Author Archives: Mark Bower

Has Snickers Gone Nuts? Twitter stunt illustrated how social can be exploited

As news broke of Jordan being recruited to help promote Snickers on Twitter, the Coolpink office was instantly a hive of discussion. We were not only split by the divide of who loves and hates the chocolate bar, but more so on the topic of whether consumers really are stupid enough to fall for this kind of advertising…

Granted this kind of trickery grabs attention. As Jordan tweeted about the state of the economy, then revealed she hadn’t been herself because she was too hungry and proceeded to post a picture of her with a Snickers bar, the headlines were written. Read more »

Do retailers really need websites?

In recent months we’ve seen retailer Ocado offer passers by the chance to scan bar codes of their most popular products via a ‘virtual wall’; FMCG brand Absolut Vodka invite consumers to create unique art via an app and now bar chain Varsity ditch its website and divert marketing spend to facebook to engage with students.

It’s clear brands are reveling in the new technologies evolving at their fingertips and it’s great to see them really start to have fun with online engagement…but there’s a real danger here of ‘kid in a sweetshop’ syndrome. Read more »