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How to Avoid the Social Media Stupidity of These Four Brands

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Social media is a great place for companies to engage consumers (or infuriate them), gain media attention (sometimes the bad type of attention) and promote their brand (or promote boycotting their brand).

Sure, we've all made a mistake or two on social media (just ask Anthony Weiner), but it's a place where brands need to be extra cautious of what they say.

Here are four companies that have made major social media mistakes - and what we can learn from them. Perhaps you've heard of these blunders before but it would seem there can never be enough tutelage in this space.

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by Steve Hall    Jan- 7-14    
Topic: Social



Samsung Fails at CES With Michael Bay Meltdown

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Why brands feel they have to do scripted interviews rather than, you know, actual interviews where people actually think about the question in a mystery. But if you've ever been to CES or any other big marketing event, you are familiar with this cringe-worthy experience.

Speaking of cringe-worthy, how does a marketer make a cringe-worthy event even more cringe-worthy? Well if you're Samsung and you invite Michael Bay to a keynote Q&A and he screws up his TelePrompTer lines, that's how.

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by Steve Hall    Jan- 7-14    
Topic: Events



Havas Brings Hefty Dose of Sexy to Garbage Men...For Hefty

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Havas Chicago has created a very Liquid Plumber-like ad for Hefty to tout the brand's new Ultimate trash bags. In the ad, three buff guys -- and one not so buff guy just to make it PC -- tantalize a woman with the bag's ultimate features.

Not double entendre-laden as the Liquid Plumber work but off the beaten p[ath for garbage bag ads for sure.

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by Steve Hall    Jan- 6-14    
Topic: Strange



80% of Super Bowl Ads Don't Work

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A recently released study of 1,000 consumers concludes 80% of Super Bowl ads do not achieve sales for brands. The study, which surveyed respondent before and after they viewed 2012 and 2013 Super Bowl ads, was conducted by Tucson-based research firm Communicus.

Communicus queried participants about their buying patterns - recently bought and intend to buy -- in product categories represented in Super Bowl ads. It also surveyed whether or not respondents saw Super Bowl ads.

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by Steve Hall    Jan- 6-14    
Topic: Research, Super Bowl 2014



P&G's Thank You Mom Sequel Will Tear You Up Just Like the Original

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Wieden + Kennedy has accomplished greatness again for P&G with its sequel to the 2012 "Best Job" which paid homage to all the hard work moms do for their children. The sequel, entitled "Pick Them Back Up," again, pays homage to moms, this time with a focus on the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

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by Steve Hall    Jan- 6-14    
Topic: Commercials



Kids and Glory Holes to Win Doritos Crash the Super Bowl

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Doritos has unveiled its five finalists for its Crash the Super Bowl ad competition. Of the five finalists, two are quite lame and, oddly, are based on the exact same scenario. It's quite clear we won't see either Office Thief or Breakroom Ostrich during the game.

The other three, Time Machine, Finger Cleaner and Cowboy Kid all show promise.

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by Steve Hall    Jan- 6-14    
Topic: Super Bowl 2014



Ben & Jerry's Gets It Right With Colorado Marijuana Tweet

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While social media has done wonders form brands in many respects, it has also created a dangerous landscape which is now littered with failed attempts by brands to capitalize on breaking news or trends. Many brands have the best of intentions but most fail miserably.

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by Steve Hall    Jan- 6-14    
Topic: Social



Old Spice 'Momsong' Ad Is the Best Weirdest Ad You Will Ever See

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To a teenager there's nothing worse than having your mother creep into your social life. Yet, that's exactly what a group of moms does in this new Old Spice ad called Momsong. In the ad, the moms break into song and lament the fact their little boys are turning into grown men. Mothers emerge from behind closed doors, from the sky, in a laundry basket dragging behind a car, from underneath couch cushions and from behind creepy looking janitor masks.

The ad debuted last Friday and already has over one million views on YouTube. It is, by far, one of the craziest ads we have ever seen.

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by Steve Hall    Jan- 6-14    
Topic: Strange



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