Category: Blog
We’re helping our friends over at Experience Kissimmee run another holiday promotion right now. Their “Snowy Holiday” Sweepstakes is bringing a winter wonderland to Florida. Funny, because we have no signs of snow here in the northeastern part of the country and it looks like we won’t be having a white Christmas.
From now till December 27 participates are invited to enter the sweepstakes by either visiting the promotional website, www.snowyholiday.com, and filling out an entry form, or just by texting the keyword “SNOW” to the shortcode 313131 to gain an entry. People can enter once per day for a chance to be a weekly winner of tickets for different holiday activities in Kissimmee.
For example, this week’s prize package include two tickets to Universal Studios or Universal’s Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort. Plus two tickets to Now Snowing in Celebration, Florida that includes a train ride, horse and carriage ride, ice skating and a photo with Santa. Experience Kissimmee is mainly targeting residents of Florida to come visit at this time of year, so that is why the prize package does not include any airfare or hotels.
This is one of many sweepstakes that Experience Kissimmee has been running that combines online entry with mobile text messaging entry which they have had great success with. Just wait till January and we’ll most likely see a new. similar promotion but instead targeting those of us in the northeast!
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Holiday promotions that include a donation component are very popular with brands as a way to show that they’re giving back. This season one of our clients, PostNet, aims to encourage acts of kindness with the launch of the #PostNetMerrymakers campaign.
Now through December 31, people can enter for a chance to win a $5,000 holiday shopping spree that will be awarded in the form of a check. Participants need to fill out an entry form located here at the
.
They are then encouraging participants to join them in spreading holiday merrymaking by sharing on social media one good deed that they have done, or promise to do, for someone else during the holiday season. For every good dead that is posted on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram that uses the hashtag #PostNetMerrymakers, PostNet will donate $3 to the winner’s choice of four meaningful charities, including JDRF; The ALS Association; United Way; and ASPCA. The maximum donation from PostNet is $50,000.
There are many posts so far which some are featured on the promotional page. Also PostNet has a “Merry-O-Meter” that shows the amount of money that is currently pledged toward the charity donation. No good dead is too small.
PostNet is the leading business-to-business franchise known for providing personalized, business-enhancing print, marketing and shipping solutions. Locally owned and operated PostNet locations offer full-service digital printing; direct mail; signage; document binding and finishing; graphic design; and ancillary business services, like private mailbox rental and more. They also offer professional packaging services and shipping with UPS, FedEx, DHL and the U.S. Postal Service. So the holiday season is a very busy time for them.
It is December, the last month of the year, and the holiday season is now in full swing. So for this month I’ll be writing here about holiday promotions that we’re working on as well as others that are of interest.
This promotion caught my attention just yesterday. Honda has always been known to run promotions that feature new and cutting edge technology. For their “Happy Honda Days” end-of-year marketing they are using Twitter’s new Instant Win feature. The Honda “Open The Cheer” Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes offers instant win prizes for retweets, which are Amazon gift cards and Apple Watches, with a grand prize drawing for a 2016 Honda Accord.
Participants can receive a gameplay into the Instant Win Game and a Sweepstakes entry into the drawing each day during the promotion period, which runs till December 29, by retweeting a Tweet sent by Honda. I retweeted their daily Tweet just now and immediately received a reply back that I didn’t win now, but I’m entered into the drawing to win the Honda Accord.
This #OpentheCheer program kicked off with a tweet on their Twitter page that included this cool video that encouraged people to retweet for a chance to instantly win a gift.
RT for a shot at a car, gadget or gift card AND we’ll give $1 to @PBTF! #OpenTheCheer Rules:https://t.co/T6O2RXBZtZ https://t.co/PcACUTs40t
— Honda (@Honda) December 1, 2015
For every retweet, Honda will give $1 to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. “Our goal for this campaign is to tap into the anticipation of giving and opening gifts during the holidays and Twitter’s Instant Win feature allows us to surprise our fans while helping to find a cure for children’s brain tumors,” said Susie Rossick, assistant VP at American Honda, in a statement.
