TV Shows That Tweet

Twitter is awesome for individuals and for brands for completely different reasons. I've noticed that many TV shows have embraced Twitter to extend their advertising efforts as well as create connections to boost loyalty.

AMC does a great job with Twitter for their popular programs. These tweets go beyond reminding followers of air times – the shows often interact with fans during current episodes. For example, fans of The Walking Dead can share their reactions to plot twists while the Twitter profile for Mad Men adopted the suave persona of its lead character.

“I worry about a lot of things, but I don’t worry about you.” – Don #MadMen pic.twitter.com/3jPWNpatLE

— Mad Men (@MadMen_AMC) August 28, 2015

The person (or people) behind the tweets for Breaking Bad are the most impressive of the bunch. This legendary series concluded in September of 2013 but new fans are getting hooked (pun intended!) by watching episodes online. To this day, the Breaking Bad account still responds to tweets of praise.

If there was ever a show that was made for fan interaction on Twitter during original airings, it would be LOST. Did you realize that show premiered in 2004??? That's hard to believe, isn't it?!


I won't drop any spoilers here but…each week that show left fans with so many questions. Fan theories were hot topics in the comment sections on blogs back then, which precursors to the conversations we see today on Twitter.

It's difficult to imagine how the real-time Twitter interactions between TV shows and fans will be topped but something even better is bound to raise the bar. Long live great TV shows and cools ways to interact with them!

Gas Pump Videos - The Future is Now!

Our lives have never been busier, the ways for marketers to deliver messages to us increase by the day. Screens are the name of the game and really impact the way we absorb information without disrupting our day.

Strategically placed screens can help us continue performing mundane tasks. Tasks like pumping gas.


Video screens on gas pumps! The future is now! Sorry for the glare there but I hope that video does a good enough job of giving you you an idea of how cool this technology can be.

From what I can tell, this tactic is part of the benefits offered to retailers (like gas station owners) when they partner with NBC Everywhere. If I understand their website correctly, NBC Everywhere is like a cooperative of NBC affiliates from very large markets that work together to distribute their content on screens that were previously unconsidered. From their site:

Our digital out-of-home platforms entertain engaged audiences on-the-go. Reach millions of viewers per month alongside compelling NBC content with taxi cabs, salon networks, the PATH train, gas pumps and Times Square. NBC Everywhere's customized, environment-based messaging motivates your consumer to act.

The gas station I visited is fairly new. Perhaps the owners felt pressured to provide such advanced gas pumps in response to the amazing bathrooms at other Shell stations. Either way, this type of marketing has been around for a long time and was developed to reach consumers in an untapped area: at the gas pump....aka the Forecourt. Yes that is a real marketing term and yes this is a real sales video explaining the importance of addressing your forecourt media needs:


TAKEAWAYS FROM MY EXPERIENCE 

• The video segments were quick bursts, short enough to keep my attention as I completely filled my tank. 
• It’s not all advertising. It’s bits of high-quality entertainment and information content too.
• I really enjoyed purchasing gas at this station and will return because of the video screens. 

Really primitive gas pumps. #SMH

A video posted by Nick Baggett (@nick_baggett) on Aug 8, 2015 at 5:40pm PDT

Have you noticed similar media systems at gas stations in your area? In my opinion, watching clips of Jimmy Fallon at the gas pump is hard to beat but if you've experienced anything more impressive, I'd love to hear from you in the comment section. Thanks for reading!!

What Super Bowl Ads Taught Me

When I was growing up in the 80's, there was always a lot of anticipation building up to the annual batch of Super Bowl commercials. The "Big Game" served as a premiere for these creative and memorable ads with each commercial break drawing as much (or more) attention than the action on the gridiron. Even though social media spoilers have stolen that excitement from this era's Super Bowl viewing parties, I'll never forget a valuable lesson I learned from watching my favorite Super Bowl ads of all time: the Bud Bowl series. 

We all know the concept of the Bud Bowl ads, which appeared during eight Super Bowls (1989-1995, 1997). If you need a refresher, Mental Floss did a nice review of the entire series. The outlandish prices paid by corporations for air time during the Super Bowl were discussed just as much back then as they are today. I was 10 years old when the first Bud Bowl ads appeared but even at that age, those commercials were a huge lesson in the concept of branding.

Breweries do not (cannot?) tout the true features of their product that appeal to buyers in their commercials (I'm not talking about how it tastes). As entertaining as they were, those Bud Bowl ads made me question their purpose. It baffled me to know that Anheuser-Busch spent all that money on multiple ads per game without really ever describing their beer. But then I noticed other advertisers taking the same approach with their commercial. NIKE didn't explain the comfort the new Air Jordans and I didn't hear about the smooth ride of the latest GM vehicle.

That's when it clicked. The Super Bowl isn't a stage on which you describe your product - it's an opportunity to connect with the audience. That euphoric branding moment of mine may seem about as impressive as when a person discovers their rhythmic abilities for the first time. But it's a moment I'll never forget...when I became one of those people that watches the Super Bowl "just for the commercials".  

{Top Photo: Courtesy}