Snap Pics of Pepsi for a Chance to Win a VIP Trip For Two to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game!

Advertising, Brand Contests, Brand Packaging, Featured Posts, Image Recognition | by

    You could win a chance to see your favorite baseball stars just by taking a picture of yourself enjoying any Pepsi or Diet Pepsi beverage.

    One of the greatest baseball traditions is sitting at the ballpark and punching out the tiny holes on your All-Star ballot — most of the fun is debating with your friends which players deserve the honor the most.

    Now, in addition to voting from your seats, you could possibly win a VIP trip for two to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game in New York — just for taking a picture of yourself enjoying a sip of Pepsi or just a pic of the Pepsi itself.

    Send your pics to PepsiMLB@pongr.com and look for your response email confirming your entry.

    That’s all you do — it’s that easy. Then you can start daydreaming of watching Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano, Miguel Cabrera and Bryce Harper do what they do best.

    Cans. Bottles. Fountain Cups. Any Pepsi or Diet Pepsi will do as long as the logo is clearly visible in the picture. You can send one picture per day (one chance to win) through June 15.

    Your direct response message will look like this:

    Pongr is proud to partner with Pepsi for their latest MLB All-Star Game Promotion, providing the image recognition technology and direct response advertising platform for processing thousands of consumer photos and filtering correct and incorrect entries. Pongr has previously teamed up with PepsiCo for other sports and entertainment-themed promotions, including Pepsi’s “Rock Your Summer” contest offering VIP experiences at concerts and its “Match Snap Win” contest giving away Super Bowl tickets.

    Citi Field, home of the New York Mets and the Pepsi Porch, will host the 2013 All-Star Game.

    The Grand Prize winner and a guest will receive round-tip air transportation to New York City, arriving on July 13 and departing July 17 — allowing plenty of time for sightseeing before and after the July 16 game. Winner will also receive two tickets to the MLB Home Run Derby, a four-night stay at an area hotel and $250 in spending money. (Estimated Retail Value: Up to $5,250 depending on where the winner lives).

    An additional 100 First Prize winners will receive $25 gift codes redeemable at the MLB.com Shop. All winners will be selected in a random drawing on June 24.

    Be Creative — How many ways can you show your passion for Pepsi and baseball in the same pic? Any Yankees, Astros, Tigers or Indians fans out there?

    Given that Pepsi beverages are not available at all 30 Major League ballparks — I’m blanking out on the name of that other brand — you need not be at a baseball game when you take your photos. Snap pics at the supermarket, at work, school or home and be creative.  Although any clear picture of Pepsi packaging is an eligible entry (you will receive an email or text confirming receipt), it’s much more fun to photograph your or your friends with Pepsi and your favorite baseball stuff.

    VOTE FOR ME: When you get an All-Star Ballot, do you automatically vote for all the players on your favorite team? (Image Source: Detroit Tigers Facebook page)

    Meanwhile, the campaign by individual teams to get out the vote for their hometown stars is now going full speed ahead. Major League Baseball is distributing 20 million paper ballots at ballparks this spring and summer, while the bulk of the voting will be done with the online ballot. Stuffing the ballot box is encouraged — and even expected — though Internet voting is limited to 25 ballots per person, with an additional 10 if you register with MLB.com.

    But don’t forget to vote for yourself, too. Grab a Pepsi and send a pic to PepsiMLB@pongr right now!

    ASK THE CEO – Pongr For Shopper Marketing & Brand Awareness

    Advertising, Ask the CEO, Featured Posts, Shopper Marketing | by

      Pongr Co-Founder and CEO Jamie Thompson believes that shopper marketing is one of the least appreciated aspects of retail advertising.

      (“Ask The CEO” is a series of Q & A interviews with Pongr Co-Founder and CEO Jamie Thompson exploring how brands can best monetize consumer photos and turn any brand advertising or packaging into a direct response promotional campaign.)

      Q: Pongr recently partnered with UNREAL Candy on a photo contest to celebrate its national distribution in Target Stores. What was the strategy?

      JT: UNREAL is an all-natural candy company that aims to “Unjunk the World” by providing healthier candy options without sacrificing taste. To promote carrying the new line of products, Target put UNREAL end cap displays in each of its stores. In an effort to drive brand awareness and engagement with their end caps, UNREAL put together a photo campaign using Pongr as their platform to encourage consumers to share pictures while they are in the store.

      Q: How can a photo contest help a new start-up brand?

      JT: This is the classic challenge of a new product introduction. How do brands create co-branded promotions that bring innovation to their retail partner, but also drive specific interaction with their product and encourage their consumers to share that experience across their social networks?

