Buick’s all about creating impressions

If a car company gave you the opportunity to test drive a car overnight and included a company-themed yoga workout, mix-at-home company fragrances and a “company meditation map,” would that make you more likely to buy one of their vehicles?

That’s what Buick hopes, as its “24 Hours of Happiness Test Drive” marketing campaign was released last week. The company hopes this idea not only shows their interest in their consumers but creates an impression that Buick trusts their shoppers.

Typically a brand for an older demographic, Buick is now targeting a new generation of buyers and combined that with the trending topic of wellness.

This campaign notion reminded me of the quotation, “if you’re not innovating, you’re going backward.”

So ask yourself, how are you/your company innovating and constantly improving to the ever changing demands of today’s society?

Timing is key

iDough-iDough-pintIn light of today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling to legalize gay marriage, Ben & Jerry’s renaming of its staple “Chocolate-Chip Cookie Dough” ice cream couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Vermont-based ice cream shop, a long-time supporter of LGBT rights, changed the name of the carton to “I dough, I dough” for a limited time, with all the proceeds benefiting the Human Rights Campaign.

When you’re thinking about rebranding a product, do your research. Know what’s going on in the world. Also, be smart in the way you market your product. Not only did Ben & Jerry’s change the name, they also changed the image on the container.

PR and SEO’s relationship

On face value, SEO and public relations don’t seem like they can integrate, but I can think of a clear example.

One aspect of PR includes media relations. You work hard to pitch a story, and your efforts pay off when it gets placement, let’s say in a major publication like the Wall Street Journal. Even better, the author includes a link to your company or client’s website (in the online version of the story).

The inbound link is valuable because it means a third party is lending its credibility to your site, an important part of the formula that search engines use to rank websites.

This tactic is something that most SEO-only consultants can’t offer. Think of it as a value-add for working with a PR practitioner.