Trending on Twitter #popular

As I was scrolling through my Twitter news feed last night I came across a very interesting tweet from one of my friends. It said: "Twitter is like one big family watching TV together." Wow. I  had never thought of it like that but it was completely accurate. My feed consisted of comments about everything from the Grammys to the final runs of the X Games to The Bachelor Wedding. Even though I personally was watching the X Games, I knew exactly what was going on in the Grammys when Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons killed it on stage and Daft Punk won every award; simultaneously I knew all of Catherine's vows from The Bachelor Wedding. Everyone had an opinion and I knew them all, as if I was sitting right beside them watching each show.

(trends from January 26th)

Today Twitter has become a major source to keep up with the latest and greatest things going on in the world. If something gets trending, you will be sure to know about it within minutes of happening. The reason Twitter has done so well is because of the concept of  the "live feed." As it happens, you see every reaction and update in real-time.

My Twitter feed personally is full of game scores, the latest recruiting statuses, and a plethora of coaching changes. This is where I look to get the most updated information when I don't have time to look up full stories online. Every team, agency, venue, and player seems to have an account today; this is how they stay connected with the fan base. This brief interactions with players are more personal than just reading a story or seeing them on TV.

(fans reach out to football player Orson Charles for his birthday)

The sport industry has caught on to the power of marketing through Twitter. I look forward to seeing the continuation of highlights, fan interactions, and quick headlines. Look out for next week when I tie this Sunday's Super Bowl buzz to Twitter.

The "BIG" Game: Super Bowl Ads

Yes, Super Bowl Sunday is less than TWO weeks away and the beloved Peyton Manning and his Denver Broncos will be taking on the "rising star" Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. Should be a game for the ages, right? Well many companies certainly think so as they wait patiently all year hoarding their advertising budgets for this monster event. So as we approach the big game, I decided to dive in a little deeper into the event that is not just about the final score anymore.    

Over the years, Super Bowl Sunday has become a huge event not only to all sports fans, but to companies with money to spend. There has been a steady rise since the new millennium on Super Bowl advertising that one can contribute to the new age of online media and growth.However, cost is outgrowing the number of traditional TV views over the last two decades. So why would a company spend the estimated price-tag of $4 million dollars this year for a 30 second spot?

Two Words: BUZZ MARKETING

Since the Super Bowl Ads have become part of the main event, they are actually generating more views then the game itself, with over 109 million viewers tuning in for the ads last year. The views do not stop here however. Buzz Marketing comes into play when the viewership continues for weeks and weeks after the commercial aired. Particularly good commercials, like my personal favorite from last year of the Budweiser Clydesdales (click it, you know you want to), are shared among groups and viewed again and again on social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. This is where many companies believe that the $4 million upfront cost pays off. Free advertising continues long after the initial viewing through consumer word of mouth; we are literally advertising for the company and it is not going to end anytime soon. As more buzz generates around the ads and the ads themselves become better and better, social media will become a major platform for advertising without the companies spending anymore money. Expect to see some well-known players like Anheusr-Buch InBev, Chevorlet, Coca-Cola, and Audi all back and better than ever for Super Bowl XLVIII (2014 Super Bowl Ad Chart).

So go forth and re-watch some of your favorite ads from 2013 and get ready to find new favorites for the year, I know I will be.

Sources:
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-20/super-bowl-ad-insanity-explained-in-six-charts
http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2001-07-29/buzz-marketing
http://www.superbowl-commercials.org/23531.html