Kia Motors America embraces the Facebook marketing pitch with the launch of the “Go Hamster Go” Facebook app that makes use of face-recognition technology as well to through the use of webcams for people who have one.

The highlight of the game is the 2010 Kia Soul urban passenger vehicle. The player controls the competition with his or her face using a virtual magnet that “connects” to his or her forehead. The object of the game is to grab a hamster with the magnet as it comes off of a conveyer belt and place it into a Soul as an onscreen clock ticks down.

Each hamster wears a colored t-shirt mirroring a Soul paint color (Java, Alien Green, Molten, etc.), and when the player successfully drops a hamster into a Soul, the car turns into that color and drives away, while the next empty Soul arrives. The exit window lists the final score as well as the many exciting personalization options the user managed to add to the Soul.

This new marketing strategy and ad campaign promises to be something that should build on the 2010 Kia Soul vehicle. With Facebook making strides and posing as a new form of promotional campaign, expect the Soul to benefit a lot from this new game like most products marketed via this popular social networking site.

(Source) Press

Tags: ad campaign, clock ticks, conveyer belt, exit window, face recognition technology, facebook, final score, forehead, hamster, KIA, kia motors america, launch, making strides, marketing strategy, new game, new marketing, paint color, personalization options, social networking site

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Michelin North America was forced to make some edits for its Michelin Fuel Efficient Tires ad campaign when Tennessee natives complained about the inconsistency on the savings that motorists can get from using their new fuel efficient tires.

Michelin thus agreed to make the minor changes to its ad and will also be paying $375,000 to cover the cost of investigating the whole issue. Michelin also stressed that they followed prevailing Federal Trade Commission advertising guidelines and denied any wrongdoing.

Tennessee’s complaint alleged “that Michelin’s fuel efficiency advertisements did not adequately disclose that the advertised costs savings were based solely on savings in fuel costs, not on the comparative costs of competing tires,” the attorney general said.

“The ads did not mention consumers may save more money by buying a cheaper tire or other cost-saving factors. Further, the state’s review of Michelin’s own studies indicates that its tires are only the most fuel efficient in 78% of its classes of tires. The states also expressed concern that footnote disclosures regarding the fuel efficiency advertisements were not clear and conspicuous.”

(Source) Tire Review

Tags: ad campaign, advertisements, advertising guidelines, comparative costs, federal trade commission, fuel efficiency, fuel efficient tires, michelin, michelin north america, motorists

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In an effort to strengthen the brand recall for its 2010 Ford Fusion and other cars, Ford has partnered with Gas Station TV to provide powerful Echo Ads to help reaffirm the advertiser’s initial message or can complement an alternate marketing message.

Echo Ads move the viewer to action, with directional tags or specific action requests, such as a visit to the advertiser’s Web site, drive to retail location, or to use a mobile phone to receive more product information.

Gas Station TV’s Echo Ad offering is a strategically placed 5- or 10-second spot that runs in addition to the advertiser’s initial 15- or 30-second spot during the Gas Station TV network programming experience. The second ad allows advertisers to increase message frequency, further drive action and raise metrics for overall campaigns.

Ford is the first advertiser to run an Echo Ad campaign on the Gas Station TV network beginning March 16. The Echo Ad service offering was initially created to complement the 2010 Ford Fusion + Hybrid launch campaign, inform consumers about the product, introduce them to the product’s message and bring consumers to action by driving them to visit the nearest Ford dealership and http://www.fordvehicles.com.

(Source) Press

Tags: ad campaign, advertiser, campaigns, consumers, Ford, ford dealership, ford fusion, gas station, mobile phone, tv network

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