a social media campaign that works; Ford Fiesta

Ford Fiesta’s social media campaign leads the pack in driving buzz about an automotive product. Fiesta’s campaign is nothing short of revolutionary. For the first time ever, an automaker has successfully turned to social media to create a buzz around a new car. Billboards, magazine spreads and television commercials are so 2003. Social media is the new trending topic. Ford has recognized this and created a social media campaign that allows people to advertise their products. Right before our eyes on forums like twitter, people are leading the marketing campaign; turning twitter’ers and bloggers into Fiesta consumers.

This campaign gave 100 people “agents” the opportunity to drive a new Fiesta for 6 months at no charge. In return, these “agents” had to tweet, blog and post videos to create an online buzz about the car. They tweeted about how the ride was, what they liked about the car and their everyday experiences behind the wheel of Ford’s new product. The objective was to create a buzz around the car within the online social media community.

But this is only an overview, check out the whole campaign here.

The strength of this campaign resides in the fact that Ford has recognized the power of the online community and enabled “agents” to promote the car. Since these “agents” do not work for Ford, it is assumed that their tweets and opinions on the car were authentic and sincere. This campaign was so strong because it shifted the power of marketing from the old and tired paid-for-space advertisements to the online social media community. Simply put, Ford let people drive and promote the car because at the end of the day, it is people who need to buy the car for Ford to succeed.

Now, this is still my take on it... so in keeping with tradition, here are the top 3 recommended social media tactics that Ford could use for their next social media campaign:

1. Viral video contest
Ford could create a “Viral Video Contest” that would ask people to create a short 30 – 60 video promoting a new Ford vehicle. The person who creates the video that goes the most viral, would be given a brand new Ford vehicle. Ford can determine the details of ownership/leasing, but the most important part is that this contest would get people to promote the car.

2. 1000th person to re-tweet
The 1000th person to re-tweet a standard advertising message, produced by Ford, would receive a new Ford vehicle for 1 year. This contest would enable people to get the buzz out there about the car, with the potential to reach millions of twitter followers. Good promotion, good prize, good way to promote a new product!

3. Finish this tweet...
Ford could produce a standard tweet that would ask twitter’ers to finish the tweet in the most creative fashion. For example, “Finish this tweet to get a car: Ford Fiesta is ________________”. The person who creates the most innovative and creative finish to this tweet would receive the keys to a new Ford Fiesta for one year. Again, allow people to get in on the promotion of a vehicle so that the message reaches millions of twitter’ers in an authentic, buzz inspiring way.

For more takes on Ford Fiesta’s campaign, check out these reviews by these awe-inspiring people:

Mike Staniforth
Mike Thomson
Johhny Santilly
Jackie Clarke
Megan Vickell

3 reasons why Lady Gaga’s “telephone” video sucks

I like Lady Gaga. She’s eccentric and unique – both good in my books. Her music is catchy, even though it’s not my style. But nevertheless, she is a good performer. But this “Telelphone” video featuring Beyonce is just plain stupid. Here, check it out:



Wow... is all I can say about this 9 minute video. Well, I can say a few more things, but nothing nice. So rather than sit here and pretend to ‘get it’ I decided to say it’s brutal, for 3 reasons:

1. Pretentious art

I like unique, artistic videos and I think I can decipher good videos from useless ones (I have a degree in film). But the one thing I will not stand for is pretentious art videos. Basically, what I mean to say is “don’t make weird videos for the sake of making weird videos.” I’ve watched this video a few times now and still can’t figure out what Gaga is trying to say.

Mixing elaborate costumes and outlandish prison skits is not art; it’s just weird. Gaga’s costumes don’t stand for anything other than standing for insanity. The cigarette glasses mean what?! Do they speak to the inner jailhouse norm of smoking on one’s free time? Do they signify that Gaga has something the others desire? Or do they just present a crazy spectacle? I think the latter. But in that case, crazy for the sake of crazy is useless. Crazy for crazy’s sake is done, tired and really just comes across as pretentious art. You don’t fool us Gaga.

2. Too long

After 9 minutes of craziness, with no clear plot/vision, I feel shafted. This video was a twitter trending topics for almost 3 days and still, I don’t know why?! It was way too long, it was redundant and it robbed me of 9 minutes of free time. Not to mention that the constant breaks in the song made it impossible to listen to.

I like long videos, but when it’s 9 minutes of ‘hypno-crazed’ Gaga, I think I’d rather pass. Hypno Gaga has been done, face it, in all of her videos, she’s flailing her arms, clenching her hands and accomplishing nothing. What is the point? There is no point. Yet, people will still argue she is revolutionary and hugely inspirational... but why? Anyone can do 9 minutes of craziness.

