Welcome, dear readers, to the 62nd edition of the Techtonic newsletter!
If you think the weather outside is hot, wait till you see what we’ve got sizzling for you in this issue. Seriously, it’s so hot out there, I saw a bird using oven mitts to pull worms out of the ground!
But don’t worry, we’ve got news that’s even hotter. From the latest marketing trends that are scorching the competition to tech innovations that are turning up the heat, we promise to keep you cool with our blazing hot insights. Grab a cold drink, sit back, and let’s dive into the hottest news in marketing and tech!
📅 The Agenda:
🔔 Brand & Marketing: Ben &Jerry launces first ad campaign in almost 10 years
💠 AI & Tech: Ai could solve our traffic problems
🏷 Retail & Ecommerce: Online shopping is plagued by fakes and knockoffs
📢 Social Media: The push for warning label for Social Media platforms
🎪 The Curiosity: What’s on June 19th?
📌 Weekly Insight : How Gamification Can Make Your Campaigns More Fun
🔔 Brand & Marketing
Ben & Jerry launches its first ad campaign in almost 10 years ( woa!) and it’s basically an invitation towards activism.
Ikea campaign spotlights victims of domestic violence
KFC wants customers to ‘believe in chicken’, not politicians, in new ad campaign.
Sportswear brand Gymshark is launching a new brand platform “we do gym”
Business are exploring multisensory branding and it could change the way we interact with brands.
The power and psychology behind “delight” and how it can shape your future brand strategy.
Apparently sharing you hobby/passion with your kids is a brand development opportunity for businesses. Check out this polo brand’s strategy.
Advertising on Substack remains a Wild West for brands
💠 AI & Tech
McDonald's decided to end its drive-thru AI test, ending its current partnership with IBM.
At the same time, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut Are Going ‘AI-First,’ whatever that means…
Could AI be the answer to hellish traffic? God, I hope so..
Color Health is working with OpenAI to pioneer a new way of accelerating cancer patients’ access to treatment.
Linkedin has some new nifty AI tools.
Global tax authorities are looking at AI solutions in order to tackle fraud.
Apparently there is a bug that allows anyone to impersonate Microsoft corporate email accounts.
Apple has shut down Apple Pay Later after only nine months.
Want to know what you’d stand to make by working for one of the “magnificent 7” companies? I have an answer for that.
🏷 Retail & Ecommerce
What are retail media networks?
Walmart targets Gen Z with apparel brand relaunch.
Online shopping has turned into a scavenger hunt for authentic items, as knockoffs and fakes run rampant.
How retailers can reduce return rates with AI
Retail giant Temu is starting to take a bite out of Amazon’s pie.
Amazon and GroupM partner to embed brands in live shopping streams.
Forbes partners with Walmart’s Creator platform for its inaugural Creator Upfronts. If you had no idea what Walmart Creator is, you ain’t alone. Apparently it’s a one-stop portal for creators to monetize shoppable products from the retail giant.
📢 Social Media
TikTok ads may soon contain AI-generated avatars of your favorite creators.
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is urging Congress to introduce warning labels for social media platforms.
Ready to give Elon Musk some $? X launches advanced analytics for premium subscribers.
Facebook and Instagram are turning into video platforms, but people are still spending more of their time on Tiktok.
Pinteres launches Ad Labs, a new program for select brands to test prototypes of new creatives and ad tools. Cool!
How is your social media response time? Odds are it isn’t fast enough.
🛠 Tool Box
12 content curation tools for every creator and marketer.
Sick of endless revisions? Meet Dropbox Replay, a user-friendly media review and approvals solution built to speed up the feedback process.
Level up you product photography with Ai powered app, Photoroom.
🎪 The Curiosity
19 June is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
📌 Weekly Insight
Level Up Your Marketing: How Gamification Can Make Your Campaigns More Fun
Picture this: You’re scrolling through your phone, minding your own business, when suddenly you’re sucked into a vortex of points, badges, and leaderboards. No, you didn’t accidentally download a new mobile game—you're experiencing the magic of gamified marketing. Let’s dive into how marketers can use gamification to turn their campaigns into an exhilarating ride that keeps customers coming back for more.
What Is Gamification, Anyway?