The campaign was created by RPA and includes video elements from Brand New School and Instagram artist Jessie Bearden. I’m looking forward to seeing more of Twitter’s new Instant Win feature and hope I’ll be able to be involved with it soon.
My post today is relevant to this holiday since it is the eve of Thanksgiving . This is when we all should express what we are thankful for. I am personally blessed with many things to be thankful for, most importantly the good health of me and my family and our well-being.
However, today I am especially very thankful for our dogs. Our 12-year old Golden Retriever, Shadow, went under yesterday to have a abscess removed from his eyelid and his teeth cleaned at the same time. The look he gave me as I walked out of the vet’s room and left him with this stranger, would break any mother’s heart. He is very glad to be back home and sleeping it off quite well. I can’t help thinking that he is getting old and won’t be with us forever. This makes me appreciate the time I have with my dogs even more.
Here’s a Thanksgiving-themed promotion from Purina PetCare that is running now through Nov. 29. Purina is inviting dog owners to post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram why they are thankful for their dog. For every original post submitted that includes @Purina and the hashtag, #dogthanking, Purina will donate one dollar to the AKC Canine Health Foundation, up to $75,000, to help further pet health research.
On top of that, Purina plans to share some of the posted videos, photos and posts during the National Dog Show Presented by Purina on Thanksgiving Day on NBC. This show is a tradition that we watch after the Thanksgiving parade each year. Purina is promoting the initiative on its Facebook page, via its Twitter account and on Instagram.
Purina has had the support of Olympic figure skater and fashion commentator Johnny Weir who helped kick off the campaign by thanking his dog Tema: “Tema is my little prince, and always there wagging his tail when I get home. He brings so much joy to my life, and I am so thankful for his companionship,” Weir said of his Japanese Chin. Weir will also appear on the National Dog Show on Thanksgiving day.
So I’m now going to create my post and share why I am so thankful for my dogs. If you’re a dog owner, please share yours as well.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Coming from a mostly Italian family in New York we had an early pasta dinner every Sunday and the morning always started out with Frank Sinatra records playing on the stereo. So when I saw this promotion that is celebrating what would have been Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday I couldn’t resist “spreading the news”!
Sinatra passed away 17 years ago and he would have been 100 this Dec. 12. Jack Daniels has launched this Toastmakers contest that invites fans to make toasts in the style of Ol’ Blue Eyes. Now through Dec. 12, people can visit TheToastmakers.com and the Jack Daniels Instagram account to see all the Sinatra-themed toasts.
Frank Sinatra passed away 17 years ago and he would have been 100 this Dec. 12. Jack Daniels has launched this Toastmakers contest that invites fans to make toasts in the style of Ol’ Blue Eyes. Now through Dec. 12, people can visit TheToastmakers.com and the Jack Daniels Instagram account to see all the Sinatra-themed toasts.
The Contest is awarding one Toastmaker the ultimate Sinatra-style weekend. The winner and four friends, the “Rat Pack” will receive a trip to Los Angeles then on to Vegas to spend the weekend hitting some of Frank’s favorite places along the way. This prize package consists of air transportation to Los Angeles, then a tux, or dress, fitting for all to attend dinner in LA (up to $1,000) along with hotel accommodations in LA for all five for a night. Then helicopter transportation from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and hotel accommodations for two nights in Las Vegas.
To enter participants need to TOAST, SNAP and POST. First they need to click the link in the @JackDaniels_US bio on Instagram to connect with the brand and verify their age. Then using Instagram, post one video or photo of their toast and include the hashtag #ToastSinatraContest. A maximum of five unique entries is allowed during the contest period. Videos must be between 3-15 minutes in length.
At the end of the contest a panel of judges will determine the grand prize winner based on the following criteria: 30% Creativity, 30% Originality, 30% Relevancy to the themes of Frank Sinatra and Jack Daniel’s and 10% Technical quality of entry.
The brand has released a JD/Sinatra offering which includes a Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Century whiskey. A one-liter bottle of this limited-edition (100 barrels), 100-proof version, packaged in a gift box along with a CD of previously unreleased tracks of Sinatra performing live at the Sands Casino in 1966, which is selling for $499.99. A bottle of JD Single Barrel goes for about $45.
