Kudos to the folks of Google for their sweet doodles, they just keep getting better and better. (Wait, did that just rhyme?) This time around, I was extremely touched by it – I mean, could this be any cuter? It just had the word “post” written all over it.
It also sends out a nice message – in the midst of the general public blaming retailers for a highly commercialized day, it’s nice for them to show us how it’s the simplest things that truly embrace the concept of bonding and love. No shopping required.
I love how Seth Godin defines viral marketing. It’s a simple, straight-forward explanation, and it goes something like this:
Viral marketing is an idea that spreads–and an idea that while it is spreading actually helps market your business or cause. Because the currency of our future is ideas- the idea virus mechanism is how those ideas propagate.
His 12 year-old book on viral marketing “Unleashing the ideavirus” is still one of the most sought-after and relevant resources on the subject. You can read it for free here.
The fact is, technology is one of the best things that has happened to us marketers. Word-of-mouth has taken a whole other dimension. The Internet- with social media, emailing, blogging, IMing, etc.- has served as the ultimate slingshot for the faster spread of our messages.
Here’s a pretty neat Infographic brought to us by ProBlogger and Voltaire that helps us understand the viral content marketing phenomenon. From its anatomy, types, reasons why we share, and how it all comes down to Metcalfe’s Law, it’s all there, so check it out:
Yes, I know. 2011 has flown by. It seems it was only yesterday when saw Google Zeitgeist’s awesome Year in Review for 2010.
On that same spirit, they have recently published this year’s version on their site, where you can check out the trends and searches from all over the world in different categories, such as: Fastest Rising People, Maps, Consumer Electronics, News, Food & Drink, among others. From Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, to the Greek riots, to the Royal Wedding, it brings us marketers a great insight- an overview of how the world moved and what influenced it. Or as Sheila Shayon from Brandchannel says: “Beyond revealing the spirit of the times, it’s also a fascinating local snapshot.”
Here’s a look into the top moments from 2011:
By Maria Elena Moré
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Connect with More Than Branding on Facebook and Twitter (@MTBranding).
There is a universal truth that stems from the most essential belief in psychology: we learn from experience. And that same principle applies to marketing. The way a brand functions and the feelings it evokes within us are vital to the ultimate perception we possess of it.
As markets oversupply, the process and methodology through which we communicate a product’s attributes is just as important as coming up with those specific attributes. Focusing on delivering experiences is an ideal way of developing relationships and bonds that enable brands to grow over time.
As the name implies, experiential marketing refers to the customer experiences with a brand, product or service that allow users to interact in a sensory way. It triggers motivation more than any other channel of communication and instigates word-of-mouth. Brands that excite people have more strength in the subconscious level of the mind since it stimulates the neural region that makes decisions.
What are some of the benefits of implementing an experiential marketing strategy?
Generate awareness
Create an emotional connection
Develop positive perceptions
Show off its attributes
Gain credibility
Guide preferences
Stimulate purchases
If you are interesed in implementing this sort of approach, start off by asking yourself: is my brand exciting, exhilarating, fun, relaxing, stimulating, etc.? Which sort of associations will I stir up in the mind through this stunt? Will the experience impact the human senses? (sight, sound, scent, taste, feel) If so, which? How will it make people feel? Would they want to use the brand?
To kick-off the week, More Than Branding brings you 11 examples of experiential marketing at its best:
Great use of advertising, social media and visuals to have a powerful impact on society and leave a lasting impression. But you know what? Just this once, I’ll let the video do the talking. (Word of caution: careful with underage eyes, it’s a bit steamy…)
