Favorite Finds

February 7, 2014


With the Super Bowl winner crowned and the start of the winter Olympic Games in Sochi, real-time marketing has been the focus of this week’s top social media stories.

  •  Esurance kicked things off this week with their commercial and Twitter contest which launched after the Super Bowl. The contest had followers tweet using the hashtag #EsuranceSave30 for a chance to win $1.5 million. Within the first minute 200,000 entries were received and overall the contest generated more than 2.1 million tweets.
  • Facebook celebrated its 10thAnniversary this week. In celebration, Facebook users were able to create one-minute “Look Back Videos,” that included some user’s biggest moments like their most popular status updates and most liked profile pictures.
  • One phrase. Sochi Problems.The Twitter handle gained worldwide attention, fast. Since journalists’ arrived in Sochi, they took to Twitter to publicize the problems they faced there like hotels still under construction, stray dogs running around and putrid looking tap water. Since the account’s first tweet on Feb. 4, it has gained more than 91,000 followers and is on track to surpass the official Sochi 2014 Twitter account before the Opening Ceremony.
  • CVS announced shocking news that beginning this fall the pharmacy will no longer support the sale of tobacco. In a move to align with the brand’s focus of fostering health and wellness, CVS could ultimately take a hit in sales. However, CVS embraced the decision throughout their social media sites by creating nonsmoking graphics stating “CVS quits for good,”and has received a large amount of public support for the decision.
  • Research that shows when consumers who are in committed brand relationships flirt with other brands, they ultimately become even more attached to their primary brand. Behavioral scientists’ research suggests that brands should consider directing their customers to try out competitor brands. All while building more loyal brand advocates.