      With a Pongr-powered campaign, brands can connect consumer photos directly to their CRM database. Shopper marketing is one of the most important facets of brand advertising – and also one of the least appreciated. Brands are always vying for the best placement on shelves, the best placement in retail environments. And in a world where social matters, in a world where mobile matters, in a world where media is getting more integrated then ever before, shopper marketing needs to get pulled into the 21st century.

      UNREAL Candy’s Pongr-powered Sweepstakes deployed image recognition to identify whether customers photographed the UNREAL logo on any of its packaging and on in-store endcap displays to celebrate national distribution at Target Stores. In addition to the Grand Prize winner, 10 runners up won a year’s supply of UNREAL Candy!

      Q: What was the call to action?

      JT: As part of a New Year’s Resolution for healthier eating, UNREAL asked its fans to “Unjunk Your January,” by sharing pics of themselves, family and friends enjoying the product. Pongr provided them with the photo platform for fans to email or picture text them to unreal@pongr.com in return for an automatic entry in their sweepstakes. The top prize was a $10,000 Target gift card, with ten second prize winners getting a year’s supply of UNREAL Candy.

      Every photo entry received an instant direct response message encouraging participants to share their experiences across their social networks – including easy-click sharing on Facebook and Twitter.

      Q: What do you think about UNREAL Candy’s execution of their photo marketing campaign?

      JT: What impressed me about the UNREAL team and their agency was their very smart integration of shopper marketing with digital and traditional activation. So this program tightly integrated their spend on traditional media and their efforts and spend on digital, with shopper marketing. All with the end result of trying to drive sales across their retail partner’s stores.

      UNREAL End caps at Target Stores — When customers get close enough to photograph a product, they are more likely to try the product.

      Q: What do you think of UNREAL’s outreach strategy?

      JT: UNREAL has been really successful with their partnerships with mommy bloggers, who happen to be one of the most energized and influential groups of brand ambassadors you could ever ask for. When these bloggers get organically excited, there’s no one better to spread the message. I think it’s a brilliant way of harnessing the energy of authentic brand ambassadors and combining it with shopper marketing, traditional media, and digital media. It’s all part of the future for every brand, tighter integration across all of these channels.

      Shopper marketing is what makes the difference between whether a consumer buys your product or not. And if you can integrate your shopper marketing activity with social, you can amplify your reach, you can amplify your dollars spent — in a way that actually produces sales results. We’re excited to be a part of the shopper marketing conversations now, and we’re very excited to be building a part of that integration for the future of brands.

      Q: Okay, so that describes how Pongr’s Photo Response Marketing helps emerging brands. What about mass scale campaigns for established national and global brands?

      JT: Pongr’s image recognition and direct response tools are built to automate your campaigns at any scale. Stay tuned to this space for more details on our collaboration with agencies on shopper marketing campaigns for Nestle’s Skinny Cow, Circle K convenience stores, and Pepsi/Major League Baseball.

      (Is there a topic you’d like to see Pongr’s Jamie Thompson tackle in a future Q & A? Please send your questions and suggestions to darren@pongr.com)

      Packaging We Love: Stanley Cupcakes by NBC Sports & Crumbs

      Advertising, Brand Packaging | by

        Sports and marketing opinion leaders were just wooed with complimentary Stanley Cup Cupcakes featuring iconic trophy packaging and frosting decorated with NHL team logos. Double click to enlarge image. (Source: Fast Company via Facebook)

        This is a yummy week to be a sports or business reporter or to work at any media organization for that matter. If you’re timing is right, you can sink your teeth into a cupcake decorated with the logo of your favorite NHL team — the ideal way to celebrate the start of Stanley Cup playoff action.

        Logos and packaging are two of a brand’s most important assets and Stanley Cupcakes represent a stellar way to use them.

        Crumbs Bake Shop teamed up with the NHL and the NBC Sports Group to create limited edition “iced” Stanley Cupcakes that will be sold in special branded mobile stores set up in NHL playoff cities as well as at Crumbs’ 69 locations in 13 states.

        We never turn down an excuse to nibble on scrumptious cupcakes, but we salute the clever Crumbs packaging and delivery even more.

        The Calm Before The Storm — The NBC/Crumbs pop up store to distribute Stanley Cup Cupcakes to hockey fans in playoff cities.

        Who are YOU rooting for in the Stanley Cup?  And would your sweet tooth overrule your hockey loyalty — that is, would you bite into a logo of the “enemy” team?

