T.G.I. Friday’s knows there is one surefire way to get people into their restaurant…give away free food on Facebook.
The company launched a campaign on Facebook featuring “Woody,” their “self-proclaimed” number one fan. Initially, the deal was that if Woody could get 500,000 fans on Facebook by September 30, then everyone who registered would receive a coupon for a free Jack Daniel’s burger or chicken sandwich.
T.G.I. Friday’s underestimated the power of social media because Woody reached his goal of 500,000 Facebook fans on September 13. Therefore, the company decided to extend the promotion. Now, if Woody can garner support from 1 million fans on Facebook by September 30, then all of those fans will also receive a free burger or chicken sandwich.
T.G.I. Friday’s is apparently working double-time right now because they are also running another special as part of the campaign. They are jumping on the $5 special bandwagon (every restaurant seems to be latching on to $5 specials right now; from subs, to pizzas, to complete fast-food meals) and they are offering $5 off any Jack Daniel’s entrée and $5 burgers.
T.G.I. Friday’s is just one of the many companies to jump on the Twitter/Facebook bandwagon and use the social media outlets to promote their organizations in the cheapest possible way…for free. Twitter and Facebook have recently flexed their muscles and shown just how strong word of mouth and social media can be.
Links:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-15-2009/0005094763&EDATE
http://valuedining.com/restaurants/tgi-fridays/583-tgi-fridays-woodys-facebook-burger-hits-the-air
4 comments:
I think the main reason tgi fridays was successful with the campaign so fast was the combination of a national commercial plus facebook. If it had been just a social media campign I don't think they would have had the same success. (Oh and the great idea of giving away a free burger could have had something to do with it)
I know I jumped on the computer right away after I saw the commercial. I think the campaign was an awesome idea.
That's awesome! Im going to become a fan!
Although this campaign is by a professional, commercial company, I think it is genious!
As a person who tries to not give in to gimmicks, I must admit that it worked immensely! Not only did I become a fan but I was able to solicit numerous friends of mine to become a fan a well.
Does a free burger make me like TGI Friday's any more? Well f during the time I'm enjoying my food--yes.
Will I visit Friday's more often because of the free burger? No. But as far as bringing in dollars goes, this campaign made it rain. I wonder if the cost of the advertisement will be covered by the revenue.
Maybe I'll blog about that next.
I think T.G.I Fridays’ idea is ingenious. Woody has already and will continue to draw attention to himself and T.G.I Friday’s. I don’t know how this kid got a TV commercial but his ad reached thousands of people. IT certainly got my attention. At first I thought it was just another Friday’s commercial but then at the end when it said by becoming a “fan” of Woody’s on Face book you would get a coupon for a free burger or sandwich I was intrigued. The idea of calling people to action and in return they get a prize is brilliant, and I can see this trend catching on quick. Oprah is giving away a coupon for a grilled chicken meal at KFC for anyone who can print out the coupon. I wonder whose idea it was first.
I am not surprised that he surpassed his goal and is now being challenged to 1 million “fans” to follow him. I predict he will do it, a lot of people that see his commercial are on Face book, why wouldn’t you follow him? People do a lot more to get free food. The most important thing is that thousands of people will be exposed to this new product, those people will tell their friends and so on and so forth. T.G.I Friday’s is putting itself back on the map by reaching a new audience in a unique way.
Post a Comment