Across the world, buckets of ice were being dumped on people’s heads. Our local
high-school soccer team participated in this event today after being challenged by the school’s cross-country team. Even the residents at our local assisted living home have heard about this worldwide event to raise money for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The ALS organization raised awareness with their decision to use social media, human interest, active participation and peer pressure to raise money for their cause.
The first important lesson we learned from the ALS ice-bucket challenge is what a powerful tool social media is. Not to be used as a toy, social media is an effective, in-your-face marketing tool. With one click of a button, this advertisement is spread to your friends and family, their friends and family and thousands more. In the matter of a few hours, social media has worldwide marketing opportunities for brands, big and small.
Social media, in regards to the ice-bucket challenge, gives us a peek into human character. Typically, people have a desire to help others. Instead of asking for donations though, the ALS community linked human’s nature helpfulness to another strong quality: social connections. By asking those who participate in the challenge to videotape themselves pouring the ice buckets, each re-post is a reflection of the person who stepped up to the challenge.
The final lesson we learn is that ALS uses fun to spread awareness. Social media should be fun and contain humor. The ALS uses this entertainment factor to increase their donations, spread their brand worldwide and promote fun.
