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Banff ‘crasher squirrel’ shows power of social media.
Viral video backed up by blog, Facebook and Twitter brings significant value to Alberta tourism.
If anyone underestimated the pull of social media, the viral sensation of the squirrel gatecrashing a vacation snap in Banff, AB, has provided a severe reality check. The cute critter that popped into Melissa and Jackson Brandts’ photo became a global phenom after being posted to the National Geographic website on Aug. 7. From there it hit front pages of newspapers and websites everywhere, sweeping across the Web as others “Photoshopped” it into other pictures.
The craze also came at the same time as the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) started a hunt for the best social media used for travel marketing. Banff Lake Louise Tourism’s (BLLT) response to the furry phenomenon is another excellent example.
As the viral craze took hold, BLLT set up a YouTube video, @Banff_Squirrel on Twitter and a Facebook page, along with a search-engine marketing campaign with keyword “squirrel.” The blitz continued in more traditional media with billboard ads and squirrelly stickers.
Early results on website Media in Canada indicate the work paid off: ad value worth $3 million in online, print and TV reaching more than 80 million people. Canada (36%), US (29%), UK (8%), plus Australia and Germany (both 3%) were just some of the countries touched by the toothy funster. The squirrel also garnered 301 blog-post mentions and some 5,000 Tweets, in addition to 650 Facebook posts.
Have you come across any other equally excellent social media efforts in the tourism biz? Let us know at ctcnews@ctc-cct.ca and we’ll showcase them here. It’s the conversation you can’t afford to miss!
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RT @jminter: Irish House is hoppin' http://twitpic.com/126ijr #van2010
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RT @FCV: @FCV aide concours de lancement @ctccct nouvelles sections secret d'ici! http://tinyurl.com/ye8s7mp @secretdici
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Vancouver's Top 5 public transit sightseeing tours: http://ow.ly/15j3V
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RT @FarWriter @JByers11 Heading up Star Olympics coverage 6th time. Will do Olympics & travel tweets & blog: www.thestar.blogs.com/travel
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@TourismNiagara thx for the contest RT!
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