MIZZOU Gets Creative With Its Billboards...

Are you looking to implement a unique billboard campaign that drives eyeballs?

The University of Missouri recently created a unique billboard campaign in Kingdom City, Missouri that captures the attention of all passerby consumers. The University used six (6) billboards to spell out M-I-Z-Z-O-U along a half-mile stretch of I-70... one cannot help but look at the billboards.

The University of Missouri accompanied each of the prominently featured letters with a website, ticket hotline number, or motivational message.

Check out a video below of the view that drivers have of this classic billboard campaign along the highway!

Never Underestimate Humor as a Sponsorship Tool...

Are you looking to create a unique viral clip to drive awareness of your company's affiliation with a team? Are you looking for creative ways to tie humor into sports?

Heineken created a classic clip for the 2006 World Cup in support of the Netherlands soccer team in their game against Austria. The alcoholic beverage provider found a unique way to mix humor into their partnership. Check out the clip below:

Looking for a Unique Viral Campaign?

Are you looking for a unique way to drive awareness for your partnership with a fanbase? Are you looking to create an interesting viral campaign that will capture the attention of your targeted fanbase?

In 2006, Carlsberg created two (2) fantastic viral clips that demonstrate the passion of soccer fans (particularly team announcers). The company created a campaign that centers around the goal celebrations of two (2) opposing play-by-play announcers in the media booth (with subtle brand placement). The two (2) in-game opponents eventually agree one one thing... an ice cold Carlsberg beer. The ads are classic (even though they are in a foreign language) - check them out below!

What Happens When You Play Lebron in Horse?

PartnershipActivation.com featured an article in May on Cub Cadet's Trick Shot Challenge, a promotion that offered one (1) lucky contestant the chance to play Lebron James one-on-one in a game of horse. Consumers were asked to submit their best basketball trick shot to www.LebronsTrickShotChallenge.com.

The lucky winner turned out to be David Kalb, a warehouse worker whose amazing basketball trick shot granted him the chance to take Lebron on one-on-one... Check out what happened when the two (2) squared off in the clip below (hint, Lebron lost):

Take Caution With Promotional Stunts...

Week 1 of the college football season marks the first time that many collegiate athletic departments around the nation get to experiment with new promotional contests and stunts... While most stunts go according to plan, others do not. Check out two (2) stunts that went bad during the first week of the 2008 college football season:

The University of Cincinnati Bearcat Gets Caught in the Wires (While attempting to parachute into Nippert Stadium prior to the game before the team's season opener, the Cincinnati Bearcats mascot got caught in the wiring behind the uprights and fell 40 feet to the ground) 

Parachuters for the University of North Carolina Crash the Wrong Party (Two skydivers who were supposed to land in UNC's Kenan Stadium accidentally flew into Duke's Wallace Wade stadium nine (9) miles away, crashing the field during the team's pre-game festivities)

New Nike Viral - Train Like LT...

Are you interested in seeing ways that companies are leveraging their personalities in non-traditional ways? Are you looking for ways to connect figureheads in different sports?

Enclosed below is a viral clip that is destined to be a hit in the online space... LaDainian Tomlinson training with Kimbo Slice. The video, featured on Yardbarker, states that it is a Nike viral clip. If it is, there is extremely little product integration - the video solely focuses on building the LT brand.

Are You Reaching Fans During the Offseason?

Are you looking for new ways to incorporate messaging during the off-season? Are you looking for a way to capture the interests of consumers once your team has been eliminated from the postseason?

Check out a new Nike viral clip that was released at the beginning of July. The clip demonstrates that Nike does an excellent job of understanding the mentality of fans once their their (team's) season has come to an end. Instead of going dark during the off-season period, Nike provides a remedy for fans (which just so happens to benefit them) who now have a greater amount of leisure time to take part in other activities. The clip does a great job encouraging fans to check out NikeSoccer.com.

Looking to Promote Your Team's New Uniform?

Are you looking to create awareness around your team's new uniform? Are you looking for a consumer engaging guerrilla tactic that will hopefully spur jersey sales?

Adidas recently found a unique way to drive awareness for their new Ajax Amsterdam jersey. The footwear/apparel maker recently conducted an Ajax Shirt Swap, where they had consumers in the Leidseplein marketplace (Amsterdam) swap their clothing for the new Ajax soccer jersey. Adidas did a great job capturing the event and created a :30 viral clip to drive awareness around the globe. Check it out!

Update on Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at 07:06AM by Brian Gainor

Looking to Make a Statement With Your Brand?

Are you looking to make a statement with your brand? Are you looking for an out-of-the-box idea that will generate large sums of publicity?

Betfair.com spent four (4) months of preparation to grow the world's largest billboard to welcome travelers as they flew into Vienna for the 2008 Euro Football Championship. The Betfair.com "home grown" billboard, which says 'NO. 1 FOR FOOTBALL AND STILL GROWING!', covers the space of 50 football fields; a space that is equivalent to laying the Empire State Building end-on-end three (3) times.

The results? Over 1MM airline passengers saw the billboard while flying into Vienna International Airport in June and the billboard was officially ratified as the World's Largest Advertising Hoarding by the Guinness Book of World Records. There is no word as to what it cost Betfair.com to create the billboard.

In all, the billboard took:

• Four (4) months of preparation time to grow
• Nine tons of wheat seed
• 53,000 marigold plants
• 1.5km of cotton
• Various other plants (rape, camomile, mustard, clover, poppies, grass)

Source: Betfair.com

Update on Thursday, August 7, 2008 at 06:50AM by Brian Gainor

NFL Fantasy Files Draws Millions of Impressions...

Over the past three (3) years, the NFL and Reebok have collaborated with Blue Room on an incredible viral campaign called the NFL Fantasy Files. The clips, designed to drive traffic to NFL.com, were broadcasted online and on video boards in stadiums across the nation.

The viral program has been incredibly successful… generating 4.7MM YouTube impressions.

The campaign started in 2006 with three (3) viral features (Neil Rackers, Chris Simms, and Braylon Edwards) and was continued in 2007 with six (6) additional features (Marques Colston, Mike Nugent, Andre Johnson, Jason Campbell, David Akers, and Marc Bulger).

The two (2) parties are collaborating on another set of videos in 2008. Thus far, The Fantasy File series includes features from Laurence Maroney, Mason Crosby, Chris Cooley, and Chris Chambers.

When you have a moment, check out the videos below – they are a MUST SEE (while watching, brainstorm some ideas of how your organization/supporting partners can create similar viral tactics to stimulate buzz and relevancy):

Neil Rackers Video Clip

Chris Simms Video Clip

Braylon Edwards Video Clip

Marques Colston Video Clip

Mike Nugent Video Clip

Andre Johnson Video Clip

Jason Campbell Video Clip

David Akers Video Clip

Mark Bulger Video Clip

Laurence Maroney Video Clip

Mason Crosby Video Clip

Chris Cooley Video Clip

Chris Chambers Video Clip

A special thanks to ViralBlog for their August 6th feature on the success of this viral campaign.