Real-time Social Media Marketing At Its Best!

What does the movie Home Alone have in common with Allstate Insurance?

Well, if you watched any college football last night, you know!  #MayhemSale

Allstate pulled an amazing social media marketing campaign during the college football playoffs, which they called "The Mayhem Sale".  Similar to the plot of the classic "Home Alone" movie, where burglars break into the home while the family is on vacation, Allstate's campaign showed the "Mayhem" character as a burglar, having broken into a fictitious home after its "owners" overshared about their location on social media.  Following this so far?  Then the character proceeds to say he is going to sell all the couple's things and thats where the fiction ends!  Allstate held an actual, real-time auction of regular household goods.  Selling things like a 60-inch television for $60 and a car for $200!!  

Each of the items sold were published on Twitter first (making #MayhemSale a trending topic worldwide for much of the night), with many of the best having their own commercial during the games.  Allstate then suggested viewers go to the MayhemSale.com website, and it worked!  In fact the site received so many visitors that halfway through the Sugar Bowl game, it crashed!  Luckily, the site was only down for a few moments so eager bargain-hunters didn't have to hold their breaths too long!

This Allstate campaign was definitely one of the more successful online-meets-offline campaigns I have seen for awhile.  And while the the selling of these items was a bit silly, the underlying message was more serious.  It was a warning to viewers about using social media posts while on vacation, as that is a way burglars actually use to find victims.  

What did you think of the idea?  

Super Bowl Sunday: Pick A Side!

Football fans across the nation are getting their TVs ready, their refrigerators stocked and their favorite team's jersey out in preparation for Super Bowl Sunday!  Let's add to that list this year and get the computers and mobile phones out because social media "Super Bowl style" is already in action.

An interesting trend is developing in social media this week as we lead up to the big game.   

Usually all the Twitter-sphere is focused on is how excited we are about the commercials!  Sure, maybe you get an occasional "GO TEAM" or "BEAT THE OTHER TEAM", but that's about it.  This year, even the potential postponement of the Super Bowl (yeah, yeah, this is being talked about but I'll believe it when I see it!) is being dwarfed by something even BIGGER.  Ever since Richard Sherman gave a heated rant about his game-winning play and deep-seated rivalry with Michael Crabtree last week, social media has been abuzz with harsh criticisms, witty memes and heartfelt defenses of Sherman.  This is feeding the pre-game social media chatter to be more and more about the actual game and its players!!

So this Super Bowl Sunday, you need to pick a side!  No, I don't mean about who wins.  I mean about social media's biggest debate: Richard Sherman, love him or leave him!  Your time to pick a side is dwindling, so to help you out, I've found you quick links to the most popular arguments on both sides.  Check them out below, and let us know your vote in the comments!

LOVE HIM  OR   LEAVE HIM

Superbowl XLVII Proves Need for Social Media Speed!!

 

We always say the world of social media is fast paced.  Long standing rules of marketing, public relations and consumer engagement have been flipped on their heads by the real-time quickness of today's digital world.  And this was seen on a national level during last night's Superbowl!  While Twitter quips and Facebook posts filled up the night, my top two performers for speed and agility are Oreo and @SuperbowlLights!

 

Twitter handle @SuperBowlLights is a classic look at timing in the social media space.  The handle was created as a joking nod toward- what else- the power outage!! Get this, within ONE HOUR of the moment the lights went out in New Orleans stadium, the handle was created, gained 25,000 followers and was being regulated and having tweets removed by the NFL.  ONE HOUR, people!  It has taken me long than that to get my hair done!

While the story of @SuperBowlLights is quick and impressive, I think @OREO outdoes them.  Mere minutes after the power outage, @Oreo tweeted this "You Can Still Dunk In The Dark" ad.  Wow.  The reason I find this more impressive is that Oreo is a large brand name.  It is owned by Nabisco, which is owned by Kraft--- you get the point? We are talking layers upon layers of approval in a typical decision making process.  But apparently, they are lean and mean enough to be quick and relevant when needed!  Kudos to Oreo!