Frank stated in his Playboy magazine interview in 1963: “I’m for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniels.”
Rest in peace my friend and Happy Birthday.
The BAA’s 37th Annual Marketing Law Conference just wrapped up on Wednesday, Nov 11th, in Chicago which I was glad to attend. The organization (Brand Activation Association) broke another attendance record with over 760 attendees who ranged from leading regulators, legislators, corporate counsel, marketers and technology innovators who gathered again at the Marriott Hotel on Michigan Ave.
This year’s conference was entitled “Walking the Line: Between Innovation and Regulation”. “The theme of this year’s conference perfectly sums up the challenge of our industry and why our event is more important than 
ever,” says Ed Kabak, BAA’s Chief Legal Officer. As has been the case in past years, Wednesday’s first session featured Linda Goldstein, a Partner in the Media and Marketing practice at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP in New York. Linda reviewed some of the most newsworthy developments of the year and what they mean for marketing and advertising lawyers and professionals. As usual Linda’s talk was very informative and entertaining as she reviewed again the basics of sweepstakes and skill contests along with social and digital media legal issues from some of the latest promotions. I wrote about Linda’s presentation from last year’s conference here in which she covered some of the same legal matters.
There were two central themes that appeared to be prominent at this year’s conference which Linda first touched upon in her presentation. The first was Real-Time Marketing. More brands are now putting much effort into connecting their product or service with consumers in the moment. To do this successfully, the content must be relevant. We reviewed many examples of those that pulled it off well and those that didn’t. Some brands have started using the new live streaming apps, Periscope and Meerkat, that are perfect ways to connect experiential marketing with consumers. However, broadcasting live video to the world has its inherent risks, along with possible copyright and trademark infringements
The other central theme was focused on the FTC’s Endorsement &Testimonial Guidelines which are not new, but it appears the FTC is now clearly monitoring what is happening online and on social media. Sweepstakes and contests are a material connection to the brand, and therefore need to be disclosed. They are recommending brands direct the participants to us the #sweepstakes, #contest, #entry hashtags along with their promotional hashtag in any social media posts that gain the consumer an entry. Another type of material connection that should be disclosed is an employer/employee relationship to the brand. The FTC charged Sony and their agency, Deutsch LA, with deceptive behavior on Twitter when it found that employees were using the same hashtag that the consumer was using, #GameChanger, when posting about their Playstation Vita handheld device.
Real-time marketing is one of the areas that the FTC is highly looking at. Linda ended her presentation by stating that trust is key and that brands that walk the talk will be rewarded. “These real time platforms will take us to new territories; we the attorneys’ must protect our clients as we walk the line between innovation and regulation.”
Wednesday morning we were treated to another highly entertaining presentation from Ron Urbach, Chairman/Davis & Gilbert LLP, who also demonstrated how important it is for those in our industry to keep current. Ron used the term “Disruption” to describe how today’s technology allows new brands and services to thrive. He pointed out Airbnb, which has changed the way we travel, and Kickstarter, the way we invest. So to help get his point across Ron created a video of a group of fictitious millennials who were using social media and technology to launch new products, such as DrinkAgain Pay Water Fountains and Rag Exchange – The Fashion Lease Experience. Ron was their lawyer, or as one of the female characters called him, their “interpreter”.
This video demonstrated several areas in which the group crossed the line and Ron had to reign them back in to stay compliant. We were reminded that if you link your product to a celebrity, don’t forget about the FTC endorsements guidelines. If you’re going to do live streaming, then you better establish guidelines, train the person(s) doing it and then monitor it carefully. Brands must also develop a social media policy, train employees, monitor and then enforce their policy. And, don’t forget to get consumer’s consent before re-posting any photos or videos of theirs.
Ron summed up his presentation by stating that today we need “Live Lawyering”, along with training and best practices. Pay attention to “Disclosure in a Disruptive World – and provide the right info at the right time in the right way.”
Hopefully many of us will be headed back to next year’s 38th Annual Marketing Law Conference. We were treated with some beautiful, unseasonably warm weather this year. Can the BAA conference team please schedule that for us again?