3. If you’re not Tarantino, don’t try to be

Quentin Tarantino is an auteur, he’s eccentric and his films are thought-provoking. His films are his; nobody else’s. So then why would Gaga duplicate his decor and style when clearly, he’s already done it?! “Telephone” is not a Tarantino film and therefore, shouldn’t try to be. If you can’t make a Tarantino quality film, then don’t try because all of your feeble attempts will just be seen as second rate. And this video in this case, is third rate.

It’s like in hockey, nobody would dare to ever wear #99 again after Gretzky retired. His number was his, he owns it. Anyone else trying to wear #99 could never live up to Gretzky standards, which is why nobody wears it.



Fine, copy Tarantino, but leave the “Pussy-Wagon” where it belongs; in Kill Bill.

Agree, disagree? Let me know... I want to like this video but for now, have no reason to.

And hey, if you do like the video and disagree with everything I said just remember that this is my take on it.

Fit New You - The Plug

New blog on weight-loss, fitness, and nutrition.... check it out! ->

http://fitnewyou.blogspot.com/2010/03/cardio-myth.html

Top 5 reasons why ‘Vancouver 2010’ was a success

After the closing of the games, and before returning to our typical daily routines, we should take a moment to reflect on why these Olympics were so great for Canada. We accomplished a lot in Vancouver and it’s hard to narrow it done to the top 5, but here’s my take on the top 5 successes of the ‘Vancouver 2010 Olympic games’:

1. 14 Gold Medals

Simply put, “We Owned the Podium.” Winning 14 gold medals means we won 14 events, the most of any country. Germany, in second place, could only muster 10 and the US could only manage 9.

However, the system is flawed. It counts all medals (gold, silver and bronze) equally, which to me, is bogus. And with this, Canada finished 3rd overall.

The Canadian national anthem was heard at medal ceremonies 14 times (4 more than Germany) meaning that we won the most amount of events, thus taking the games.

Where else in life can you finish 2nd or 3rd and still be considered equal to 1st place? Nowhere... because it doesn’t compute. Here’s a few examples:

- On radio stations, the 1st caller wins the contest... not the 2nd or 3rd
- In a draw, the 1st name pulled wins the prize...not the 2nd or 3rd
- In the office, the 1st person in line for a promotion gets the promotion... not the 2nd or 3rd

Finishing 2nd, 3rd, or worse means you didn’t come in first and therefore, didn’t win. It’s simple; Canada won most events, meaning we won the ‘Vancouver 2010 Olympic games.’

2. CTV and its Consortium Coverage

I interned at CBC Sports for a few months in university and was so impressed with how they covered events but the CTV/TSN coverage of the games blew me away. These guys and gals worked incredibly hard to bring us thoughtful, engaging, entertaining and flawless coverage of the events. The events were well broadcasted, the athlete profiles were engaging, the on-the-fly montages were energetic and the voice-over monologues were touching and inspiring. Brian Williams, Jennifer Hedger and James Duthie in particular were incredible. Heck, everyone at CTV and TSN was incredible and they all deserve gold medals.

But perhaps the best part of the CTV/TSN coverage was that it allowed Canadians to focus on our athletes all the time. Thank god we didn’t have to watch NBC coverage of the events with their ‘larger than life narratives’ and ‘zero to hero stories’ surrounding their American athletes. They take patriotism to a sick, uncomfortable, over-the-top, no wonder nobody likes you level.

3. Making us fans of previously unpopular sports

I’ve never watched curling before the 2010 games. But due to great coverage of Cheryl Bernard, I became a big fan. Enough said.



She’s purty. She looks better in Silver than any Swede looks in Gold. period.

Also, Jon Montgomery was the coolest person at the Olympics and any Canadian would be lucky to drink a beer with him. Skeleton was put on the map because of this charismatic Gold medal winner.



4. Stephen Harper

Our Prime Minister was at EVERY event, seriously. Finally, Canada got to see a ‘human’ side to our previously ‘machine-like’ leader. Obama is a person, and now Harper is too.



No wonder he wanted to prorogue parliament for a few weeks... he wanted to watch the games in peace. I can’t blame the man for that. Good for you Stevie.

5. Canada wins men’s and women’s hockey gold

By far, the best part of these Olympics is the fact that we won gold in both men’s and women’s hockey. We proved to the world and especially the cocky Americans that Hockey is our game. Hands-down. No questions asked. Essentially, our men and women said to the Americans “bullshit, stop it.” Congrats men and women... and girls don’t ever feel bad for having an on-ice brew after the gold medal game, you deserve it.



Best part was, I called it after the men lost to the Americans in round-robin play... check my blog.

Canada was brought together by these games, let’s keep up the patriotism.