Integration and Extension – Why Super Bowl Ads Were Mostly a Fail

Published February 17, 2012 | By Social Gillie Staff

Despite widespread adoption of Social Media, most companies are still missing the point and failing to engage the medium effectively or powerfully. This was evidenced with the ads at the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI; there were few extensions and few integrations beyond the initial hashtag or web link. Nearly a third miss going that far, according to Altimeter Group.

You’re not Thinking 4th Dimensionally

Most in the communications/promotions world think only 1 or 2 dimensionally. It results from a need to see how their personal work/project impacts a certain space – they put it out there, then gather metrics on their impact. It’s simple, it’s easy. It’s also short sighted. Like any field of play, a 3 dimensional player will eventually advance ahead of the 1 or 2 dimensional player. This is what made Tim Tebow so exciting to watch in his debut season. Just when the “stronger” team thought they had it won, Tebow pulled a new move that was not expected – like running his own touchdown play. (alright, enough with the football, back to business). For you sci-fi fans, this is the equivalent of James T. Kirk beating the no win scenario… by changing the rules of the test. To use social media effectively, you have to be able to “see the future” just a little bit.

This is why social media can be so powerful – it offers a relatively inexpensive means to move into a 3 or 4 dimensional plan against a more powerfully equipped opponent who has more resources for far less money. It sounds silly, but it works. Just ask Gary Vaynerchuk. All innovation is based on this principle – gain 1 dimension against your opponent and you can out-play them.

Watching the Super Bowl ads was disappointing. Most of us in the social media communications business expected LOTS of interactive commercials. Alas only a couple played their game using the new rules. The bad news is this means that so many companies still don’t get it. The good news is, for entrepreneurs and neophytes, you have a lot of opportunity to gain advantage by looking at those extra dimensional opportunities.

Three and a half Strategies to Give You Advantage:

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