McDonald's lets customers write billboard slogans
McDonalds is asking consumers to pick two words to describe the new Angus Third Pounder – 1,750 of the best slogans to date were posted on programmable billboards around Kansas City on September 24; the article provides details on how the program was developed, and how much it cost
Source: Nation’s Restaurant News Online, 10/01/09

Ford Fiesta Movement: Can Social Media Sell Cars?
To launch the new Fiesta compact car, Ford launched a grassroots social media campaign – 100 social media savvy consumers were given the new model and asked to share their experience on Twitter, Facebook, blogs etc.; after six months, the campaign has generated 4.3 million YouTube views, 500,000+ Flickr views, more than 3 million Twitter impressions and a ROI of 50,000 consumers who are interested in buying, 97% of which are not Ford owners
Source: Mashable.com, 10/02/09

Bravo Gustavo: Play Music Director
The LA Philharmonic has created a microsite called “Bravo Gustavo” where users can conduct the orchestra alongside newly appointed Music Director Gustavo Dudamel; users press the A, S, D and F keys on their keyboard to make the appropriate section play – the application is also available for iPhone
Source: Adverblog.com, 10/03/09

New FTC rules screw Jared, Bowflex granny
Sorry Jared, the FTC has set new guidelines for testimonials, making it illegal to post “Results not typical” under the claims of its endorsers; such rules make weight loss by sandwiches a thing of the past
Source: AdFreak.com, 10/04/09

50 Great Voices: Send Us Your Nominations
All Voices Considered – from 10/5 to 10/16, NPR is asking listeners to weigh in on who has/had the most “beautiful, singular voice you have ever heard”; NPR will use the submissions for a year-long segment on the 50 best voices in broadcast history
Source: NPR Online, 10/05/09

Grab your jug, ditch your dignity, and lead the Carlo Rossi Posse
Calling all jug-o-wine fans, Carlo Rossi wine is looking for someone who embodies all the characteristics of Carlo Rossi –honest, sincere and unchanged for 40 years – to “lead the Carlo Rossi Posse”; to enter, users must submit a 100-word essay explaining why they should lead the posse, and can win a $10,000 den makeover
Source: BrandFreak.com, 10/05/09

Birds Vs Humans
Adverblog received a personalized toolbox press kit containing creepy photos, a bird’s nest, feathers, eggs and bark – the only clue to the actual purpose behind the kit was a “Blair Witch Project” looking teaser video and a tag that said “more to follow”; this is a great example of the kind of creative mailer that gets the media talking
Source: Adverblog.com, 10/07/09

Piano Stairs Are A Musical Alternative To The Escalator (Video)
As part of a new campaign, “The Fun Theory”, Volkswagen transformed a subway staircase into a piano – placing sensors on the staircase that made sound when stepped on – as an experiment to see if they could get people to take the stairs over an adjacent escalator by making the stairs more fun; the video leads to a teaser site where users can enter their e-mail address to be notified when the campaign launches
Source: Urlesque.com, 10/07/09

World's Largest Cupcake Just Got Bigger
As seen on USA Today’s Pop Candy blog, the record for the World’s Largest Cupcake has been broken again – Big Top Cupcakes, a company who makes giant cupcake molds, sponsored the creation of the 1,316-pound confection as a part of the Think Pink Rocks breast cancer campaign
Source: Slashfood.com, 10/06/09

Best Buy wants your scariest, most obsolete gadget or appliance
This Halloween, Best Buy is asking consumers to send in pictures of their most terrifyingly old electronic device or appliance – to enter, participants must submit a photo and a 140-word caption about their outdated technology, the winner will be named on Halloween and will receive a new home theater and a $2,500 Best Buy gift card; the contest is includes a “scary” YouTube video which features Zelda Rubinstien, from Poltergeist
Source: BrandFreak.com, 10/07/09