We have been assisting more and more clients this year with text-to-win sweepstakes promotions. It’s an easy way for consumers to enter, especially when they are at an event or at a store location. When they do this you gain their mobile phone number and they are then automatically subscribed to your text messaging list (which they can opt-out at any time).
We have been utilizing this mobile provider, Momares, to provide their Solark platform that enables us to offer this part of the service to our clients. Marcos Menendez , one of the co-founders of Momares, published this post on their blog last week which I am now including here with Marcos’ permission:
Busting the Text Message Marketing Myths
From time to time I get comments about text message marketing being intrusive or spam. When I hear those comments, I dig a little deeper.
First, I ask if they use text messages and if they find them useful. The answer is always “yes.” Second, I ask about their favorite store. If that store sent them relevant and valuable coupons, money-saving offers or exclusive invites via text message would they like to receive them? The answer is usually another “yes.” Then I remind them that the only way to receive a text message from a company is to subscribe. You will only get a text, if you want to. That’s why compared to your email inbox, there is very little or no spam in your text message inbox. There are laws and regulatory agencies enforcing this, plus most marketers make their text message programs 100% opt-in.
I’d like to replace certain myths with the facts. Here are the top myths about text message marketing debunked.
1. Mobile marketing is a fad
The age of mobile has been touted for a long time, so it’s easy to think mobile marketing is a fad. But if you think it’s on its way out, just take a look at the stats. For 2016, the number of smartphone users in the United States is estimated to reach 198.5 million or 63% of the U.S. population. In 2014, 90% of American adults owned a cell phone and 81% of them used their phones to text (Pew Research Center). As cell phones play an increasing role in our lives, mobile use will continue to grow, making mobile marketing even more advantageous. No apps are needed, every mobile phone can send and receive text messages.
2. Texting only works with well with teens or Millennials
Think again. Although teens and Millennials lead the way in text message usage, users range across different ages, locations and demographics. Marketing via mobile is no longer about reaching “mobile users.” Nearly 75% of American users over the age of 65 have a cell phone, according to a Pew Research Center survey in 2014. Seniors use mobile in growing numbers and they don’t need fancy smartphones to receive text.
3. Text messaging for business is SPAM
In the early days of SMS marketing, any text from a business was seen suspiciously, but that has changed. Today SPAM is much harder and riskier by text than by email. There are very high consequences for sending text SPAM as it’s regulated by the telecommunications industry. In fact, a business can be fined up to $1,000 per text! As a result, text message marketing providers take compliance very seriously. I like to say, if you did not opt-in, you did not get a text from us, period.
4. Mobile users are more likely to be on the go
A common myth is that mobile users are using their phones most often when they’re out and about. As a result, many assume mobile marketing should focus on location-based deals. But, 75% of all mobile impressions are viewed while the person is at home, according to a study by AOL Networks and the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science. This means you can reach your customers on mobile any time with any offer.
If you are still on the fence about mobile marketing, maybe this will help you jump over:
In the survey of 1,200 people in four major countries by global tech design and strategy firm frog, 30% of the respondents said that they would give up their car before their smartphone. “Given that smartphones have been commonly available for only 10 years, we expect the proportion of people who value them more than their car to grow swiftly and significantly,” frog said in a statement about the survey. Source
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at the Dreamforce 2015 conference said that “That’s a world where Windows doesn’t matter so much, just as long as people are using Microsoft’s apps on their many other devices.”
Here is one of our clients that is currently using the Solark text-to-win platform to drive traffic to their sweepstakes. Participants start by texting “GROWLER” to the shortcode 65047.
If you’re interested in learning more please contact us or enter a comment below.
Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, confirmed during a live stream event back in September that they were working on a “Dislike” button. Facebook has resisted adding a “Dislike” button as a companion to its “Like” button for some time. However, based on popular demand from Facebook users Zuckerberg stated they are now working on a new tool to fit this role.
We all can agree that “like” does not fit all status updates and situations, say a death in the family or a crisis. “It’s important to give people more options than just ‘like'” to help express empathy and sympathy, Zuckerberg said. “Not every moment is a good moment.” Many people predict a “dislike” button or buttons that convey other emotions will be a boon for Facebook. The latest news is that Facebook is doing some testing in a few countries.
