SEPTEMBER 3, 2009

Companies Using Twitter Creatively

I’ve been seeing some interesting examples lately of companies using Twitter to increase engagement with customers and make their products better. Here are two I really liked:

1. Kodak’s crowdsourcing.  Kodak has a pocket videocamera currently called the Zi8, which is similar to the Flip videocamera. Kodak wanted a new name for the camera, and apparently wasn’t happy with what it came up with internally. So, it turned to “the crowd” for ideas. The contest: submit a new name for the camera via Twitter or the company’s blog, and if your name is chosen, you get a trip to CES 2010 in Vegas to see the camera revealed. Another 100 people chosen at random from those that submitted entries will get free cameras too. I love this promotion - it got people thinking about the product, and judging from what I saw, inspired a lot of really creative entries. (I submitted 6 myself - Kodak, when do we find out who won?). I also have been enjoying tweets from Jeffrey Hayzlett, Kodak’s CMO, who allows his followers a fascinating glimpse into what he does all day long. I like hearing about his meetings, and guessing at the strategic directions Kodak is taking, as described briefly in 140 characters. 

2. Fox’s “Tweetpeats”. Tomorrow night, Fox is re-airing an episodes of one of its TV shows, “Glee”. “Glee” is a new show for Fox whose pilot aired once last spring and again last night.  The Friday airing will be a little different - it will feature cast tweets across the screen as the show airs.  The tweets will answer fan questions and offer behind-the-scenes commentary on the episode. I think this is brilliant - it gets viewers involved, it generates interest in a new show, and it adapts to the new multi-tasking reality of how we enjoy our entertainment these days.

I love seeing the creative ways companies are using Twitter to engage in conversation about their brands. Nice work, Fox and Kodak.