Tracking 'Promoted Trends': Twitter Draws Diverse Advertisers

A look at the brands that ran Promoted Trends February 14 through February 28.

papajohns-pizza

From fast-food restaurants to daily deals sites, Twitter captured ad dollars for its Promoted Trends format from a wide array of brand advertisers in the last two weeks of February. In fact, the platform helped brands harness interest and discussion around popular February events like Valentine’s Day, the NBA All Star Game and the Oscars.

Two restaurants and two daily deals sites invested in the pricey ads, which are said to cost as much as $120,000 per day. In all, 9 advertisers including one charity organization ran promo trends intended to drive traffic to their tweets: Papa Johns, Subway, State Farm, Toyota USA, American Red Cross, Brazilian daily deals site Peixe Urbano, Warner Bros Pictures, Dr. Pepper and Living Social.

Twitter itself also ran what could be called a “house” Promoted Trend, pushing downloads of Twitter mobile applications. On five of the 15 days tracked by ClickZ News, no Promoted Trend was seen.

The chart below takes a closer look at how each brand approached Twitter Promoted Trends.

Twitter Promoted Trends
February 14-February 28, 2011
Date Brand Ad Vertical Account HashTag/Trend Phrase Tweet/s Landing Page Description
2.14 Papa Johns Restaurant @PapaJohns #HeartShaped
Pizza
Happy Valentine’s Day!! Show some love for your Valentine with a #HeartShapedPizza. Order at http://bit.ly/ff0Oc0 http://twitpic.com/3zl47p Order page and photo of heart shaped pizza
2.15 No Promoted Trend N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
2.16 No Promoted Trend N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
2.17 Subway Restaurant @SubwayFresh
Buzz
#JoinTheNation (midday change to #SubwayFan) We’re showing SUBWAY fans our appreciation! Enter code: NLAKE3LM at http://3.ly/
ntSA to #JoinTheNation & you could win Free Subs for Life! ALTERNATIVE: We’re showing our #SubwayFan appreciation! Enter code: NLCXAKJL at http://3.ly/
ntSA & you could win Free Subs for Life!
“Footlong Nation” game and code entry page
2.18 Twitter Media @Twitter #TwitterMobile Searching for an official Twitter app? Search no more! All our apps can be found here, in one pretty place: http://t.co/
WbtFRN8
Twitter app download page
2.19 No Promoted Trend N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
2.20 State Farm Financial Services @StateFarm
Nation
#AllStarGame Get behind the wheel in Score with a Song! Play State Farm’s jingle by clicking obstacles to win prizes! http://st8.fm/
KUd #AllStarGame
“Score with a Song” game and LeBron James video
2.21 No Promoted Trend N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
2.22 Toyota USA Auto @Toyota #Prii More than a million people across the country have spoken and made #Prii the official plural of Prius! http://bit.ly/
i6hnZF
:15 video on YouTube.com
2.23 American Red Cross NonProfit @RedCross Red Cross
Join Us
Are you ready to join us? Red Cross Month starts in 6 days. http://rdcrss.org/
i65vpM
Red Cross Month description page linking to info on how to donate or volunteer
2.24 Peixe Urbano Local Shopping @PeixeUrbano #promodopeixe Passeio de Trem 68% OFF mais uma #promodopeixe http://pes.ca/
esgH6G TRANSLATION: Train Ride 68% OFF
Offer description page
2.25 Warner Bros Pictures Media @WBPictures #HallPass Check out the RESTRICTED trailer for #HallPass: http://bit.ly/
eV0YmD The Farrelly brothers’ new comedy hits theaters this weekend! ALTERNATE: @Alyssa_Milano And the beautiful @1capplegate is wonderful and needless to say, hysterically funny. #HallPass
“Hall Pass” restricted trailer on YouTube.com
2.26 No Promoted Trend N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
2.27 Dr. Pepper Consumer Packaged Goods @DRPepper #SatisfyingWin If you could vacation with any movie star, who would it be? Here’s your chance: http://tw.drpepper.com/
itb #SatisfyingWin #Oscars
“Hunt for the Unbelievable” game on Yahoo Movies
2.28 Living Social Local Shopping @LivingSocial #Oscars @EASPORTS fans who’ve bought #FIGHTNIGHT
CHAMPION today, which fighter are you using? #TysonsBack & there are more champions to choose from.
No landing page
Data compiled by ClickZ News

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy
Report | Digital Transformation

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy

2y

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Exp...

Customers decide fast, influenced by only 2.5 touchpoints – globally! Make sure your brand shines in those critical moments. Read More...

View resource
Announcement Alert from Lee Arthur
Weekly briefing | Digital Transformation

Announcement Alert from Lee Arthur

2y

Announcement Alert from Lee Arthur

Announcement Alert!! Read More

View resource
The 2023 B2B Superpowers Index
Whitepaper | Digital Transformation

The 2023 B2B Superpowers Index

3y

The 2023 B2B Superpowers Index

The Merkle B2B 2023 Superpowers Index outlines what drives competitive advantage within the business culture and subcultures that are critical to succ...

View resource
Impact of SEO and Content Marketing
Whitepaper | Digital Transformation

Impact of SEO and Content Marketing

3y

Impact of SEO and Content Marketing

Making forecasts and predictions in such a rapidly changing marketing ecosystem is a challenge. Yet, as concerns grow around a looming recession and b...

View resource