Cherryflava

User-generated Youtube ad competition turns ugly

Posted on 27. Jun, 2007 by Jonathan Cherry in Advertising

Not all user-generated ad campaign concepts end with happiness and a loving feeling.

Malibu [yes - that stuff that smells like suntan lotion] recently ran a user-generated ad competition on Youtube to promote their new banana-flava’d rum. The prize was $25 000 or a banana plantation on a tropical island.

The problem started when the winner, who was supposed to be announced on 30 June, was instead announced on Monday.

Now, words like ‘rigged’ and ‘kill Youtube’ are being flung around and people are burning effigies of Barcardi bottles everywhere.

Lesson – user-generated brand participation is great, but keep it clear and clean and send everyone who enters a bottle of booze.

Read: Outcome of an ad contest starts an uproar on Youtube – NYT

See the winner here – Youtube