Forget Traditional Advertising, Think Digital Media Marketing!

Brands, It's Time To Re-Think Your Digital Media Marketing Strategy

Is it time to for brands to re-think their digital media marketing strategy? With the new year quickly approaching, many brands have reported that they are increasing their digital marketing dollars to keep up with the burgeoning trend of branded content for online ads.

Knowing that the celebrity sells well in the digital space and witnessing the growing success of digital content ads. Heineken USA’s most recent digital media ad featuring Neil Patrick Harris exceeded the brand’s initial expectations with the ad’s reach extending to 35 million users in the space of three days. 

Brand Marketers Are Hailing Facebook Video An Equal Player To YouTube

The ad made its debut through Facebook utilizing the social media platform’s video player tool, which Heineken USA’s social media director of marketing, Ron Amram, is hailing to be an “equal player to YouTube.” Heineken USA is giving thanks to Facebook for the ad’s performance and effectiveness, and stated they believe that the platform has the potential to go beyond that of television.

Facebook debuted auto-play video ads approximately nine months ago, and has quickly caught up with video hosting sites such as YouTube. One of the secrets to the success of Heineken USA’s campaign is credited to Facebook’s reach, and the established and at-the-ready target audience of 21 – 34 year-olds using the social platform. In three days, the Neil Patrick Harris Heineken ad was exposed to 35 million Facebook users, producing 5.5 million views – meaning that the conversion rate of reach turning into audiences watching was 16 percent.

Facebook As A Video Platform For Brands

As a social platform, Facebook gives brands and advertising agencies the power to go beyond traditional television and digital media video hosting sites such as YouTube. With Facebook, a variety of content can be made available to accompany the video. This gives site users the opportunity to engage with more content including:

• Additional pages leading to additional relevant content;
• The opportunity to learn more;
• Ability to watch extended videos, and
• Engagement with other users who are fans of the content.

In a sense, it accelerates the reach of the commercial, and provides “freebies” for continuous consumer engagement with the brand and the brand’s social platforms.

Facebook Video Is Already Exceeding Brand Marketers' Expectations

Heineken USA reports that using Facebook to host their video ad has proven to exceed their expectations. This remarkable performance has also been felt by sister-brand Dos Equis, who chose to host their video Cinco de Mayo digital content on Facebook. The brand saw their sales rise by 6.6 percent, and received a ROI of $3.35 back for every dollar spent.

What other digital campaigns using celebrities do you think have been a success? Additionally, what brand categories leverage digital and celebrity the best?

Branded digital content combined with celebrity endorsements are two effective entertainment marketing tools that are received well by consumers. But there are even more tactics that are more effective than you may think!  

Learn More

Are you interested in learning how to successfully partner celebrities to your brand - without spending a million?  Watch this short webinar to learn Hollywood insider tricks to create and kick start an entertainment marketing campaign that is the perfect extension for your social media program.