Posts Tagged 'marketing'

So there we have it. The results of geo-location technology and applications are to make their debut in the mainstream.

Bing have announced that it’s planning to integrate data from Foursquare (see previous Blog post if you still need an explanantion – where have you been!?) into it’s Bing maps service.

Bing Maps will be pulling in “quick tips” data from Foursquare , so as you’re browsing the location of a pub in Bristol, or a theatre in Manchester you’ll see reviews from Foursquare users for various venues in and around the surrounding area. Maybe one of them will even entice you in for a pre-theatre drink?

You’ll also be able to “see who has unlocked specific badges, where and who has been crowned mayor of certain locations.” Now I’m not sure we’re as bothered about who’s the mayor or who has unlocked certain badges as much as we care about the comments, tips and reviews that have been left behind, all of which provide us, the user, with some great insight on local watering holes, eateries, shops, galleries and more before we even arrive at historical…erm…..Warwick.

So instead of the usual – Search for place on map, get result complete with review for said place, that we get currently, this new development will do the following…..

Search for said place on map, get result, also get a number of reviews and comments for local attractions from Foursqaure users. Thus helping me broaden my knowledge of the surrounding area and giving me ideas of places I might like to go before I even arrive. Nice.

Has geo-tagging revolutionised social media and marketing?

It’s no longer enough to tell the world what you’ve had for breakfast, how pleased you are with the parking ticket you’ve just got or what colour your bra is. Thanks to the likes of foursquare and gowalla now you can ‘Check-In’ using your smartphones geo location software at, well, any place you happen to be.

Just nipped down to the pub, ‘Check-In’ at the dog and duck. On the train home? You can even check in at platform 11 at London Waterloo.

But what does this mean for Marketers and their brands?

The possibilities are endless. Domino’s are already offering Mayors (see foursquare for details) a free Pizza once a week. Debenhams, yes that’s right, Debenhams, are offering free coffee to their Mayors, and it won’t be long before other stores follow suit.

As a brand, to know where my customers are, when they are in my store, and what they’re thinking is just too good an opportunity to miss. Pushing vouchers, content and offers that reach the customer just as they ‘check-in’ to your outlet takes targeted, timely communication to the next level.

All aboard the vouchercloud…..

So Rage against the Machine have done it. A track originally released by the band in 1992 (original chart position No.25) pips poor old Joe to the much coveted number spot for Xmas 2009.

But let’s be honest, how many of us had heard the Rage Against the Machine track before? How many of us know what the band look like? Where they’re from and what their favourite colours are? Not many (Not that we care).

Now Joe McEldrey…..

The song -  “The Climb”.

What’s he look like? A cheeky Geordie chappy with a Hollywood smile.

Where’s he from? South Shields.

Favourite colour? Anything that Cheryl likes.

So how do a band that relatively few people have heard of make it to Xmas number 1 toppling the behemoth that is X Factor with it’s massive television audience, huge publicity machine and endless marketing efforts?

Simple – Facebook.

Let’s be honest, it wasn’t the great song or the love of the band that got RATM to number 1, it was Facebook. To be more specific, it was a brilliantly orchestrated social media campaign by Jon and Tracy Morter, a couple fed up with the domination of the Xmas number 1 spot by X-Factor winners.

Their campaign highlights the phenomenal reach and influence social media channels can have. Zach le Rocha (RATM lead singer of course – c’mon guys) summed it up perfectly, “It was incredible organic grassroots campaign”. Indeed it was. A campaign started by a couple wanting a change, rapidly joined by 486,781 fans and quickly becoming the hottest topic on Facebook culminates in delivering the UK an alternative Xmas number 1 and delivring a crushiong blow to the slick marketing and publicity machine that is X-Factor.

So the platform that brought the Whispa back to our shelves, returned Monster Munch to the cupboards of children of the 80’s now has an ever greater feat to its name. A new Xmas number one.

At the risk of repeating a previous post. Social Media – Powerful stuff.