Archive - May 2012
May 17th
Supercharging the like Button
The Portuguese beer brand Super Bock launched a new Facebook advertising campaign aiming to convince Mark Zuckerberg to change the “like” button to “Good”, “Great” or “Super” buttons. In a clever but perhaps risky strategy, the brand made a video ad with typography and animations typical of online social services and app ads. It only reveals itself as a sponsor of this initiative at the very end of the video with a discreet logo.
Why it matters
If brands could customise the like button, there would be an endless amount of adjectives storming the platform. This would be rather chaotic and Facebook would probably not let it happen. Nevertheless, what is interesting with this campaign is the fact that the focus has been put on the button movement rather than the brand, thus almost creating the sense of a spontaneous viral initiative, making it more likeable and less “corporate”. How can other industries create branded viral activity that feels legitimate in their quest to garner mass support and bring change – even if it’s just for the ‘like’ button?
Cartoon food for thought
A new Portuguese cartoon animation project aimed at giving healthy eating habits to children all over the world will hit the TV screens. The series’ heroes gain superpowers from eating vegetables and other healthy foods. It will launch alongside other merchandising such as a trading card game in Portugal, Brazil, Hungary, Poland and Israel. Its creators have established partnerships with the World Health Organization, the Portuguese Education and Health Ministries, and nutritionist associations in several countries.
Why it matters
With negotiations to show it in the UK, Italy and Mexico and an interest form Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” team, this project is a perfect example of pre-launch planning, clever use of business contacts and platforms for entertainment products. But most importantly, one of its USPs is its healthy eating mission which makes it an obvious parent pleaser. In fact, its website also has a section just for the them. If parents are the ones who spend money on children’s entertainment products, how can these be also aimed at them while providing a useful tool?
The world’s most expensive doggy bag
In Germany, nearly 11 tons of food is thrown away every year. A restaurant in Hamburg has decided to tackle this problem in their very own way by putting a sign on tables informing visitors that they will pay a fine for their unfinished meal (€1 per 50 grams).
Why it matters
In times where a considerable proportion of the global population suffers from hunger or malnutrition, is this is a good way of reminding people of their actions? Is imposing a fine enough to make us more conscious of our disposable and wasteful ways?
