Alas, the Atlanta Falcons are out of the playoffs, but don’t tune out just yet. Some of the biggest players aren’t setting their sights on the Lombardi trophy, but will be fighting for a title just as prestigious – to be the biggest brand at the Super Bowl. By throwing out budgets, giving credence to the wildest ideas in the brainstorm and utilizing the latest technologies, brands will fight for the honor of being the company you bring up at the water cooler on Feb. 7.
Below are some of the best social media and mobile campaigns and contests to look out for leading up to and during Super Bowl XLV.
Coors Light
Snap, Send, Score – Doesn’t get much easier than that. Using your mobile phone, “snap” a picture of a unique upc code on Coors Light products and even in store, outdoor or online advertising, “send” the picture via text or e-mail to Coors Light and “score” instant-win prizes. The unique mobile incorporation, instant gratification for contestants and heightened brand awareness for all participants make this contest a winner.
If you’ve got a camera phone and are purchasing some brews, take a picture of these things on the package or on promotional materials and text to 26753 or send it to coors@snaptag.mobi. Click here for more info: http://www.coorslight.com/superbowl/how.aspx
Doritos/Pepsi Max
While run through its own sites, Doritos and Pepsi utilize all social media outlets to promote the Crash the Super Bowl promotion, which promises to air during the Super Bowl the best fan-created commercials. In the age where a kid singing into a webcam can go viral and get 30 million views, incentivizing clever and tech-savvy people to create high-viral potential commercials about the product is a win-win. Additionally, they’ve built in milestones wherein if your commercial ranks as one of the top rated during the game, you’ll get a ton more money and meet with their ad agency to consult on future campaigns.
Voting is still up, so be sure to take a look and pick the best one on www.Crashthesuperbowl.com (I’m torn between House Sitting and The Best Part myself).
Mercedes-Benz
“The First Twitter-Fueled Race” is a bit complicated but an incredibly unique idea. Four two-person teams in different parts of the country are given different Mercedes-Benz cars and told to drive to Dallas, site of Super Bowl XLV. These aren’t ordinary cars, but fuel economy/horsepower is somehow affected by Twitter activity (Mercedez is mum on the details, preferring to describe them simply as “Twitter-fueled automobiles”). People can choose which team to support and give them extra “fuel” by hashtagging or retweeting their messages. There’s also celebrity tweeters for each team who can give them a literal boost with their twitter activity. First to make it to Dallas wins, and you can win Super Bowl tix as well if you help “fuel” the winning team to victory.
It might be confusing and Tweets probably won’t replace fossil fuels anytime soon, but the thinking behind this contest has to appreciated – kudos to Mercedes for taking a risk on a crazy idea that might just be a big hit.
You can follow the action and participate on their Facebook page here:http://www.facebook.com/mercedesbenzusa
PhoneDog /Cost Plus World Market
The exact opposite of Mercedes, these contests are simple and straightforward: “Like” PhoneDog or Cost Plus World Market on Facebook and automatically get entered to win hundreds of prizes worth close to a half million bucks. Rather than a traditional sweepstakes that helps companies build a database for mailers/e-mail that people often ignore, these companies will get new fans on Facebook to see every update they post. To topi it off, they also get a measurable audience with built-in analytics and an impressive follower number that will make them even more appealing to potential followers.
You can like these companies here:
http://www.facebook.com/worldmarket
http://www.facebook.com/worldmarkethttp://www.facebook.com/phonedog
Audi
Audi will seek out and reward 10 of their social media fans with the “most original and numerous” posts before the Super Bowl with trips and other expensive prizes. However, much like selling cookies or wrapping paper in grade school, this contest rewards elbow grease for social media users. It also levels the playing field by not counting impressions, just posts, so you don’t have to be @ParisHilton to have a shot at winning.
To participate, just start tweeting and Facebook posting about Audi – simple enough!
