Searching for a Candidate? Good Luck
The 2008 Presidential election is shaping up to be the most networked political contest in our nation’s history. All the contenders have fairly interactive Web sites, and most have social-network profile pages too. Obama belongs to half a dozen Web interest communities. ...
Fighting a Flood of Bottled Water
Can you brand something as common as tap water? Two New York-area marketing consultants began a campaign to do just that in the latter half of last year. They’ve had so much success that what started out as a labor of love run out of their homes now threatens to turn into a full-time job....
A Birthday and a Birth
The Internet turned 25 over the weekend. Twenty five years ago last week, Vint Cerf and Robert Kahn got a few computers in their Defense Department research agency to start talking to each other using the TCP/IP protocol. That platform, which had been in development for more than a decade, let small computer networks start talking to each other....
Marketers Juice up the Jukebox
San Francisco-based Ecast claims to provide digital music and other content to more than 10,000 bars and nightclubs around the U.S. ...
American Airlines Pulls Promo After Big Response Clogs Site
American Airlines temporarily removed a sweepstakes from its Web site after hoards of people tried to register for the promotion and caused technical problems with the microsite....
Swiffer Kicks off YouTube Video Contest
Procter & Gamble’s Swiffer brand has partnered with Warner Music Group to roll out its first music video contest....
ESPN Extends Brand with MobiTV Channel
ESPN is broadening its wireless reach in a deal with MobiTV to create a channel delivering live simulcasts of some sports events to cell phones....
Papa Johns Pushes Texting Around NFL Playoffs
If National Football League teams score big in playoff contests, Papa John’s customers can win deep pizza discounts....
Club’s Penguins Raise Cold Cash for Charities
A 10-day charitable campaign in Club Penguin, the Disney-owned online world aimed at kids and pre-teens, has produced a pile of virtual coins worth about $1 million very real dollars....
Auto Play
Some car shoppers kick tires and check trunk space. Potential buyers of Toyota's Scion can also get a sense of what it would be like to dance on the dashboard...
Get in here!
If you want to generate buzz, give people something to talk about. That's what Lane Bryant is doing with its first-ever viral campaign for the Right Fit...
Power Chords
When battery maker Energizer wanted to add a community element to the marketing for its Energi to Go line of portable power devices (think mobile chargers...
MySpace Straw Poll to Beat Iowa Results by Hours
If you just can’t wait until the Iowa caucuses close at 7:30 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 3, relax. Social network MySpace is letting its U.S. voting-age members cast their ballots on Jan. 1 and 2 and expects to serve up the results hours before the first vote is taken on Jan. 3 in the Hawkeye State....
BMW Adds Build-Your-Own Features Online
BMW recently relaunched its Web site with a redesign that enables prospective buyers to effectively build their own customized model online....
Gather.com Moves to Voting for Next Great Crime Writer
Gather.com, the social media site for adults, has narrowed down its search for America’s “next great crime writer," to 25 semifinalists....
Dairy Queen Tests Mobile Coupon Program
Dairy Queen is testing mobile coupons in an effort to drive traffic to its restaurants....
FTC Says Google Can Go ahead with DoubleClick Buy
After more than six months of scrutiny, the Federal Trade Commission has given Google the green light to acquire online ad management firm DoubleClick in a deal valued at $3.1 billion....
Absolut Pears Takes Campaign to the Drink Customers
In a case of fishing where the fish are, Absolut Vodka will place ads and interactive content for its premium Absolut Pears brand on the TouchTunes network of digital jukeboxes....
Checkers Launches Virtual Game to Promote Double Value Menu
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants has rolled out an online game to promote its new Double Value menu....
TRUSTe to Certify Facebook’s Privacy Policies
Social network Facebook, still recovering from the November launch of a controversial policy for tracking users’ off-site behavior, has partnered with privacy certification company TRUSTe on disclosure language for that program. ...
Sprint Strikes Web Deal With MySpace
Sprint will be the first U.S. wireless carrier with a direct link to the MySpace Mobile Web site when the site launches early next year....
Ford Uses Web Widget Tact For Sync
Ford is revving up the latest phase of its marketing campaign to push its Sync voice-activated technology with rich media widgets on AOL....
Wine Enthusiast Generates Mobile Response With Print Ads
Direct Newsline—The Wine Enthusiast Cos. has launched a mobile advertising campaign supported with space advertising in The Wall Street Journal....
Macerich Malls Offer Interactive Santa Tracking Stations
Macerich shopping centers are giving kids a helping hand this year to keep track of Santa’s annual journey....
Office Max Brings Back Elf Viral Campaign
People can create their own dancing elves at http://ElfYourself.com by adding faces to the animated character. Visitors can load up to four images to send on to friends and family. Voices can be added by calling a toll-free number to record a message....
