Author : AMCP

Winner: HBO Poland SP.20.0. Title of Entry: “We Want Your Blood” Location: Warsaw, Poland Client: HBO Poland Category: 161c. Special Event

Vampire stories travel well.  In this case, all the way from the United States to Poland. True Blood, HBO’s hit series, was preparing for a new season in Poland and wanted to promote the program, but after five seasons what do you do? The premium network decided to utilize the show’s theme and couple it with public service.

HBO designed a replica bar from the show in central Warsaw and then brought in a mobile blood bank to park outside. The event ‘We Want Your Blood’ coinciding with international blood day. Sexy vampires prowled the streets persuding passers-by to give a pint. In the bar, look alike actors from the series dressed like waitresses plied patrons with non-alcoholic libations. The event generated national headlines gaining free publicity across media platforms.  Blood given was more than three times the previous year. As far as the premiere of the show, ratings increased 40 per cent from season five. HBO not only created a buzz and increased viewrship, but promoted itself as a socially responsible network with edgy ideas and good shows. 

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Winner: Greenfield/Belser Title of Entry: “Dow Lohnes Website” Location: Washington, DC Client: Dow Lohnes Category: 236. Website Redesign Greenfield/Belser of Washington D.C. is a brand design firm that prides itself on telling clients’ stories in a unique and clever fashion. The story telling takes many forms for it’s professional services clients…videos, brochures, annual reports, and websites. One of the company’s areas of expertise […]

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Winner: Mastro Communications, Inc. Title of Entry: “PGA Championship” Location: Warren, NJ Client: PGA of America Category: 148c. Integrated Marketing Engaging the audience is always a great tool to heighten interest, pump up sales, and increase television ratings.  With social media and the Internet, there is more opportunity than before, if done properly.  The PGA wanted to retain viewer interest […]

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Winner: aritchbrand Title of Entry: “Front Page of the New York Times” Location: Boston, MA Client: Cyber Aces Category: 169. Newspaper placement

Placing a client in any newspaper is tough and the bigger the paper, the bigger the challenge.  The New York Times is an especially hard sell with editors and reporters hearing about every conceivable pitch imaginable.  Aritchbrand of Boston was approached by a fledgling company called ‘Cyber Aces‘ who was looking for prominent media exposure.  Adam Ritchie Brand Direction, whose services include marketing, media outreach, crisis management, and creative development, was game.

Cyber Aces identifies, trains, mentors, and develops young Americans for the quickly emerging field of cyber security.  Their students are the future employees of the NSA, the Pentagon, and Fortune 500 Companies.  The field of cyber security is getting crowded and Cyber Aces wanted to differentiate itself from the pack when it turned to aritchbrand.

Aritchbrand developed and honed a unique pitch.  They called up the Times lead cyber security writer and offered to bring a high school hacker to the offices to grill the paper’s cyber security chief…sort of a young Jedi knight matching skills with an old Jedi master scenario.  If the writer was impressed, do a story.  If not, at the very least, the security chief might learn a few things.  The writer took the bait and not long after Cyber Aces not only made the paper, but the front page.

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Winner: LIVESTRONG Foundation Title of Entry: “LIVESTRONG Foundation Crisis Communication” Location: Austin, Texas Client: LIVESTRONG Foundation Category: 157c. Crisis Communication Plan/Response

Imagine your foundation is closely tied to a worldwide recognized person who also happens to be the founder and the driving force.  Now imagine that the one person who defines you organization is exposed as a fraud, cheat, and liar.  One more thing, you are preparing for a major fundraising event.  What do you do?  How do you recover?  This daunting task severely tested the marketing department at the Lance Armstrong Foundation last year.

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