customer care VP urging people to ask questions about the new boarding program.

Other travel companies in the top 50 include Canadian airline WestJet at number 18, EasyJet at number 29, First Choice holidays at 30, Virgin Trains at 39, London Midland at 42 and Princess Cruises at 50.

 

 

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Posted in Contests, Facebook, Twitter, Uncategorized

Making Up for Missing Mother’s Day Courtesy of Coke Zero

Posted on May 14, 2013 | Leave a comment

Last week we shared with you AT&T’s adorable Mother’s Day video of some chatty kids talking about how their mothers give them the best hugs.  This week, we learned about how CokeZero wanted to help those who failed to reach out and give their moms a Mother’s Day gift with a fun, social media contest.

Mother’s Day slackers were able to tweet their excuses why they missed Mother’s Day to @CokeZero using the hashtag #motherpieces.  Winners will get a framed, painted picture of themselves sent to mommy dearest.   Although the contest is now officially closed, you can check out the pictures of those who entered the competition here.

Now some of the faces shown are truly those that only a mother could love!

http://www.digiday.com/brands/cokezero-helps-jerks-who-forgot-mothers-day/

 

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Posted in Contests, Contests and Sweepstakes, Holiday Marketing, Twitter, Uncategorized

Virgin American Wants You to Get Lucky In Flight by Sending the Girl in 14C a Drink

Posted on May 1, 2013 | Leave a comment

Leave it to Sir Richard Branson and his people to come up with such a provocative advertising campaign.  In honor of its new flight plan to Las Vegas, the now ironically named Virgin Airlines is offering on its flights the opportunity to send drinks, snacks or even meals to another passenger onboard along with a text message of some kind through the touchscreen on the seatback in front of yours.

The digital campaign includes a rather humorous YouTube video titled “Sir Richard Branson’s Guide to Getting Lucky” where the knighted billionaire says tongue-in-cheek that your chances of leaving the flight with a plus one is at least 50 percent and a Facebook promotion asking fliers “to share how they would use the new seat-to-seat feature along with their best pick-up line.”  The top five most original submissions in the Facebook contest will have their “pick-up lines” posted on Facebook with the top two voted on winning free airfare to and a hotel stay in Las Vegas.

Time will tell whether this seat-to-seat service and accompanying video campaign is a great idea or a total bust.  Although there have already been over 100,000 views on YouTube since the video’s launch 11 days ago, some viewer comments include “My wife just shivered, I don’t think this is a winner” and “Sir Richard Branson’s Guide to Being as Creepy as Hell.”

Here’s a toast to love being in the air!

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Posted in Contests, Contests and Sweepstakes, Facebook, Uncategorized, Videos, YouTube

Swedes Form a Human “Like” Button Image Honoring Facebook

Posted on March 18, 2013 | Leave a comment

We aren’t quite sure if the House that Zuckerberg built suggested this or if this was an action proposed by the people, but over 2,400 Facebook lovers in Lulea, Sweden gathered atop a frozen port in the town’s harbor to form a human “like” thumbs-up button honoring the social media network, according to an article on today’s Huffington Post.

The Swedes are attempting to make Guinness World Record history by gathering the most people at one time on ice.  To date, no such on ice formation exists.  The gathering honored the installation of a new server hub in Lulea, the first such hub outside the United States.  Facebook executives chose the location due to its proximity “to nearby hydropower facilities and its cold climate, to keep the servers cool,” according to the piece.  The thumbs-up also paid homage to the town’s population swelling to over 75,000 people.

 

 

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Posted in Contests, Facebook, Uncategorized

Become a Pizza Hut Social Media Manager in 140 Seconds or Less

Posted on March 6, 2013 | Leave a comment

Pizza Hut is hiring a new social media manager and is holding interviews for the position at South By SouthWest in Austin, Texas on Sunday, March 10.  Just like the quick pace of social media and the snappy preparation of fast food, one must be ready to serve up their credentials to snag the Social Media Manager of Greatness job in a mere 140 seconds or less, according to an article today on Forbes.   One can check out the details of the position at BecauseImGreat.com  or tweet @pizzahut for the information using the hashtag #BecauseImGreat.

“It’s the modern day elevator speech,” said Doug Terfehr, Pizza Hut Director, Public Relations, to Forbes. “The time you have to tell a story, engage a customer or leave a lasting impression on someone socially has shrunk to seconds.”

Potential pizza promoters are asked to bring identification and their smartphones to the interview.  Interested candidates can apply for the position on the Pizza Hut website career page or have their resumes read on LinkedIn mobile at the SXSW interview. Call backs for prospective candiates will be held on March 14 via Google+.

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Posted in Contests, Restaurants, Twitter, Uncategorized, Videos

Ford Revives the Fiesta Campaign at Social Media New York

Posted on February 27, 2013 | Leave a comment

While commenting on the importance of digital interaction between brands and consumers during a keynote session at Social Media New York last week, Ford’s Scott Monty launched an updated version of the Fiesta Movement campaign, according to an article on ClickZ.  This campaign was originally introduced in 2009 and the new version supplies 100 winners with a free 2014 Fiesta for six months, free insurance, paid parking and gratis gas in return for commenting on experiences with the automobile on social media before the car becomes available to the general public for purchase later in the year.

