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Check us out at our new blog Online Marketing Voodoo. Here we will cover integrated promotions, online marketing campaigns, case studies, consumer generated media, business blogging, web analytics and emerging technologies that influence Internet marketing.

Your Mission: Find the Briefcase and Escape

In an effort to promote the November 17th release of the newest James Bond Film, "Casino Royale," Sony Pictures has created an online game that allows users to escape this world and enter the world of an MI6 team leader.
Fans and gamers alike can sign up for an account to play the Casino Royale strategy game. This game allows users to command a team of six players, and the user moves these players like pieces on a chest board.

Since the early 60’s, Bond has been a household name. With this prequel the legacy continues. Now die-hard fans can connect with their hero before the movie hits theaters. Once signed up for an account, users can enter for a chance to win even more prizes.

This Holiday Season: Think Food and the Web

The holiday season is quickly approaching. As people prepare for their holiday feasts, marketers are cleverly using the Web to integrate food into their interactive campaigns.

For instance, Celeb chef Tyler Florence will be starring in a new holiday feature on FoodNetwork.com, "Tyler's Ultimate Holiday Menu Planner." This engaging promo will allow users to plan holiday meals from start to finish by mixing and matching a number of holiday recipes. The site will use layers of video to allow you to access different elements of celebrity chef instruction.
In addition, the cooking spots will have in-stream sponsor spots, which the site will suggest once a viewer has called up a Tyler Florence video.

According to Hitwise, FoodNetwork.com received more than 8.8 million unique visitors last month and remains the most popular U.S. food and beverage site.

Fall: Season for Cross-Media Promotions

This fall, television networks are beginning to make the big leap in stepping up multi-platform distribution. What does this mean in the world of interactive? Media entities such as Fox and Showtime are utilizing the Web to provide an online experience for various programming as well as cross-channel promotions.

For instance, Showtime entered a partnership with Yahoo TV; in which Yahoo will stream full episodes of several Showtime original series shows. In addition, teasers of upcoming 2007 series will be aired. On the same note, Fox is utilizing online assets such as MySpace.com to promo shows to key demographic targets and is showcasing :30 second sponsor/advertiser spots for big name companies such as Toyota, Burger King and Paramount.

Coke and Consumers Online

With people across the world craving individuality, Coca-Cola has come up with a promotional contest that allows each contestant to design an entirely original video under the theme of “A Lasting First Impression.” Not only can contestants submit a totally unique video but they can also view all of the videos that other contestants have submitted.

This promotion allows Coca-cola drinkers to design their very own vision of the product. Whether the consumers view of Coca-cola is dancing, bugs, music, stick figures, potato people or a man dressed as a bear in a park... it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that individuals can express themselves and put it out there to share with other Coca-cola lovers.

Pepsi Promos Cater to Gen Y

Pepsi is currently running two online promotional events, each catering to a different type of Pepsi drinker. The first is called "DJ Division," linking consumers to several DJ’s, maps of the favorite hang outs in each artist’s home state and one or more tracks of their music. This category leans toward the hip-hop and music oriented consumers, which allows them to watch taped interviews with each DJ, download different wallpapers and view a "hot sheet" of each DJ's favorite artist's/food/song/track and other personal information.

The second promo currently offered is "Pepsi Street Motion," an online car show which allows contestants to submit photos of their rides to be featured. Any consumer that feels they have a fly ride can enter. Those who just really enjoy checking out flashy cars can view photos on the Pepsi Street Motion link. Prizes for this promo include cash and a feature in DUB magazine.

Whether a Pepsi drinker likes music, cars or both, Pepsi’s recent online promotional events are catering to the fresh and young consumer.

Where Texting and Shopping Meet

New York area clothing store, Strawberry is launching a new promotion through GPShopper, a mobile marketing company. Shoppers can opt to receive promotions and search for items through geo-targeted mobile messaging. Users can create shopping lists and obtain coupons through the service. The subscribers will be targeted by the address they provided when they signed up.

This isn’t the only application GPShopper has offered. Slifter was launched earlier this year. The service makes mobile shopping more sociable by adding the ability for friends to send their shopping recommendations, and also offers a price comparison feature. Users can compare online and in store prices via SMS and wireless Web applications. Detailed shopping with your friends’ input from your phone! What more could you want?