Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Netflix might finally do something about freeloaders: cut prices for everyone else

2013 has been a stellar year for Netflix.

The popular streaming service’s share price has soared 295%, making it the second best performing company on the S&P 500 (behind only Tesla). Its risky foray into original programming has been well received, with shows like House of Cards winning critical praise and prestigious awards. Subscriber growth has chugged along, and the company climbed through the 30 million paid customers mark, surpassing HBO (which amusingly, still insists Netflix is not a competitor). In light of all this, CEO Reed Hastings’ 50% pay hike, quietly announced overnight, looks well deserved.

Netflix shares are now so expensive that the company also felt comfortable enough to scrap a poison pill plan it put in place last year to safeguard it against a takeover. But there’s still plenty of blue sky built into the company’s lofty valuation (it still trades on a stratospheric multiple of about 200 times next year’s earnings) which means it needs to continue growing rapidly to avoid disappointing investors in the future.

We’ve already discussed how there were two real options facing Netflix in the quest for sustained growth. It could either crack down on the estimated 10 million freeloaders using the service, or raise its prices. But it faced an enormous backlash when it tried to raise prices in 2011.

The latest news suggests it is therefore going for the first option. Bloomberg reports that the company has quietly been testing cheaper packages that cost $7 a month, but can also only be used on one device. (The currently currently charges $8 a month to use its service on six devices, two simultaneously, or $12 a month for its family plan, which allows four devices to stream simultaneously.)

Netflix aims to add another 6 million paying subscribers in 2014.  There are still about 60 million US households without the service, but the marketplace for online streaming is also getting more competitive, with Amazon, Google and Hulu (backed by Fox, NBC and Disney) all competing.

Replacing the $8 subscription with a cheaper one-device only subscription, if that’s Netflix’s plan, would force all the college students and cheapskates who borrow their friends’ Netflix passwords to make a choice: sign up for Netflix or go without. It would therefore be a simple way to achieve that audience growth target in one fell swoop—assuming, of course, that enough of them agree to pay.

Netflix might finally do something about freeloaders: cut prices for everyone else

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Here it is: the worst investment of 2013

Sure, gold has done badly this year. And a few gold miners have done even worse.

But, for our money, corn—or maize, if you like—takes the crown as the worst investment of 2013.

The end of 2013 finds corn down 39% from where it was a year ago, hovering around $4.23 a bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade.

That’s the steepest one-year decline on records that stretch back to 1960.

​

Why? Excess supply.

A mammoth crop this year from the US—the world’s largest corn producer—produced just shy of 14 billion bushels, eclipsing the previous record set in 2009.

Here it is: the worst investment of 2013

Google and Audi’s new connected cars are really just about selling you apps

Expect a lot of hype this coming year about the “connected car.” At the Consumer Electronics Show, the industry’s main event, which starts on Jan. 7 in Las Vegas, the big car firms are all due to show off how their cars are taking advantage of internet access, and Google and Audi will announce that they’re working together on an in-car entertainment and information system based on Google’s Android operating system.

Connected cars have been in the works for a long time: Apple is already working with several other car-makers, and an early leader in on-board operating systems is QNX, now owned by BlackBerry. The change is that software firms and car makers now want to show off their developments to the public.

But while a lot of stories will focus around which cars have the coolest features or on the battle for dominance between Android and Apple’s iOS, don’t let those distract you: The real money at stake isn’t in operating systems or hardware, but in the services piled on top of them. GSM Association (GSMA), a trade body of mobile operators, breaks it down.

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Download apps direct to your car

Services are and will remain more valuable than the other three categories put together. Promoters of connected cars see a world where you can download apps directly to your car, rather than via a phone or tablet.

Services already on the anvil include things like music streaming, offered by everyone from Spotify and Pandora to lesser-known companies like Slacker, Deezer and TuneIn, all of which have already signed partnerships with one or another auto manufacturer. Another is mapping, which includes not only navigation but also finding restaurants or tourist spots, reading reviews, and checking traffic. Seen in this light, Google’s acquisition earlier this year of Israeli mapping start-up Waze now makes a lot more sense. There’s more: Telematics, which is a catch-all term for sensors in a car that can help with diagnostics, will plug into your onboard computer to offer preventative maintenance and can also be used to give insurers a better idea of how you drive in exchange for lower rates.

