Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Hannah Schober - Social Media Campaign


The challenge:
Reinforce the Food Network brand by expanding their already existing social media efforts to attract current Food Network viewers and increase traffic to the website by new viewers. The Food Network already uses mobile apps, promoted through their website, including recipe applications and utilizing a Twitter account, capturing interactive foodies and cooking fans. However, these apps only carry tried and true recipes from Food Network chefs and shows, ignoring their competition shows. The goal of this campaign will be to add the on-the-fly recipes from competition shows like Chopped, Sweet Genius and Cupcake Wars to their already existing recipe app. This part of the app will be called Open The Basket. The app will also add a slot machine component, like UrbanSpoon’s app, to spin the user a strange combination of mystery ingredients to try on their own. Since the Food Network already has a strong community on Twitter, we will use Twitter to develop hype around the change. There will be hashtags of #OpenTheBasket, and perhaps a system of awarding points for every recipes tried that is uploaded from the app onto Twitter, given a photo of the receipt for the ingredients is provided as proof. The points will be used to eventually buy Chef Bobby Flay cookware.
Who is the target audience?
The primary target audience includes cooking enthusiasts with an adventurous spirit, including upper-middle class young women who have the time and money to spend on quality ingredients, and food bloggers. They are creative, daring, and proud of their accomplishments. They have smart phones and tablets, use the Food Network mobile apps, and employ social networking sites, especially Twitter, to share their adventures in the kitchen.
What does the audience currently think about the brand or group?
They like the Food Network, and trust it as a quality source of modern and trendy foods.  They enjoy watching the competition shows, and therefore know the Food Network advocates originality, but are disappointed by the lack of original recipes on the website that are born of the competition shows.
What would we like the target to think and feel?
We would like them to think that the Food Network is adventurous as well as trendy, teaching foodies and food novices not only how to imitate a particular chef, but how to feel like confident, creative, and individual chefs themselves.
Which facts, evidence, or thoughts will assist in this change of thinking?
Expanding the Food Network’s mobile app will make it convenient to be original and innovative by making it possible to see recipes while you are in the grocery store. A revolving slot machine screen will spout out creative but strange mystery ingredients, sparking the user’s daring and competitive side. It will also encourage the target audience’s habit of sharing their new recipes with their followers on Twitter.
What is the brand essence?
Quality, expertise, creativity.
What is the key emotion that will build a relationship with the core audience?
The emotion to market is the desire for new and creative experiences . The mobile app will offer a challenge with the mystery ingredients, but also a solution for foodies who want to try crazy recipes with some guidance. Connecting the app to Twitter will also offer foodies the ability to try daring recipes and share them, which is a point of pride in the food community.
What media will best facilitate our goal?
An expansion on the Food Network’s current mobile app that offers both competition show recipes and new ingredients that it dares the viewer to try, and connects to Twitter. The app can be advertised on the Food Network’s website, Facebook page, Twitter account, and food blogs.
What are the most critical elements?
The screen with competition show recipes, the slot machine screen, and the connection to Twitter are the most important elements.
What is the single most important takeaway?
The Food Network brand wants you to not only watch their shows, but try out their recipes, even the crazy ones. It is also an important takeaway that the app simplifies being daring, and improves the cooking experience.
What do we want the audience to do?
We want them to associate the Food Network with taking chances in life and sharing your experiences with your friends. We want them to think of the brand as a guide, not only to cooking but to living, and as a constant supporter of their relationship with food.  Thinking this, we want them to use the app and spread awareness of the brand.

13 comments:

  1. Great idea, and I like how you are building off of an already existing network. You could definitely do a lot with this idea, and it looks like you have some great ideas to start with. I like the competition aspect and think that this will draw people in, especially since there is a prize involved.

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  2. I also like how you are building off an already existing app. It will appeal to a specific audience that you already have at the palm of your hands. I like how things are fun and the app encourages cooking.

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  3. I love how specific you are in your campaign write up. You tell us exactly what you're going for and how you're going to get there. I think this is a definitely an idea you should pursue and has great potential to be successful.

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  4. We talked about this in class and I think you're on the right track now. The interactivity is something that people will really get into, and the photo sharing aspect is also really appealing. Keep it up.

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  5. This seems like a cool idea, but I have a questions regarding one of the elements. What do you mean by "spin the user a strange combination of mystery ingredients"? I think you should make sure that this wouldn't be a liability. I'm not familiar with it on Urbanspoon, and I'm not sure if I understand it entirely, but you don't want people getting sick off of odd combinations and blaming you, legally. Just something to think about.

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    1. When I say strange ingredients, I just mean things that normally don't go together, like cotton candy and beef tongue, nothing that isn't edible. Just clarifying, but I'll remember what you said.

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  6. Interactive would be awesome, people love things they can interact with, especially when it involves things they're interested in as well. I'd definitely roll with this idea.

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  7. I think this app is awesome! You can try and partner with youtube or any site of that nature to link how-to videos to your app, just in case some users would want a visual to help them cook.

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  8. I love Cupcake Wars and I think your idea is great. I like your idea of users getting points to receive cookware. It gives it a push for users because people love coupons and free stuff. Go for it!

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  9. Good idea, i'd say to integrate this app more onto Facebook (rather than just advertising on it). Also, because the Twitter presence is already pretty big/constant it'd be nice to get more presence on facebook. Facebook would allow the users of this app to connect with each other by uploading their crazy recipes and pictures so other fans can easily comment on them and create more conversation (it's just easier to do on facebook rather than twitter).

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  10. I like the idea of the slot machine.. this would be fun and user friendly. I would totally sit there and do that to find something fun and tasty... also... what if you were to do this same idea but for drinks too.. I know there are already a ton of apps on the iphone for drink ideas and mixers.. but food and drink all on one would be convinient

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  11. i really like this idea. I think people that love to cook would love the idea of having a challenge. I'm a little confused about the point system. How would it benefit the cook? Otherwise I really like the idea.

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  12. I think this idea is great. I love the 'mystery ingredient' part, that gives that connection to Food Network's shows. I love that you've thought it all the way through to the end all of buying Bobby Flay cookware, you've connected the food network in so many different ways.

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