SMWGla Day 2
Posted: 27th Sep 2012
Branded Content
When registration opened for Social Media Week Glasgow, Innerear Uk's 'Social Advertising Innovation' event was the first I signed up for.
Panelists Dougal Perman and Anny Deery of Innerear Uk were joined by Peter Sigrist of 33 Digital, via the wonders of technology. The discussion revolved around the changing landscape of advertising and marketing and the nature of social campaigns and their levels of engagement. This evolving marketplace of user-generated content illustrated how this social media content can develop and strengthen brand image and identity.
Dougal highlighted that this was a 'transition phase', a rush of experimentation with the effective use of social means and how individuals and communities interact with various brands, and further this engagement via active sharing. However, this freedom and phase of excitement is underlined with the red tape and restrictions that need to hover in the background, as for every genuine 'fan' will be an abuser of this freedom. Examples of this included Skittles' infamous site, completely user-generated content that was victim to vulgar, offensive postings via the skittles hashtag.
Despite this, Peter believed that the overall success of this campaign meant that the risk was worth taking to create an original stream of user content. It opened up new channels for engagement, and illustrated how even an initial disaster isn't always intergral to the bigger picture success, e.g Boris Johnston.
Another interesting point made by Peter was the idea of the 'Fan', the hardcore sharers and creators of relevant content, they are not prone to circulation bribes but do it for the love of the brand, quanity over quality springs to mind. Getting to the right people rules over numbers.
To link in nicely with my first Social Media Week blog post is the presence of Dear Green, Glasgow coffee company. Doug spoke of their Facebook interaction with 'friends' and how they advertise their everyday routines such as roasting. When a new batch of beans is ready for roasting, Dear Green invite folk over to watch. This is infact, a pretty slow, uninteresting process but the idea of announcing and actively including people in this process is simple engagement. Also, while you're there you inevitably treat yourself to a wee coffee and cake.
Looks like we have to roll with the times and get stuck in. As long as people engage, share and respond then the shelf life of any brand can be extended.