        (Pongr is an image recognition technology company that can turn any brand logo or brand packaging into an interactive direct response advertising opportunity. Learn more about our Photo Response Marketing tools for brands and agencies here.)

        The Evolving Mobile Revolution and the Rebirth of Public Pay Phones?

        Advertising, Mobile Marketing | by

          The Future of Pay Phones — New York City’s daring dive into public mobile phones began with its Reinvent Payphones Design Challenge.

          As Wired Magazine puts it, giant public iPhones are about to invade the streets of Manhattan.

          Public access to social media and the digital highway was on the forefront of New York City’s agenda when its Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications launched its Reinvent Payphones Design Challenge last December. The contracts for the city’s 11,000-plus pay phone expires in 2014, leaving a wide-open opportunity for an enterprising company looking to breathe life into a dying medium.

          According to Wired, there are less than 500,000 pay phones left in the USA — and my personal experience says half of them are broken or coated in grime — compared to 327 million-plus active mobile phones in this country.

          The contest winner, “NYFi” (pictured above) was picked this month out of 125 submissions. Proposed by Sage and Coombe Architects, the Pay Phone of the Future combines a phone with a subway and bus fare kiosk to reduce street clutter. On its huge TV-like touch-screen, there are apps that would let you call a cab or find a restaurant. Expect a few photo sharing apps to be sure.

          New York City is not committed to adopting the design. Officials said they were trying to spark a conversation about what communication tools should be made available in a public fashion.

          Humorist Art Buchwald as Superman, who famously changed his civilian journalist clothes in the semi-privacy of a glass phone booth.

          If you are younger than 30, odds are high that you’ve never used a pay phone, let alone an old-fashioned phone booth, which seems as dated as the record player. The death of the phone booth might not have affected our day to day lives, but the impact on pop culture has been brutal.  Superman, of course, used them to seamlessly change himself from and back to mild-mannered journalist Clark Kent.

          In the movies, journalists got all their anonymous tips at pay phones. And master criminals would taunt the police from them. Let’s not forget all those dramatic rainy scenes in John Cusack movies in which his character is heartbroken trying to win back the girl who left him.  Sorry, boombox.  The pay phone is the secret behind Cusack’s romantic appeal.

          The creepy ghosts of yesterday’s ubiquitous pay phones are a reminder that technology stops for no one.

          What’s a Dial Phone? Despite the popularity of the Fisher Price retro pull-toy phone with nostalgic hipster parents, this version of the telephone seems as distant as Alexander Graham Bell.

          As Pongr continues to develop the computer vision and artificial intelligence behind the advertising world’s best photo-sharing platform for brands, it’s a lesson we keep reminding ourselves.

          (What would YOU like to see in a public smartphone kiosk?  Drop us a line on the Pongr Facebook page!)

           

           

           

           

          Taking User-Generated Content By The Horns

          Advertising, Computer Vision, Direct Response Campaigns, Image Recognition, Mobile Marketing, Photo Sharing | by

            The Pongr site features user-generated images on a day to day basis.

            You walk into a store, see a pair of sneakers you love, try them on, buy them, snap a picture, and share it across many of your favorite social networks. Sound familiar? I’m sure we’ve all done something along the lines of this, whether it is clothing, food, or literally anything else. We are living in a time when pictures speak louder than words, and are pleasing on the eyes too.

            This user-generated content is priceless to us here at Pongr, just as it should be to every brand out there. Brands are finally taking advantage of the authenticity that is coming through social networking channels, and using it as a way to connect with new and existing consumers. When a consumer has the opportunity to participate in a brand’s community and create their own content, it opens up a level of trust and communication that cannot be reached through one way advertising.

            Crowdsourcing campaigns are being launched left and right by big brands, calling on the consumers to get involved, whether it be by sending in pictures, videos, stories, or simply voting on something.

            This is a big trend currently in the food industry, seen in brands like Pepsi, Doritos, and most recently, Taco Bell. “Feed the Beat: SXSW 2013” is Taco Bell’s new campaign, working to leverage user-generated content with Twitter and Vine. Taco Bell is calling upon its fans to share photos and videos of themselves enjoying live music in order to create a “Rockumentary.”

            The ideas for these crowdsourcing campaigns are endless, and are becoming an increasingly normal habit in today’s media driven world.

            Here at Pongr, we work on many user-generated photo campaigns, such as the recent UNREAL Candy “Unjunk Your 2013 Sweepstakes.” All that participants had to do was email or picture text a photo of UNREAL Candy for a chance to win a $10,000 shopping spree at Target. (Check out the UNREAL photo gallery here.)

