Gatorade Gets it Right

A couple weeks ago I did a post entitled "Viral Video Done Right". In that post, I talked about NewTeeVee blogger Liz Shannon Miller and her thoughts about what makes a successful viral video campaign. With Liz's thoughts in mind, I'd like to share another example of a viral video that I believe deserves some serious kudos.

If you haven't seen it yet, take a peek below:



Though you wouldn't necessarily know it just by watching it once, this video was done by Gatorade. (If you watch it again you'll see the Gatorade bottle by her feet.) Supposedly the original version included some text referring to Gatorade, but subsequent versions have lost the ad copy and it's now running like wildfire across the Internet.

Great job, Gatorade. Proof again that in order to be viral, keep your focus on entertainment, not necessarily marketing.

Tomatoes Create Headlines

As PR practitioners, we are always reminding our clients about the need for a crisis communications plan. No matter the industry – healthcare, technology, restaurant or education – you can never predict when a crisis will hit, or what the crisis will be. On June 4, in a move to ensure the health and safety of its customers, GroundFloor Media client Qdoba Mexican Grill pulled raw tomatoes from its menu in response to a reported salmonella outbreak among certain varieties of tomatoes.

Kudos to Qdoba for jumping on this issue before it became a media headliner! Together with the client, GroundFloor Media had time to help craft messaging and developed signage surrounding the preventative measure – and sure enough, the phones started ringing. Thanks to a fantastic partnership with our client and a willingness to drop everything and walk in lock-step, not only have we navigated a sea of nationwide media inquiries, the combined GroundFloor Media/Qdoba team actually maintained a sense of humor and, dare I say, is comfortably prepared to tackle the next crisis that comes our way.

If you’re contemplating adding a crisis communications plan to your “PR toolbox”, keep in mind these basic principles:

1. Develop your key message(s) and stick to them
2. Respond to the media as quickly as possible, but take time to gather the facts before answering
3. Follow through on commitments to answer additional questions the media may have
4. Utilize your corporate Web site to disseminate information to key audiences

A Wine Tasting for Two Outstanding Causes

On April 28, Morton’s in LoDo hosted its 5th Annual Wine Tasting to benefit Tennyson Center for Children, one of the Rocky Mountain region’s leading treatment centers for victims of child abuse, and the Third Way Center, one of Denver’s largest and most highly respected treatment centers for high-risk, homeless, mentally ill and disadvantaged youth.

The wine was flowing, the food was spectacular and some of Denver’s brightest stars were in attendance, including Bob and Claudia Beauprez, LaFawn Biddle, Bill and Julie Clark (of Baby Einstein fame), former first lady Frances Owens and her daughter Monica, and our very own Katherine Davis and Laura Love (see photo).

The event, which included both a silent and a live auction, featured fabulous wines from a dozen exclusive vintners along with Morton's premium fare. Items up for auction included a winery visit and tasting for four at the Joseph Phelps Vineyards, an in-home three-course dinner for eight prepared by Morton’s executive chef, a 3-liter bottle of wine autographed by Avalanche and Nuggets players, as well as jewelry, vacations, wines, spa packages and more.

The event raised more than $72,000 for the two centers. An outstanding sum, no doubt, but the organizations can always use more. With that in mind, here comes the unabashed plug for your support – please take a minute to visit their Web sites at http://www.childabuse.org/ and http://www.thirdwaycenter.org/.

The event coincided with National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. But to make sure that Colorado’s kids are top priority every month of the year, check out the Children’s Action Agenda on Tennyson Center’s Web site – http://www.childabuse.org/ecm-caa.html. Tennyson Center and the Every Child Matters Education Fund have partnered to present this legislative agenda prepared by a coalition of children’s organizations and advocates. By signing it, you can help Colorado take a giant step toward improving the lives of all of its children.

I admit it... I am a taco.

It's Cinco de Mayo and nearing lunch time, so it's the perfect time to come out of the closet and admit that I am a taco through and through. I'm conscientious and a perfectionist and sometimes I tend to take over projects (although I prefer the term "leading" to "taking over")... I can become pretty engrossed in my work - but that makes me an ideal worker, at least according to Dr. Alan Hirsch.

Together with Qdoba Mexican Grill, Dr. Hirsch completed a fun new study to help people realize their Q-dentity, also known as what your Mexican food preferences say about your personality. GroundFloor Media dreamed up the Q-dentity concept and worked together with Dr. Hirsch and our great clients at Qdoba to bring this fun concept to life. Wonder what your Q-dentity is? Simply follow this link and all will be revealed: www.qdoba.com/qdentity.

For the record, GroundFloor Media's office is filled with a blend of burritos (they crave excitement), quesadillas (dependable), chips & salsa (achievement oriented), taco salad (easy going), nachos (self sufficient) and us tacos. Be sure to ask your GroundFloor Media friends about their Q-dentity next time you talk to them! You'll be surprised how revealing their Mexican food personalities and yours can be!

Tasty Tips

GroundFloor Media has a number of restaurant clients and, as someone who loves to eat I am lucky enough to help dream up delicious PR tactics to help keep these clients in the news! I recently came across an article from the AP about how other food lovers have leveraged the internet to share critiques of their favorite foods through food-related blogs. Even more interesting, the food companies whose food these bloggers review are finding unique ways to put their offerings in front of these online critics - who aren't afraid to start food fights if the food items aren't up to snuff.

Enjoy this article - it's deliciously interesting and I guarantee you'll find yourself bookmarking some of these sites and coming back for seconds! http://tinyurl.com/3bnpzv