Starbucks embraces Twitter |
Register here for our next TechFlash Live networking event, March 23, featuring an expert panel discussing the future of online advertising.
Starbucks embraces Twitter
Starbucks is incorporating the power of social media in its latest billboard advertising campaign, asking people who view the new ads to post messages and photos on Twitter, according to The New York Times. The report notes that the advertising posters -- part of a larger marketing effort to repel advances by rival McDonald's -- began appearing in six major cities today.
We've yet to see the posters around Seattle, so if you do let us know. In addition to the Twitter photo contest, The Times notes that the Seattle retailer plans to roll out YouTube videos with coffee experts and a contest for Starbucks employees to write headlines for upcoming ads.
The new ads take on the feel of a burlap sack, with edgy slogans such as "Starbucks or Nothing. Because Compromise Leaves A Really Bad Aftertaste" and "Beware Of A Cheaper Cup Of Coffee. It Comes With A Price."
Starbucks already has more than 183,000 followers on Twitter and 1.5 million fans on Facebook, with the latest marketing gimmick a way to reach some of its younger customers.
But not everyone is enamored with idea, with 24/7 Wall Street noting that it could "backfire" if the campaign comes across as "crass commercialism."
UPDATE: The twitter photo contest is taking place in Seattle, New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco and Washington D.C., with winners asked to submit their photos with the hash tag #top3percent on Twitter.
As of 10:10 a.m., Starbucks spokeswoman Bridget Baker said that no winners had been declared though a number of people had attempted to post the photo that appeared in The New York Times this morning.
"PS ... the photo from the NY times doesn't count. You have to take the photo!," the company wrote in a Twitter message a few minutes ago to those involved in the scavenger hunt.
Five winners will be declared today, with each getting a $20 Starbucks gift card. She said other online contests are planned for the week, with the promotional efforts part of a way to get people more involved with the coffee retailer's brand. Rules are here.
About John Cook
John Cook is co-founder and executive editor of TechFlash. He has been covering the technology beat for nearly a decade, writing about startups, entrepreneurs and venture capital, most recently serving as a reporter/blogger at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
READ FULL BIOGRAPHYRecent Sponsor Posts
Seattle University Software Engineering
Chinwe Okeke (MSE’08) pursued her graduate degree while working as a developer and technical analyst for the Boeing Company. She picked the SU-MSE program for small class sizes and real world learning opportunities offered through the academic service-learning and capstone projects.
The MSE program at Seattle University is geared for working professionals with classes offered in the evenings. The program builds upon the computing experience of its students and offers courses in a variety of technical and management areas of software engineering, with an emphasis on teamwork and a disciplined approach to problem solving.
Marchex is one of Seattle’s largest ad technology companies with 300+ employees providing call and click based performance marketing products, and managing over $100m in ad budget for tens of thousands of advertisers. Our customers range from local businesses to the Fortune 500.
Our talented and creative product engineering group is hiring.
If you are an innovative software design engineer interested in solving difficult problems at scale, across a wide array of technologies from Lucene to Hadoop to Asterisk and SIP then we’d love to hear from you!
Apply now.
Technology Tax Planning – Did You Take The Deduction?
Technology companies require professional advisors who can assist in all aspects of the business. The BDO Technology Practice provides a full range of services tailored to help address the changing needs of domestic and international companies. In addition to core audit and tax services, BDO professionals can assist technology companies with:
· Revenue recognition
· Business combination accounting
· R&D tax credits
· Compensation and benefits
· Business valuations
Backed by 38 national offices and an international network in 110 countries, we have the domestic and global footprint to serve growing technology companies. Contact sphilpott@bdo.com (audit partner), mreeves@bdo.com (audit partner), psmith@bdo.com (tax partner), tzambito@bdovaluation.us.com (valuation), tfiscus@bdo.com, Director, 206.624.2020
Job Listings
- Software Development Engineer - Display Advertising
- Business Services Company
- Director Enterprise Architecture - IT
- Starbucks Coffee Company
- Senior Program Manager - External - 713665
- Microsoft Corporation
- Quality Improvement Specialist
- HCR ManorCare
- Senior Software Development Engineer - eXtreme Computing Group - 708427
- Microsoft Corporation