That services will make up the lion’s share of the connected-car market is unsurprising when you consider this chart showing how many connected cars are likely to be sold:

​

All said and done, GSMA expects just under 20 million connected cars to be shipped in 2014. By contrast 250 million smartphones were shipped in the third quarter of 2013 alone. Compared with mobile devices, connected cars are not a volume business.

This is hardly surprising either: cars typically last longer than phones, take longer to design and build, and have to meet much more stringent safety standards. The same car will probably have to support software updates for several years. Compared with smartphones and smart watches, therefore, connected cars are likely to be a lot less sexy than the software that gets put into them.

Google and Audi’s new connected cars are really just about selling you apps

Quartz Daily Brief—Americas edition—China IPOs, US home sales, Zappos holacracy, stoned dolphins

What to watch for today

Marijuana users camp out in Denver. Stores that can legally sell pot will open on Jan. 1, and some eager buyers are spending a frigid night outside to be among the first in line.

US home prices rise. The October Case-Shiller housing-price index is expected to show that the two-year trend in rising real-estate prices isn’t done yet.

Obamacare ends the year in surprisingly good shape. As the official responsible for day-to-day implementation steps down, the new US healthcare law has a decent shot of hitting its target of 7 million enrollments next year.

While you were sleeping

China opened the IPO spigot. After a year-long blockage, regulators approved the mainland public offerings of five firms.

Israel released Palestinian prisoners. 26 prisoners were let out ahead of New Year’s day peace talks between US secretary of state John Kerry, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

Merkel set her to-do list. The German chancellor said she will prioritize eliminating the budget deficit and transferring her country’s energy supply from coal and nuclear to renewables.

Abe was blacklisted in China. Beijing categorically refused to meet with the Japanese prime minister after his visit to a controversial war shrine.

Latvians aren’t thrilled about the euro. The common currency will gain its 18th member on Jan. 1 the Baltic country pivots away from Russia, but residents are leery of price increases.

Berkshire Hathaway’s pipeline play. The conglomerate will buy a Philipps 66 unit that makes chemicals to improve pipeline flow in a $1.4 billion stock swap—and attempt to salvage one of Warren Buffett’s biggest mistakes.

Singapore’s economy is “doing well,” according to prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, growing by a slightly better-than-expected 3.7% in 2013 due to recoveries in the US and Europe.

Quartz obsession interlude

Leo Mirani on the prematurely reported death of Facebook. ”People young and old are indeed signing up to networks that are not called Facebook. But they are not leaving Facebook. … Social networking is not a zero-sum game. Just as it is possible to have several groups of friends, or several sets of interests, or even different email accounts, it is conceivable that-free thinking individuals will spread out their interests across sites that offer them different things.” Read more here.

Matters of debate

In no one we trust. The bonds between fellow citizens are a casualty of growing income inequality.

How to stop a war between China and Japan. Sell the disputed islands to environmentalists.

2013 was a good year for financial reform, thanks in part to massive scandals such as the “London Whale.”

The free market will be bitcoin’s undoing. Here’s one scenario that could make the price of bitcoins plunge.

Surprising discoveries

A company without managers or job titles. Meet the radical holacrats at Zappos.

The TSA bot will screen you now. Some airports are using machines instead of people (paywall) to verify fliers’ identities.

Germs communicate with fermented mammal sweat, customizing their hosts’ secretions to send messages to each other.

Sharks can tweet… It’s a way to save their lives, not yours.

…And dolphins can get high. Chewing on puffer fish releases a nerve toxin that has a narcotic effect in low doses.

A cereal mogul convinced everyone that coffee is bad for kids. It’s not, but we’re still scared of “Mr. Coffee Nerves.”

Our best wishes for a productive day and a happy new year. Please send any news, comments, shark @-replies and coffee myths to hi@qz.com. You can follow us on Twitter here for updates throughout the day.

Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief here, tailored for morning delivery in Asia, Europe & Africa, and the Americas.

Quartz Daily Brief—Americas edition—China IPOs, US home sales, Zappos holacracy, stoned dolphins

Tonight’s Uber surge pricing nightmare doesn’t have to happen next New Year’s Eve

You’ll hear wailing and gnashing of teeth on social media during New Year’s Eve celebrations tonight: People will be going out, and those in cities where Uber offers its smartphone-based car service can expect its dreaded “surge pricing” to go into effect.

When demand is high, Uber’s algorithm ratchets up fares, to a multiple of several times the base fare at the busiest times. The company says it’s to get more cars on the roads for anyone willing to pay more—and argues that airlines and hotels deal with scarcity the same way—but critics accuse it of exploitation.

Now, while we’re skeptical of the claim that raising prices on a luxury service is a moral travesty, it’s clearly a problem in search of a solution, if only because it’s starting to give Uber a public-relations headache. Some have suggested paying all the surplus to the drivers (instead of only a percentage of it) to deflect claims the company is profiteering, while others suggest that Uber cap prices and potentially lose money on busy evenings in order to earn market share, Amazon-style. We have two alternate strategies.

1. Start an Uber futures market

Surge pricing is fairly predictable but opaque. We know it’s probably coming on big holidays and during storms, but it’s hard to predict how much these will affect supply and demand. Why not make it totally transparent by allowing riders to buy rides from Uber and its drivers in advance?

A futures market would eliminate rate shock and suspicions of manipulation by Uber itself, and give drivers a greater ability to take advantage of high prices. If you knew you were going out on a certain holiday night, you could bid for a future Uber ride—a FUber, if you will—based on a given hypothetical distance and surge factor, to guarantee yourself a spot in a car that evening. (The company might have to act as the sell-side broker, or allow drivers to select bids themselves). Gathering this price data in an open marketplace would give some sense of future prices; no more surprises. When the big night comes around, more drivers, having been alerted in advance by the rising prices of FUbers, could be on the road. That would mean lower prices for customers hailing on the spur of the moment. Unexpected surges could create a thriving secondary market for FUber brokers. And the company, instead of taking the flak for its high prices, could simply blame speculators. Think of it like a museum selling timed tickets to deal with a surge in demand at popular exhibits, but more efficient in theory and way more complicated in practice.

2. Start an Uber loyalty program

Given that Uber has already shown its affinity for airline and hotel pricing schemes, why not go the whole hog? By adding a loyalty program, like airline miles, Uber could let users accumulate credits based on distance traveled, money spent, number of trips or all three. The credits could then be cashed in for free future trips or lower surge multiples. The company could further placate loyal customers by letting the credits accumulate faster during surge pricing, just as you get more miles if you fly business class. It could delight its very best customers by always charging them a lower multiple during the surge (like an airline giving free cabin upgrades) or never charge them a multiple at all (like waiving baggage, ticket-change, and standby fees). New customers and those who rarely use the service would still be asked to pay higher fares during surge pricing, but that would just give them an incentive to become loyal repeat customers.

Tonight’s Uber surge pricing nightmare doesn’t have to happen next New Year’s Eve

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Xiaomi aims to double smartphone sales to 40 million in 2014

We’re hours away from the start of 2014, but the founder and CEO of young Chinese phone-maker Xiaomi is already thinking ahead to the end of next year. In a post on his Weibo page, Lei Jun says the company is aiming to ship 40 million phones in 2014. (Update: Xiaomi VP Li Wangqiang has retweeted Lei’s Weibo post and mentions that 30 million of those phones will be sold online by Xiaomi itself, with the remaining 10 million going to various telco partners).

That would be double Xiaomi’s target for 2013, which is set at 20 million. In 2012, the company sold just over seven million of its Android-based phones – and that was the company’s first full year of sales.

(See: Xiaomi’s budget smartphone redefines what you get for just $130 – REVIEW)

For a sense of scale, Samsung sold 30 million phones in mainland China in 2012. But Xiaomi won’t necessarily be bigger than Samsung in China if the startup company hits its newest target. That’s because Samsung’s sales are growing in China thanks to its big-screen phones, and we must factor in the fact that Xiaomi will sell more of its phones outside of mainland China in 2014.

