Interesting Google mash-up
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- 28 Responses
- robertkerr
I've just been taking a look at something Clarityn seem to have created/sponsored:
www.livingfortheweekends.co.uk
It's a good example of how brands are starting to use Facebook widgets, Twitter, and a great user experience to build a loyal audience base.
- web0
just added an event, google integration works well... am i gonna use it to manage the stuff i do this summer? err...
is it me or does everything have a f*cking widget nowadays?!
- robertkerr0
I can see myself checking this thing as the weekends approach. I've stuck the widget in my iGoogle page so it's easy to check what's happening near me over the weekend.
- thebottlerocket0
"I've just been taking a look at something Clarityn seem to have created/sponsored:"
Does "Just been taking a look" mean "the agency I work for, has just created a site for Clarityn" or is it more
"I am work for a marketing agency, and I am trying to see the site at a few choice places, hence why my login is but a day old, i have only posted once and my site url is the site i am trying to promote but pretend i just stumbled upon?"
Now, Is it a good example of brands 'starting to use facebook widgets' ? Lots of buzzwords there for an event calender.
- Busted!seven7
- this is a sweet response... you've got to be annoyed about that.web
- It is a good response. I'm not part of an agency though. However, I am going to make a concerted effort not to sound like a marketing twat in the future.robertkerr
- ...like such a marketing twat in the future.robertkerr
- seven70
What's the point of the Twitter feed not even showing the tweets on the page? It's almost an anti-mashup.
- thebottlerocket0
"I can see myself checking this thing as the weekends approach. I've stuck the widget in my iGoogle page so it's easy to check what's happening near me over the weekend."
Is that is because you work for the marketing agency that holds the Clarityn Accoun? But hang on, you've convinced me you sly dog! i'm going to donwload it right now! Clarityn 'own' weekends now, its the brand you think of when you think 'what shall i do this weekend'
Tell me, thats almost the exact words you used when you pitched the idea to them, right?
- thebottlerocket0
Ironically, This site is a classic case of an agency doing this stuff badly, an agency who patently doesn't understand social media and simply drops phrases like 'facebook app' and 'igoogle' and 'twitter'.
Firstly, I question the value this app has in the first place, but rather than create something valuable, like most marketing agencies they see an opportunity to push message over content, and thats exactly what happening here. There is pretty much nothing of value here to the Clarityn brand and more importantly nothing of lasting value to the consumer.
- nicely saidBluejam
- You might be right. I think there's some good and some bad stuff here (not my site though :)robertkerr
- seopher0
I don't know, I think that's a bit harsh. There's something to be said for trying to associate the outdoor festivals with hayfever relief.
"There is pretty much nothing of value here to the Clarityn brand"
Maybe not directly, but surely a positive association with going outside and hayfever relief makes sense?
It's not the sort of thing I'd install as a widget on my Facebook but it's a perfectly acceptable way of showing what events are around. I submitted one event to it, although not sure what benefit I get from doing so.
- thebottlerocket0
Seopher - another new account opener, conveniently located near Cambridge, the same location as RobertKerr and the same location as the agency who has the Clarityn account, which robert was here to promote.
I smell a rat....
- sadly enough for me, this thread is making my day... lol.web
- Was 911 by any chance a Jewish conspiracy?robertkerr
- Have you a twin named Wayne?thebottlerocket
- That's the first time I've been asked that. You should win a prize.robertkerr
- thebottlerocket0
But taking what you say on face value... this comment needs a repsonse
"..Maybe not directly, but surely a positive association with going outside and hayfever relief makes sense?"
Of course it makes sense, but it makes sense for any brand that might have some vague outdoor connection. Blacks could do an event calender with facebook apps and igoogle to promote their walking boots as the 'walkwear of choice for the weekend"
The thing is, there is nothing uniquely Clarityn about this. But since the tone of the campaign is that 'Clarity is in the background' the real problem is that there is nothing uniquely Clarityn about the way the app works.
The app isn't anything that a google calender doesn't do or any other combination of web apps do. And like is said, that makes it forgettable as it provides nothing of lasting value to the consumer, and nothing of lasting value in a uniquely 'clarityn' way.
- seopher0
Rodent aromas aside, it seems a bit sobering to be reminded how many days of summer remain =/
- seopher0
No I agree, because it's a season-oriented site I'd be amazed if it's online beyond the 90something days left of summer; so you're quite right that it doesn't offer a long term brand-advantage. Although offline it might make an impact, but I'm yet to see any of the supporting media.
Their twitter feeds aren't branded Clarityn either, so obviously it wasn't one of their objectives.
- thebottlerocket0
Long term brand advantage?
It hardly offers any brand advantage at all, no matter how short. This is why roberts orignal respnse was so off the mark:
"it's a good example of how brands are starting to use Facebook widgets, Twitter, and a great user experience to build a loyal audience base."
It doesn't do any of those things robert mentions, its actually a really bad example of how to use all those things.
- thebottlerocket0
And Robert..why did you change you email address to a generic Yahoo account away from your original robert.kerr@golleyslater.co.uk email address....one of the marketing agency that Clarityn uses?
- robertkerr0
Hey, call me Rob. Some fair points have been made but I still think some of the "drier" brands have got the right idea going down this route. Is there lasting value? I'd say it's too early to say.
Anyone have any better examples of how these platforms are being used by "unlikely" brands?
- There was a cool mash-up plotting swine-flu outbreaks with their respective news stories, but not exactly a "brand"seopher
- seopher0
I'm not sure, it looks like all the events are pushed into Twitter which is quite handy, albeit no different from an RSS feed.
I think it does try to combine having fun outside and the brand, so I get the link but whether someone who isn't familiar with marketing would is another thing. Like I said, considering their brand isn't plastered all over it means it was a conscious decision.
I've got an event in it at least, not seen anything quite like it - although can't say I have been looking either.
- thebottlerocket0
And Robert, you even changed you profile pic to my pic too!
So i thought I would return the favour. Tell me, was this taken during your 'ABC' period?
http://www.robert-kerr.com/index…
- Autokern0
This abc period?
- Jnr_Madison0
This is a fucking weird thread.
- thebottlerocket0
It is the most bizarre one I have ever been involved with
- robertkerr0
Let's never fight again.