            Pongr user Ariel M. shows off her favorite UNREAL Candy!

            With Pongr’s image recognition technology, we are able to take this user-generated content to the next level by offering direct response photo marketing built especially for brands. It’s as easy as snapping a pic of your favorite brand, sending it in, and immediately getting a response from that brand with information about a contest or a promotion. This direct response technology allows users to truly feel the love from brands they are using on a daily basis, while allowing brands to receive vital information about their consumers, all at the same time.

            Wouldn’t you like to get a response from one of your favorite brands about a picture you posted on the web? Well, at Pongr, we make that possible.

            **
            (Pongr’s mobile Photo Response Marketing platform and image recognition technology helps brands turn any of their existing logos, CPGs, visual media and advertisements into an always-on direct response program – and integrates brand photo contests to their CRM. Check out Our Story.)

            Brand Mascot Salute – The Android Robot Has Veins of Steel

            Advertising, Brand Ambassadors, Brand Mascots, Photo Contest Ideas | by

              Sub-Zero Greetings: Whoever is on mascot duty for our local Verizon Wireless store must be wearing three layers of long underwear today! (Double click to see Pongr’s full Fan Photo Gallery for Android.)

              You don’t have to be at Disney World to enjoy the perfect photo-op with a costumed mascot. Many consumer brands have characters just as entertaining as this internationally savvy Donald Duck or these loveable superheroes.

              I never miss an opportunity to snap “action shots” and photograph friends with mascots — recent random discoveries include the Michelin Man and Little Caesar.  The charm of these photos is twofold:

              1. Seeing a “live” cartoon character in a “real” life setting catches you slightly off guard and is always amusing.
              2. Because the facial expression of the mascot is always fixed and upbeat, it’s fun to watch the varying reactions of the humans.

              Unlike most forms of advertising, consumers naturally gravitate to mascots. They want to share these kind of pictures (with no incentives necessary). Doesn’t matter if the character is cheering for a sports team, is promoting dental hygiene or is a walking bottle of laundry detergent, they are all paparazzi magnets ideal for launching photo contests.

              Which brings us back to the DROID Android whom I saw waving to motorists yesterday in the most brutal New England wintery conditions. These pictures can’t capture the bone-chilling temperatures, which were definitely flirting with zero if you take the wind chill factor into account.

              Our Unsung Hero Braving the Cold Outside Verizon IM Wireless. (Double click to see Pongr’s full Fan Photo Gallery for Verizon.)

              I was so excited to see the DROID that I trudged through a three-foot snowbank to see him. The robot’s smile was constant, his posture remained strong and he just exuded a cloud of mobile pride. (We’ve long been paying attention to the Android mascot’s cult following).

              Memo to the Verizon IM Wireless store that employs this amazing DROID: He (she?) deserves a raise!
              **
              See any brand mascots in your world lately? Send us pics at (brandname)@pongr.com.

              Brand Spoofs of The Week: Lucky Charms, Folgers & Almond Joy

              Advertising, Brand Humor, Brand Packaging | by

                Satire is the best form of marketing flattery, isn’t it? It is the rare rock band that isn’t thrilled by being immortalized in a Weird Al Yankovic song. It confirms that they are a household name. It means that they have arrived.

                Given Pongr’s love for brand logos and packaging and turning them into interactive advertising campaigns, we are fascinated by the enduring appeal of Wacky Packages stickers. Topps trading cards have been parodying consumer brands since 1967. They have been permanently stuck to several generations of lunch boxes and school lockers.(Everything you’d ever want to know about “Wacky Packs” is documented by superfan Greg Grant.)

                Brand loyalty begins in the supermarket aisle at a very young age. Just think about that time eons ago when you were sitting in the front of mom or dad’s shopping cart and begging them for a product that caught your eye.

                Wacky Packages humor is aimed at kids, but it assumes that they are already familiar with the products. Starting this week, we’ll randomly share some whimsical brand spoofs and ask you to decide: “Should this brand be flattered?”

                Also, if you already happen to be a fan of Wacky Packages, send us your favorite to wackypacks@pongr.com and tell us why it rocks. We’ll keep a running Pongr photo gallery for your browsing pleasure!

                Totally Unnecessary Disclaimer: Almond Joy and parent company Hershey’s do NOT use Atlantic salmon, or any fish for that matter, in their yummy candy bars.

                **

                You’d have to be foolish NOT to try Folgers Coffee, the absolutely Best Part of Wakin’ Up!