Click onto Fiesta Movement or follow the hashtag #FiestaMovement to apply to become a Fiesta agent. The content that is created by the designated agents can be used by Ford for traditional and digital advertising campaigns.  In addition, agents will be expected to compete in challenges across the country and make appearances at promotional events such as music festival Bonaroo, the X Games and American Idol.

 

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Posted in Contests, Contests and Sweepstakes, Twitter, Uncategorized

Wish Your Loved Ones a Caffeinated Happy New Years on a Times Square Billboard With Dunkin’ Donuts Facebook Contest

Posted on December 5, 2012 | 3 Comments

Dunkin’ Donuts has a massive billboard in New York City’s famed Times Square and is asking those who want to wish loved ones a bonne annee on the big screen during the annual New Year’s Eve celebration to enter their Facebook contest kicking off this morning, according to an article on Mashable.com.

Photo and video submission grand prize winners of the aptly-named Top of the World contest will win two round-trip airfare vouchers on JetBlue.  Ten first place winners will receive $50 Dunkin’ Donuts gift certificates.  Dunkin’ Donuts has approximately eight million Facebook fans while rival Seattle-based Starbucks has four times that amount, according to the piece.

And don’t forget to grab that cup of joe to go in order to stay up late for the festivities.  We know we’d need one to remain awake until the ball drops.

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Posted in Contests, Facebook, Restaurants, Uncategorized

Brands and Election Day

Posted on November 6, 2012 | 1 Comment

This Election Day brands are connecting with consumers by allowing them to identify with their favorite or least favorite candidates. One informal poll we saw this summer, though not social, was at at gift store in East Hampton. Shoppers could select plastic cocktail cups identifying them with their candidate. I believe the tally was about even in August. Only in the Hamptons, kids.

Here are some Election Day social branding examples:

  • Richard Nixon is still the leading presidential mask in history, but he’s not running this year. Spirit Halloween has reported that its sales have correctly predicted the last several presidential elections.  This year they were reporting that the numbers were holding pretty steady at Obama: 63%; Romney: 37%.
  • 7-Eleven is promoting the same campaign as the gift store in the Hamptons. Only they’re doing it with coffee cups. Their 7-Election website now has Obama ahead 59%-41%.
  • Fitz’s Rootbeer is calling a closer race on its Facebook page. Holy smokes, our root beer straw poll is neck and neck with a dead heat tie of 50% Obama with 3,180 bottles, and 50% Romney with 3,145 bottles. Come get yours while supplies last!
  • Jet Blue was also running a campaign to enter voters in a drawing for a free trip if their candidate lost. Jet Blue’s dedicated site (voting closed yesterday) called it for the Dems: 57%-43%.

Using data compiled from Facebook “Likes” digital agency Engage did a couple of very cool info graphics on the politics of food. They found Republicans more likely to enjoy Chick-fil-A (no surprise there) and orange juice. Democrats apparently lean more toward Chipotle and Red Bull.

The San Antonio and Philadelphia Business Journals also produced a list, in cooperation with market research firm, Buyology, Inc. produced a list of products most likely to be purchased by Democrats and Republicans.

  • GOP leaning products include: BMW as the most desired car; Subways as the most desired restaurant; Major League Baseball as the most desired sport.
  • Dem leaning products include: Jeep as the most desired car; Wendy’s as the most desired restaurant; the NFL is the most desired sport.

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Posted in Contests, Restaurants

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Mellow Mushroom’s Social Media Campaign is Nothing at All Relaxed

Posted on October 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

The jury is still out on whether Mellow Mushroom Pizza Baker’s new social media campaign is fantastic or freaky, but one thing is undisputed:  the six-state chain of  pizza stores strategy where they trailed and videotaped 20 Twitter followers is certainly unique and something not forgotten easily.

The “Follow Me and I’ll Follow You” campaign informed potential fans of the brand on Twitter that if they followed the chain, that 20 fans would be followed and filmed by the yellow Mellow Mushroom mascot, according to a piece in yesterday’s Advertising Age.  Check out the campaign in the video below.  You can decide for yourself whether it’s clever or creepy.

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Posted in Contests, Twitter, Videos, YouTube

Yokohama Tires Unveils a “Miles of Fun Ultimate Road Trip” Social Media Contest

Posted on October 23, 2012 | Leave a comment

A Japanese tire company that manufactures its products in Virginia has launched a great new social media campaign that allows fans to submit a 60 second video on Facebook on why they should win the ”Miles of Fun Ultimate Road Trip,” according to an article on ClickZ.com.  Winners will be chosen by the company’s Facebook friends.

“Yokohama wanted to have an exciting way for our consumers to interact with our brand, while going beyond the traditional means of communications. The key for us was the dialogue,” said Teresa Palang, Yokohama’s manager of public relations and digital marketing, to ClickZ.  ”If we could share with consumers the benefits of our unique orange oil technology, they in turn could tell us how they see themselves using the tire.”

The winner will receive $5800 toward their dream road trip, a set of tires, a Samsung Galaxy II tablet, a camera, and a Verizon JetPack 4G Mobile Hotspot, according to the piece.

In addition to the Facebook contest, the company is also using behaviorial target advertising to reach a broader base of customers.  This “allows us to be where these different customers are,” said Palang. ” We follow their behavior and go to them, so to speak, rather than wait for them to come to us.”

http://www.facebook.com/yokohamatirecorp?v=app_202991206406825&rest=1

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Posted in Contests, Uncategorized, Videos