Super Sunday means Super Social Media Campaigns

Published on by Pavel Ushakov in General, Marketing, Twitter, YouTube category.

This weekend the National Football League will crown a new champion while many large companies will profit from interactive social media campaigns leading up to and during the Super Bowl.

What I find truly fascinating is social ad campaigns and viral videos are more prevalent in the strategies for big spending brands. So you do not have the $2.8 million to $3 million for each 30 seconds of commercial time in Super Bowl XLV. The low cost social media used by these same companies are a best practice that merit attention.

I am looking forward to watching the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers fight for the Lombardi Trophy, but I am more excited to see how these social media campaigns evolve:

  • E*Trade is using the talking baby again.  This year they have an online App featuring a Packers and Steelers theme.  The intent is to let users “trash talk” friends with a neat little talking baby via email. There is an upload feature to add a picture of your baby and add text to the message. Fun!
  • The NFL brand is heavily marketing Super Bowl XLV with targeted Facebook ads. Players in the league are using Twitter, YouTube and blogs for fan meet-ups, contests and Super Bowl party plans.
  • Mercedes-Benz USA has launched a Twitter “race” to Dallas. Teams will need Twitter followers to fuel their vehicles.
  • Coca-Cola has pledged to donate $1 to charity for every Coca-Cola-related picture that users submit in “Coke Cheers.”
  • Papa Johns is sponsoring an elaborate pizza give away during the game, promising free pizzas every 45 seconds.
  • Visa’s  “Go Inside Super Bowl XLV with Visa” campaign included a big spend for the popular hashtag on Twitter: #SuperBowl.
  • Groupon is launching their first Super Bowl ad to promote digital coupons.

Check out this Super Bowl Ads Guide to se how other advertisers are using elements of social media for their 2011 campaigns.

These Super Bowl Ad buying companies, and many more are using social media to engage potential customers in online conversations. With a blog and some creativity any company is a player in the Super Bowl ad game.