A social network for whiskies

Connosr is a social network for whisky lovers. It uses Google Maps to identify the origin of each whisky, plus whisky-related event listings and discussion boards. There are also affiliate links to partner sites where you can purchase whiskies. There is an iPhone version of the site.

via Mashable

'Pimms Harry' brought to life using social networks

Pimms have been doing something interesting online things around the central character from their TV advertising - Pimms Harry. There is a website at http://www.anyoneforpimms.com/ and there have been various things running on social networks.

There has been the opportunity to befriend Pimms Harry on Facebook and www.myspace.com/pimmsharry lets you join in with him on Myspace (screen grab below).

Good way to extend TV and radio campaigns and clever way of enhancing brand personality.


I expect to see more of this sort of activity as brands understand more about how social networks can be used creatively in support of advertising.

Posted by http://www.nickburcher.com/.

Trusted Places

Trusted Places: This is awesome. Just what I've been looking for. A foodie review social network. A bit like This Next meets NotCot meets London Eating meets Tastespotting. I love it. Get yourself signed up and you can earn reward points.

Courvoisier Mingle Now

Courvoisier have used the Mingle Now platform as a way of launching their sweepstake to win VIP tickets to 2007's hottest Music Awards Show in the States. It's a great example of how to embrace social networks, especially ones that are built for LDA+ consumers.

Forrester Social Computing Analysis

Pretty powerful stuff this from Forrester:

At the heart of Social Technographics is consumer data that looks at how consumers approach social technologies – not just the adoption of individual technologies. We group consumers into six different categories of participation – and participation at one level may or may not overlap with participation at other levels. We use the metaphor of a ladder to show this, with the rungs at the higher end of the ladder indicating a higher level of participation.

For example, 13% of US online adult consumers are "Creators" meaning that they have posted to a blog, updated a Web page, or uploaded video they created within the last month. I would fall this group because of this blog. I'm also an avid user of services like del.icio.us so would be a "Collector" as well. But I'm not really active on social networking sites – I'm there mostly for professional reasons, not personal ones, so wouldn't be a "Joiner". Lastly, while I enjoy reading environmental blogs like Treehugger, I'm mostly a "Spectator" when it comes to that content area, although I occasionally add a comment here and there.

The value of Social Technographics comes when it's used by companies to create their social strategies. For example, in the report we look at how Social Technographics profiles differ by primary life motivation, site usage, and even PC ownership.



The report also lays out how companies can create strategies using Social Technographics. For example, I've used the "participation ladder" to help figure out which social strategies to deploy first – and also how to encourage users to "climb up", so to speak, from being Spectators to becoming more engaged. It's my belief that not everyone is cut out from the start to be a Creator; nor is everyone inclined to jump with both feet into social networking. Companies seeking to engage customers with these new tools need to understand where their audiences are with this categorization.

Mingle Now

Mingle Now was chosen as a partner by Anheiser Busch as their social network alternative to Facebook and MySpace owing to underage considerations. This is from Organic:

"Anheuser-Busch chose MingleNow, with a mere 300,000 members, as a partner to develop Clink, an unbranded photo-sharing site showcasing the bar scene. Why MingleNow? For one thing, there are too many underage members on MySpace and FaceBook."

Here's the email I got when I signed up:

"Welcome to minglenow! The social network that connects your online and offline life. MingleNow connects you to the bars, clubs, and events you go to and the people who go there. Take a look at your favorite places and see who else hangs out there. Find new places you didn't know about that match your vibe. Come see where your friends will be this weekend!

Below find your login and password. Look for another email with information on what's happening on minglenow and the things you can do!"

Here's my fairly limited profile below:



The idea with Clink seems to be that you are encouraged to upload images of you clinking your beer with a friend. For more on clinking, visit the Here's to Beer site.

Bespoke, niche social networks offer brands a chance to develop campaigns with a more focused approach that appeals to individuals. What Mingle Now seems to deliver is a link between advertising idea, the on trade and consumers.

To see some in depth commentary on Mingle Now... and there's a lot of it... click here.