In case you’ve been living under a rock (or just have better things to do than follow marketing trends), gamification is the art of applying game-like elements to non-game contexts. Think points, challenges, leaderboards, and rewards, all designed to make mundane activities a bit more exciting. It’s like adding sprinkles to your marketing cupcake—sure, the cupcake was already good, but now it’s irresistible.
Why Gamify?
Because life’s too short for boring marketing! Gamification not only makes your campaigns more engaging but also taps into basic human desires for achievement, competition, and reward. Plus, who doesn’t love a good game? Here’s how you can sprinkle a little game magic on your next marketing campaign.
The Points System: Because We All Love Instant Gratification
Start simple: award points for specific actions. It’s like when you were a kid and got gold stars for doing your homework. For instance, give points for signing up for a newsletter, sharing a post, or making a purchase. These points can then be redeemed for discounts, freebies, or other perks. Remember, folks will do a lot for points. If you’re skeptical, just look at the lengths people go to collect frequent flyer miles.
Example: Starbucks’ Rewards Program lets you earn "stars" for every purchase, which can be traded in for free drinks and snacks. It's like a caffeinated treasure hunt that keeps you coming back for more.
Badges and Achievements: Show Off Those Bragging Rights
Who doesn’t love showing off? Awarding badges or achievements for completing certain tasks can give customers a sense of accomplishment. This could be for milestones like “First Purchase,” “Super Sharer,” or “Shopaholic.” Badges not only provide recognition but also encourage repeat behavior as customers strive to collect them all.
Example: Duolingo keeps language learners hooked by awarding badges for streaks, lesson completions, and even weird stuff like “Perfect Pronunciation.” It’s like a scout’s honor badge, but for nerds.
Leaderboards: Because We All Want to Be #1
A little friendly competition never hurt anyone. Adding a leaderboard to your campaign can spark competition among customers. Whether it’s who’s made the most purchases, referred the most friends, or racked up the most points, leaderboards can turn casual participants into die-hard competitors.
Example: Nike Run Club's leaderboards show runners how they stack up against friends and the global community. It’s a perfect way to motivate people to lace up those sneakers and hit the pavement.
Challenges and Quests: The Hero’s Journey
Set up challenges or quests that customers can complete for rewards. This adds an element of adventure and can keep your audience engaged over a longer period. Quests can be as simple as a week-long step challenge or as intricate as a multi-level scavenger hunt.
Example: Fitbit Adventures turns fitness into a fun adventure with challenges that let you virtually hike trails or explore new cities. Completing these challenges can earn you trophies and bragging rights among your friends.
Spin-the-Wheel and Scratch Cards: Because Everyone Loves a Good Gamble
Add a little thrill with spin-the-wheel games or digital scratch cards. These can be used for instant discounts, freebies, or entry into larger sweepstakes. The element of chance keeps things exciting and encourages repeated interaction.
Example: Sephora’s Beauty Insider program occasionally offers spin-the-wheel games where customers can win extra points, samples, or discounts. It’s like a mini Vegas in your makeup bag.
Social Media Integration: Sharing is Caring (and Earning Points)
Encourage users to share their progress, achievements, and rewards on social media. Not only does this provide free publicity for your brand, but it also taps into the social proof principle—if your friends are playing, you’ll want to join too!
Example: Strava users can share their running and cycling achievements on social media, complete with maps and stats. This not only boosts their ego but also spreads the word about Strava to their network.
The Golden Ticket: Big Prizes for Big Engagement
For those high-roller campaigns, consider offering a grand prize. Whether it’s a trip, a big cash prize, or an exclusive experience, big rewards can significantly boost engagement. Make the prize attainable but challenging enough that participants stay engaged over the long haul.
Example: McDonald’s annual Monopoly game is the epitome of gamified marketing. Customers collect game pieces for a chance to win everything from free fries to a new car. It’s a marketing behemoth that keeps people coming back for more fries and more game pieces.
Conclusion: Game On!
Gamification can transform your marketing campaigns from dull to dazzling. By incorporating points, badges, leaderboards, challenges, and more, you can create an engaging experience that keeps customers coming back. So, why settle for vanilla marketing when you can serve up a double-scoop sundae with a cherry on top?
Next time you’re brainstorming a campaign, think about how you can add a little game magic. Who knows, you might just hit the jackpot.
Read theTechTonic #61 - Weekly Insight - The Psychology of Spending: How Technology and Apps Coax Us into Splurging
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