Friday 12 October 2012

What's Going On?


1.       Brands on Facebook infographic – a bit of research into what consumers really think of brands being on Facebook. For example, 50% of respondents felt that they preferred the brand's FB page to their websites – maybe not that surprising considering consumers are already experts at FB navigation.  Click here

2.       Twitter feed in a press insert –  The CW Network put a tiny screen into one of their press inserts - the screen plays a promo video and when that finishes, it streams live tweets straight from their Twitter account. The technology isn't quite there - but the idea certainly is. Click here

3.       Painting real life pictures with your smartphone – Crowd sourcing is nothing new, but painting with your smartphone and a paintball gun certainly is. Below is a cool group project where the participant uses an app to move the paintball gun around and clicks to fire their paintball onto canvas. The finished work is then displayed as an example of internet based collaboration. Expect to see more of this sort of thing over the next few months. Click here


4.       The Like-a-Hug Vest – A designer has invented a jacket that inflates every time the user’s social media activity is ‘liked’. The effect is like a hug as the inflated jacket squeezes the user. It's a bit silly but interesting to see people trying to take popular online elements offline. I reckon we might see more of this as people try to live more of their lives offline. Let’s hope the jackets get a bit more fashionable though... Click here


5.       A vending machine that makes you play for your food – simple but sweet idea. New York Bakery Co. set up a vending machine that allowed hungry folk to grab a bagel with an old fashioned claw machine type game. Not widely original but quite a nice little stunt. Did I mention it was placed in the heartland of the trendy Londoners too? Click here


6.       Pay with a tweet – great new way of generating some positive WOM. Instead of paying for products with money, customers can pay with tweets by sending a message to all their followers about the product. It has recently been used by Kellogg’s for the launch of their Cracker Crisps and is a great way to create a buzz. Click here


7.       Facebook release their first advert – According to W&K USA, chairs are like Facebook - I'm not sure I agree.  My problem is that I just don’t think the ad is truthful enough - everyone knows Facebook is predominantly out to make money, so maybe they shouldn't claim otherwise. Love it or hate it? Click here


8.       Using '404 not found' pages for good – Often the simplest ideas are the best. The Not Found project have come up with a great thought that could potentially help people find missing kids. They take over error pages on the internet with a missing child descriptor and a hotline to call if the user has any information. Simple but possibly very effective – move over milk cartons, the worlds gone digital. Click here


9.       Converse CCTV – this is the second time I have seen marketers use CCTV for the greater good (the first being McDonalds). Converse set up cameras in trendy spots across the UK and invited people to perform in front of them. The things that people do range from BMX tricks to football stunts to acrobatics to rapping. It's a really nice idea and an engaging campaign – sort of like an urban Britain’s Got Talent. Love it. Click here


10.   Angry Birds are back – but this time they're the enemy and the pigs are the heroes – shocking, I know. It'll be interesting to keep an eye on the sales of the game. Maybe mobile OS game makers will find it hard to have repeat success with every launch. Popular games seem to rise and fall pretty quickly these days. Anyone still play Draw Something? Hmmm, if only I knew the magic formula for a hit game... Click here



Dom Roe

No comments:

Post a Comment