NAA launches social media campaign for online newspaper

The Newspaper Association of America is launching a new "Smart is the New Sexy" campaign to revitalize consumer attitudes for newspapers. A series of ads will run for six weeks in over 1,000 newspapers to push readers to integrate their news intake with social networking.

The campaign aims to promote newspapers through social media and online avenues. The campaign urges readers to show their readership on Facebook and Twitter.

The campaign uses sex appeal by saying knowledge is attractive. It attempts to reinforce the idea that reading newspapers will make a person more attractive to others.

The NAA is hopeful for this campaign, as online newspapers have seen a 20% rise in traffic. The campaign hopes to maintain this and increase traffic while increasing online readership to sustain the newspaper as form of media.

Article: CNN

Critics Skeptical About Apple's Ping

On Sep. 1, Steve Jobs announced Apple’s new music-based social network, Ping, at Apple’s fall keynote. While this news might seem like a good idea to most music artists and fans, some people are skeptical of Ping’s ability to succeed in today’s saturated world of social networks.

Although Ping has already reached over 1 million users -- within 48 hours following its launch -- critics say that one of Ping’s toughest obstacles will be competing with Facebook. Many online users have already chosen Facebook and Twitter as their go-to site to spend their time. Ping has a long way to go to catch up to Facebook’s 500 million users.

eWeek.com, an online technology publication, listed 10 reasons why Apple’s Ping network won’t work. Here is a summary:

1. It’s one of many

2. Buzz should be a lesson

3. Full Facebook integration would be nice

4. Speaking of Facebook – it’s a titan

5. Specialized services rarely do well

6. Growing pains

7. Success is a relative term

8. Artists will need to buy into it

9. The future isn’t in iTunes as users know it

10. It will get lost in the mobile noise

I think that a music-based social network is a great idea, even though it has already been attempted (MySpace Music, Last.fm, Zune Social). Apple does have a bigger advantage, however, because of its large iTunes user base.

Click here for the full article.

James Cisneros

Quizno's Uses Commercial to Engage Consumers Online

Quizno's recently launched a campaign advertising their $5 Double Cheesesteak Sub. They are using the Web and social media to get users to engage with their TV ad.

Users can go to QuiznosToaster.com and answer trivia questions that come from the hidden clues on the TV ad. Once users answer questions online, they are qualified for a chance to win prizes.

Quizno's also posted the ad on YouTube and Facebook encouraging users to go to these sites, watch the ad, and pause it to find hidden clues. Quizno's is also tweeting about the contest on Twitter (@QuiznosToaster).

The ad is not only intended to promote Quizono's new product, but to also reinforce the brand's image as "edgy, provocative and humerous."

I think this is a great way for Quizno's to connect with consumers, give them a chance to win prizes, and spread their brand using social media.

Read the full article here.