The team at Design Crowd, a virtual design studio, thought they would have a little fun and ran a design contest back in September. With Facebook announcing it is almost ready to launch a new ‘Dislike’ button, they invited their designers to create new Facebook buttons that they would like to see and use to communicate how they may feel about a page post.
They directed the designers to create designs in the Facebook blue and white style, as they would appear on the site and ensure their submissions were high quality images and met certain sizes requirements. The participants also needed to include a rationale for why they would want to see the button they submitted used on Facebook.
Design Crowd also provided them with a few ideas for inspiration to help get them started which are listed here, along with a few of the actual designs that were submitted:
– Respect button
– ‘Stop showing me photos of your baby’ button
– No way! button
– Enough Already button
– Solidarity button
– Hugs button
– The love button
– Meh button
– Get over it button
– Rant button
A panel of judges reviewed all the many design submissions and awarded the Grand Prize to January Hill for her ‘Just Eat It Already’ design. She received a small cash prize as well as did a few finalists.
DesignCrowd provides logo, website, print and graphic design services by offering access to freelance graphic designers and design studios around the world. They currently have a ‘virtual team’ of 488,229 designers from around the world (via crowdsourcing). They are headquartered in Australia and you can see how they works here.
I thought this was a really cleaver and fun way for a company to run a contest that tied into something happening in the world of social media. There are many opportunities like this that you can take advantage to engage with your audience. A survey that eMarketer recently published stated that Increasing Audience Engagement is the key Objective is Social Media Marketing. So here DesignCrowd to a great job in engaging their designers.
Just to note, Facebook was not associated with this contest in any way. So what type of buttons would you like to see Facebook add? Let us know you thoughts here.
In a few weeks I’ll be headed back to Chicago to attend the Annual BAA/PMA Marketing Law Conference which takes place each November, always in Chicago since I can remember. This year’s conference is titled “Walking the Line: Between Innovation and Regulation” which runs November 9-11. This is the industry’s most important marketing and advertising law conference which this year includes over 60 sessions and 125 different speakers from some of the nation’s leading brands and law firms.
Here are some of the topics that will be discussed at this year’s conference:
• Expanded coverage of social and digital media, with many social media companies speaking
• New sessions on alcohol and marijuana regulation
• First ever session to covering the Internet of Things
• More in-depth discussion of litigation issues from the FTC, NAD, and state attorneys general
• A virtual mini-conference on pertinent privacy issues
• A focus on rapidly expanding technologies and their relationship with current laws
• New coverage on sports and event marketing, SAG-AFTRA, and entertainment marketing
• Major sessions on retail marketing legal issues, cross-device tracking, and gaming
Plus all attendees can earn major CLE credits, abundant networking opportunities, and a 2,000-page conference book which is provided both digitally and in print.
The conference kicks off on Monday, Nov. 9th, at the Downtown Chicago Marriott right on Michigan Ave. There are some special sessions that afternoon to be followed by the annual welcome networking reception which is not to be missed.
The main attraction for me always is the first general session of the conference that will again feature Linda Goldstein from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, on Tuesday morning. Linda always has a very thorough and entertaining presentation which this year is titled: Marketing/Advertising Law Review: Sweepstakes, Contests, Privacy, Disclosure & Digital/Social Media. You can see the whole agenda here.
Right after Linda’s session will be another that I’m really looking forward to which is titled “Major Technologies and the Law Today and Tomorrow”. This session will include Nathan Wildermann, Advertising Counsel for Facebook. The group will review the most important trends and developments in technologies in the marketing and advertising arena.
There is a video that the BAA created which is featured on their website that includes some footage from last year’s conference and features some words from Linda Goldstein. Just scroll down to the bottom of the home page to take a look.
We’ll all be right on Michigan Ave. at the Marriott till Wed., Nov. 11, so hope to hope to see some of you in Chicago. You can register here. I’m hoping to have time again this year to make my annual shopping visit to the Nordstrom shoe department which is right next door!