                **

                Totally Unnecessary Disclaimer: The consumption of Lucky Charms will not determine if you win the lottery or whether any of your secret wishes come true. This is also the case with black cats, broken mirrors and opening an umbrella inside the house.

                **

                (Pongr’s mobile Photo Response Marketing platform and image recognition technology helps brands turn any of their existing logos, CPGs, visual media and advertisements into an always-on direct response program. Check out Our Story.)

                 

                Craving Pink Food? Share Photos of Your Favorite Valentine Brands

                Advertising, Pongr Contests | by

                  Lucky Guy — Pillsbury’s lovable Doughboy mascot gets smooched on special edition packaging. We never noticed this until now, but D-Boy has really cute baby blues!

                  You know how bakeries and breweries churn out “special edition” St. Patrick’s Day bagels and beer just by drowning everything in green food coloring?  Well, despite being awash in a sea of pinks and reds, Valentine’s Day is not like that.

                  I’m continually amazed by the packaging creativity of brands having a little fun with Valentine’s Day, which as we recently mentioned, has become a nearly $3 billion industry for candy alone.

                  So, it’s always a pleasant surprise to see non-candy food items in the supermarket aisle change over their shapes, styles and packaging in the name of love. In the cereal universe, both General Mills (Cocoa Puffs) and Kellogg’s (Rice Krispies) are fighting for kids to push the chocolates aside — even if only for a moment.

                  And as evidenced by the glass slipper theme below, cookie technology continues to surpass our humble snacking expectations. If you’re looking for a salty tiara to go with those sugary shoes, Utz Pretzels won’t disappoint.

                  If the slipper fits…. Eat it! Pillsbury has some Valentine Fun with princess footwear fashions.

                  Finding symbols of love also extends to brands we normally don’t associate with February 14th. Check out these limited edition Diet Pepsi cans encouraging fans to “Love Every Sip” like “Modern Family” actress Sofia Vergara.

                  For the Love of Cola — Has anyone noticed the heart-shaped logo on 12-pack packages of Diet Pepsi?

                  It just donned on me that you may also want to look at Sofia:

                  Double click to learn more about Pepsi’s “Love Every Sip” campaign.

                  So what’s your favorite special Valentine’s Day brand?  Where’s your favorite place to buy groceries? While you’re in the supermarket or department store aisle this week, snap a pic of any Valentine’s Day-themed item and send it to us (insert-brand-name@pongr.com) for a chance to win gift cards to H & M, Old Navy, Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.

                  Pictures of you hamming it up — Valentine’s ham anyone? — are even better.

                  Pongr’s Valentine’s Day Photo Contest runs from Feb. 4-17. To get started, click here for contest details.

                   

                  Thanksgiving Table Photo Contest

                  Advertising, Brand Ambassadors, Brand Loyalty, Pongr Contests, Shopper Marketing, Uncategorized | by

                    The remaining colored leaves slowly fall and litter countless yards,  while the scent of cinnamon and cloves pervades the air. Starbucks has brought out the holiday cups and treats. This can only mean one thing: winter and the holidays that are associated with it are afoot.

                    Starting off the season is Thanksgiving, a day to recognize all that we are fortunate to have and say thanks. Children travel back home to spend the extended weekend with their parents. Families and friends join together in celebration and in anticipation of an unforgettable meal.

                    Whether it is turkey or tofurkey being served on your table this coming Thursday, make sure to capture the moments: from the beautiful spread of dishes on the dining room table and the first delicious bite, to the post dinner food coma.

                    For the Pongr Thanksgiving Table Photo Contest we want you to share your family’s traditions. Whether it is a special way of preparing the turkey, fighting over the wishbone, or turning in early in preparation of 5 AM Black Friday shopping, Thanksgiving is celebrated differently by everyone. Show off your family, meal, and everything in between.

                    The rules to enter are simple.

                    1. Snap as many photos as you can of your Thanksgiving holiday! Show off your favorite brand of cranberry sauce or document how mom makes it from scratch.
                    2. Send your photos, either by MMS or email, to [InsertBrandName]@pongr.com! Make sure to tag them with the #Thanksgiving hashtag.
                    3. Share your photos with friends and family! Share them on Facebook or Twitter. Any way you do it, you are bound to receive lots of Pongr points, Facebook likes, Twitter favorites, and human smiles.

                    The photo contest starts this Wednesday, November 21 and ends on Sunday, November 25. Three lucky winners will be revealed on Monday, November 26 and will receive gift cards to their choice of H&M, Old Navy, or Starbucks to get started on holiday shopping. 

                    1 2 3 … 9