Chevrolet Goes Social At SXSW
When it comes to getting younguns interested in its vehicles, General Motors hasn’t been as aggressive as some of its competitors in exploiting Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and other social media services. That may change over the next week and a half, however, as Chevrolet schleps to the heart of Texas for Austin’s annual South By Southwest Festival (SXSW).
If you’ve ever attended SXSW, you know it’s the perfect place to cross paths with tech-savvy members of Generations X and Y. People from around the globe come to hear new music, see indie films, and listen to Silicon Valley innovators speak about new developments on the web and in technology. These are the people who tweet and post status updates every five seconds — the exact sort of people GM needs to recruit if it wants to generate interest in its products the same way that Ford has driven interest in the 2011 Ford Fiesta.
According to a press release, Chevrolet will evaluate a total of three social media technologies at SXSW. Perhaps the least interesting of those is the use of Quick Response (QR) codes. QR codes are those squiggly squares you’ve probably glimpsed in magazine ads and on some labels in hip grocery stores (see left). At SXSW, Chevrolet will slap QR codes on display models of the 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, Volt, and Cruze; festival attendees will be able to take pics of those labels, upload them to a QR database, and download additional info about the vehicles. Which sounds fine, but QR technology has been around for several years, and it doesn’t seem to be catching on. True, it’s a nifty idea, but we expect another start-up to come along any day now to offer a similar service that’s easier to use. Until that time, we’ll read the brochure.
Item #2 is Chevy’s partnership with Gowalla, a geolocational social media service like FourSquare, or, if that means nothing to you, like Twitter merged with Google Maps (which is, apparently, Twitter 2.0). Gowalla users will receive welcome messages from Chevy when they “check in” to the service, and some will receive coupons for free transport around town in Chevy’s fleet of vehicles. Sounds slightly dull to us, but few at TCC have caught the geolocation bug — even though everyone swears that it’s the next big thing.
The most interesting technology that Chevrolet will trot out at SXSW is something called Chevrolet iReveal. It’s an app, but as far as we can tell, it’s not on iTunes yet. That might mean it’s Android-only (which would be stupid, given the SXSW crowd’s love of Steve Jobs), or GM could be waiting to drop it until the festival begins this Friday (which would be less stupid, but still annoying, since it’s mentioned in the GM press release). Either way, we’re unable to give the app a test-drive, but according to the release, iReveal will “unlock three-dimensional models of Chevrolet vehicles. The application will provide key specifics of the vehicles, and insert the virtual image of the car over the actual streetscape viewed through the smart phone camera lens.” That sounds pretty sweet.
Of course, apart from Gowalla, none of these are what we’d call social media services — and frankly, even the Gowalla link-up sounds a bit weak. However, if the technologies prove successful, there are some social media implications down the line. We look forward to seeing them implemented. Soon.
Chevrolet to learn about the best practices for connecting with customers in a digital age
DETROIT, March 9 /PRNewswire/ — On March 12, Chevrolet will launch three social-media applications at South by Southwest, as a pilot test of emerging technologies that will help Chevrolet connect with consumers. During the interactive, music and film conferences and festivals, Chevrolet will have an opportunity to introduce more than 185,000 attendees to products like the Camaro, Volt, and Cruze. As one of the preeminent interactive conferences, South by Southwest also provides an opportunity for Chevrolet to learn what attendees feel are the best practices and emerging technologies in social media.
“Social media is a powerful tool in a digital world where people can get news instantly on their smart phone, watch television shows on streaming video, and communicate with friends on social-networking sites,” says Jim Campbell, Chevrolet general manager. “For Chevrolet, South by Southwest provides an invaluable opportunity to learn how best to communicate with customers in by leveraging these technologies.”
Accordingly, Chevrolet will focus on integrating technologies and events at South by Southwest, creating opportunities to talk with, and learn from, attendees.
Evaluating Emerging Technologies
Chevrolet will evaluate three emerging technologies during the conference, including location-based social networking, quick response codes, and augmented reality.
- For location-based social networking, Chevrolet has partnered with Austin-based Gowalla. From their smart phones, Gowalla users can “check in” to let friends and followers know where they are at a given moment. Gowalla users inAustin will receive a welcome message from Chevrolet, while a select number will receive icons redeemable for transportation in a dedicated fleet of Chevrolet vehicles, or information at Chevrolet lounges around the city.
- Chevrolet will use Quick Response (QR) codes to introduce attendees to the key features of vehicles including the Camaro, Volt, and Cruze. When photographed using a camera phone, the QR codes will launch a dedicated microsite with key features of the vehicle. For example, a QR code on the hood will take attendees to a micro-site to learn more about the 1.4-liter Ecotec turbocharged engine in the Cruze, which is expected to deliver class-leading 40 miles per gallon.
- For augmented reality, Chevrolet is one of the first automotive companies to use the emerging technology in a mobile application. Users who download the Chevrolet iReveal application, available in Beta form, will be able to unlock three-dimensional models of Chevrolet vehicles. The application will provide key specifics of the vehicles, and insert the virtual image of the car over the actual streetscape viewed through the smart phone camera lens.
“The potential of these technologies is incredible,” says Christopher Barger, Director of Global Communications and Technology for GM. “Imagine using Quick Response Codes to download the price and options for a vehicle on a dealer lot right to your cell phone. Or, imagine using augmented reality to virtually preview different colors of the Camaro in your own driveway. We are just scratching the surface of what’s possible with mobile technologies and social media applications.”
By Richard Read from TheCar Connection—Read the article here
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I found this article and was highly amused. Honestly, I don’t think any of the car companies, or the advertising agencies who work for them, have utilized social networking and interactive communication to anywhere near a fraction of its potential. I am a journalism student at Regent University (yes I realize that traditional journalism is a dying art, but at Regent, we are looking at the future of journalism. Check it out here!) and I am part of that generation in which car companies should be seeking, yet they are not getting through very well. They must utilize this area! MUST!
All I have to say is that in order to reach an audience, you should probably listen to them (and I mean listen. If something sounds absurd, don’t write it off, it just might be the next big thing) and you should have someone on your “team” who knows one, or is one perhaps. Yes, younger people don’t have experience, but they have the knowledge of what works with their peers and what doesn’t.
For any car company that might read this, I am putting out an offer to help you. I am a passionate car enthusiast and I am a college student, learning, living, and knowing how to reach my peers. Contact me through replying on this forum.
All Out Octane 