The FMG Group

HBO did it again... True Blood is the latest HBO original show to trump the competition. But it doesn't stop there... HBO's innovative approach to programming recently bled into their marketing & promotion when they introduced this instant cult favorite.

Thanks to compelling on screen content and an inventive viral campaign, True Blood has exploded. HBO set the table for the new vampire-focused series with a collection budweiser-esque beer ads for the new TruBlood synthetic blood nourishment beverage and corresponding microsite, a prequel comic released at 2008 Comic-Con, and an extensive presence on Myspace & Facebook, HBO killed it with this effort.

The Barack Obama presidential campaign looked and sounded like few before it. Whether it was the empathetic message of Change echoing in the minds of each well-defined demographic segment audience, or the non-traditional approach used to communicate and ultimately engage them, the Obama campaign was a brilliant marketing strategy with even better execution.

By coupling the clean and recognizable Obama brand identity and message of change with a heavy mix if non-traditional and grassroots mediums to reach constituents, the Obama campaign did it right. Be it viral videos, social networking, the blogosphere, or video games, this election infiltrated areas like no election before it – resulting in the highest voter participation in recent years.

Political affiliations aside, this enormous, two-year long marketing campaign has a growing list of admirers from Rolling Stone to marketing guru John Quelch at Harvard Business.

Marketers of all types are increasing efforts to transform consumers into loyal brand advocates these days… and why shouldn’t they? From event sponsorships to experiential tours, grassroots campaigns, and interactive viral efforts, more marketers are assigning a quantifiable value to developing a solid foundation of engaged and enthusiastic communicators for their brand.