Xiaomi has already opened official sales channels in Hong Kong and Taiwan earlier in 2013. Its next step might be in neighboring markets, such as Singapore. Indeed, Xiaomi representatives have indicated to us that a Singapore office is being considered, with sales to Singapore and elsewhere in Southeast Asia the “most likely” next move in 2014.

(Editing by Willis Wee)

The post Xiaomi aims to double smartphone sales to 40 million in 2014 appeared first on Tech in Asia.

Xiaomi aims to double smartphone sales to 40 million in 2014

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

Who is the self-proclaimed prophet who launched a coup on Congolese breakfast TV?

Viewers of the Congolese breakfast TV show Le Panier (“The Breadbasket”) got a rude shock yesterday when the studio of the state broadcaster was stormed by armed disciples of a religious leader in an abortive overthrow of the government, resulting in the death of around 100 people.

The show’s presenters were taken hostage in a scene of “utter confusion,” France24 reported. At one point, “a vuvuzela incongruously appeared on the set,” as men with machetes and sticks tried to broadcast a message on behalf of Paul Joseph “Gideon” Mukungubila, an evangelical preacher who unsuccessfully ran for president of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006. Power to the station was eventually cut and soldiers retook control of the capital city, Kinshasa, by the end of the day.

Mukungubila, 66, has built an extensive following via radio and TV broadcasts and calls himself “the prophet of the eternal.” He rails against current president Joseph Kabila, alleging that he is Rwandan instead of Congolese—tapping into anti-Rwanda sentiment in a country that has a contentious relationship with its vastly smaller neighbor. Kabila’s father, the late Laurent Kabila, came to power in 1997 with the military backing of the post-genocide Rwandan government, part of a massive regional war that displaced millions.

“Paul Mukungubila is the prophet of God, by whom the creator is speaking to us on this world today on this last stage Christ ministry after the saint land had been profaned by unbelievers,” reads a statement on his group’s website. Mukungubila is from the southeastern province of Katanga, and has criticized the government’s peace deal with the M23 rebels, who recently agreed to lay down arms.

He told foreign press outlets that the storming of the state broadcaster and concurrent attacks by his followers on the Kinshasa airport and several military buildings were provoked by a government attack on his residence. He is now in hiding at an undisclosed location, from where he told France24, “We are going to show what we are capable of.”

Who is the self-proclaimed prophet who launched a coup on Congolese breakfast TV?

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK

One of the great things about social media conferences is not seeing number and stats or hearing about platform updates, but learning how brands are creatively using social media to drive business success. There were many success stories shared by brands at Social Media Matters today and many of them will be posted on  ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters following the event. In the meantime, here’s a few to get you started.

Happiness is easy! Coca-Cola’s “Project Re: Brief” invited fans to send a free Coca-Cola across the world and share a little happiness with someone they’ve never met. Creativity doesn’t always mean big.  The idea was simple (though logistics for Coca-Cola was likely very complicated) and the user experience was painless. Select a location, write a message, send a coke and make someone happy (or even a new friend).

American Express has the image of being traditional and stuffy and perceived as “my dad’s credit card” or a business traveler’s card.  American Express explained the concept of “brand reappraisal” through their Unstaged Initiative, a partnership with YouTube and VEVO that features some of the world’s most influential artists, directors and filmmakers to connect the online audience to the live shows in unexpected ways.  More HERE

Luxury brands want to maintain control at the global level, but should also capitalize on local opportunities that spark creative consumer engagement.   An example of this is Estee Lauder’s “V-Shape Photo Taking” idea, where the brand invited its Facebook fans to submit their photo alongside the launch of their new facial serum. The implication – if you use the Estee Lauder serum, you will no longer need to take top-down photos to create the v-shape effect (a common practice for women in HK).

Stay tuned!  Other great cases from Social Media Matters will be made available at ogilvydo.com/socialmediamatters.

 

Social+Creativity=Success #SMMHK