I found a great article on Trendhunter today that lists 40 Facebook innovations. Interestingly, many of the innovations are brand promotions from companies such as Coca-Cola, Adidas, Mazda and more. It just goes to show that the social web should be an integral part of your marketing plan if you want to stay ahead of the curve.
A few brand-related Facebook innovations jumped out as particularly inspiring for future social media marketing campaign planning:
- CokeTag: Coca-Cola launched the CokeTag on Facebook that people can use to promote themselves.
- Mazda Design Challenge: Facebook users were invited to design a new concept car for Mazda.
- Adidas Celebrate Originality brand campaign: This campaign was supported by YouTube and Facebook videos and content.
- Mars Snackfood: Using the Facebook Celebrate application, people can give each other virtual gifts like candy bars. If they give a Mars candy bar, the recipient gets a virtual gift and a coupon for the real thing.
- Clinique, Harley Davidson and more use free gifts as ads: When a user sends a virtual gift of a product with your brand name on it, your brand gets a nice bit of advertising!
- PETA2: Peta launched a special Facebook group for youth activists.
The possibilities for brands to leverage the social web, including social networking sites such as Facebook, are incredible. Is your brand on board yet? Don’t get left behind!
Image: Flickr
Susan Gunelius is the author of 10 marketing, social media, branding, copywriting, and technology books, and she is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She also owns Women on Business, an award-wining blog for business women. She is a featured columnist for Entrepreneur.com and Forbes.com, and her marketing-related articles have appeared on websites such as MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, TodayShow.com, and more.
She has over 20 years of experience in the marketing field having spent the first decade of her career directing marketing programs for some of the largest companies in the world, including divisions of AT&T and HSBC. Today, her clients include large and small companies around the world and household brands like Citigroup, Cox Communications, Intuit, and more. Susan is frequently interviewed about marketing and branding by television, radio, print, and online media organizations, and she speaks about these topics at events around the world. You can connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google+.
