'Elf Yourself' returns with Facebook and Twitter power
(Credit:
OfficeMax/Elf Yourself)
It's that time of year again, when you trawl the Web for unflattering mugshots of your boss to embed on the bodies of dancing elves with the "Elf Yourself" holiday card promotion, going live for the fourth consecutive year on Tuesday. They're the brainchild of OfficeMax, which teams up annually with online animation shop JibJab to bring forth what might be the most successful social-media marketing campaign that the Web has yet seen.
Last year, a total of 35 million "Elf Yourself" cards were sent, and OfficeMax says that since it launched in 2006, the seasonal site has chalked up 284 million visits. So what's new this year? Well, there are two new elf dances! Yay! You can now, in addition to "Disco Elves," "Country Elves," and "Elf Classic," choose to model your creation off the "Hip-Hop Elves" or "Singing Elves" dances.
More importantly, OfficeMax is playing up how the latest edition of "Elf Yourself" ties into Facebook and Twitter, with an option to tweet out your video creation or to share it on your Facebook profile or a friend's. Additionally, it uses Facebook Connect so that you can source your embarrassing headshots from your photo albums or your friends'--that's clever.
It's not actually clear whether "Elf Yourself" drives up OfficeMax sales at all, but it does make some money on its own: you can pay to download the video, which normally expires once the holiday season has ended, or to order a hard copy.
Now go forth and tick off your human resources department.
Caroline McCarthy, a CNET News staff writer, is a downtown Manhattanite happily addicted to social-media tools and restaurant blogs. Her pre-CNET resume includes interning at an IT security firm and brewing cappuccinos. E-mail Caroline. 
The integration of both Facebook Connect and Twitter, here and lots of recent campaigns, illustrates the importance of encouraging and facilitating a viral loop to your users.
According to ViralBlog, JibJab removed the required account registration this year due to a significant decrease in site visits from 2007 (193 million) and 2008 (55 million). While they sent out less cards, they greatly increased their database, which was a priority for them.
I?ve posted more about it here, if you?re so inclined ;)
http://bit.ly/1D3xZE
Cheers,
Jackie
- by magnumfinger November 15, 2009 5:39 PM PST
- "Yo Imma tell you, your cnet gang is cute, but my manny pacquiao dancing elf is the cutest of them all" LOL, I never thought he can dance like that.. see the hilarious video
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(7 Comments)http://bit.ly/Firepower-Pacquiao-Cotto
Thank to elf-yourself.. I hope they will add more scenes on their future updates :D