The International Olympics Committee has embraced social media as part of their marketing strategy for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Stefanie Berliant
Client Services Manager

As the 2010 Winter Olympics are coming to a close, there’s been some great coverage of these talented athletes on the air and online.  I must give kudos to the International Olympics Committee and NBC (http://www.nbcolympics.com/) for really making an effort and embracing social media. One page on the site is a dedicated Twitter tracker for the Olympians. There is even a section on staying connected with the games through mobile alerts, widgets and more. The Vancouver Olympics page on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/olympics) has also contributed to their large social presence.  Nielsen released a study showing that more viewers were on Facebook while watching the Olympics opening ceremonies than on Google or Yahoo (http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/100222-002727).  Even Olympic sponsors have created social media marketing campaigns (http://www.youtube.com/visagoworld).  While some may view the IOC’s social media approach as too strict and centralized, I really commend them  for trying to harness social media and utilize it in the best way they know how by creating this strategy and being proactive in these social networks. It is nice to see traditional media outlets staying current with the new technologies and adjusting to new ways people communicate.

There has also been some criticism toward NBC over the tape-delay coverage as audiences can find real time search results before actually watching the event (http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/02/olympic-tape-delays-roil-fans-but-for-nbc-its-good-for-business/).  Since the world is so connected via the internet, this is to be expected. We’ll have to wait and see if NBC changes their strategy come the 2012 Summer Olympics.  Even so, there has been some great content coming from this round of Winter Olympic events, including Ed Olxyzk’s description of the US vs Canada men’s hockey game as “tremendously tremendous” which has memed its way through the internet (http://www.sbnation.com/2010/2/22/1320934/ed-olcyzk-tremendously-tremendous-hockey).

Either way, the internet and the Olympics go hand in hand. I feel like I need Google Translator to understand what curling commentators mean when they say “make sure the hammer gets past the hog line and into the house.”  Another good use of the internet: a resource for Olympic drinking games (http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/the-2010-womens-figure-skating-drinking-game).  Go Team USA!

Google improves the social experience in Gmail with the release of Google Buzz, giving users another avenue to communicate all within the same browser window.

Christine Pepin
Media Coordinator

Yesterday, Google announced the release of its new product, Google Buzz.  If you’ve logged onto your Gmail today you may have seen the announcement or if not, it’s coming very soon.  Whether you’ve realized yet, you’re also already following the people you email and Chat with the most.  Are you ready for the flood of real-time conversation?

With this tool, Google uses its expertise in organizing information to make an easy-to-use sharing experience.  Here’s what you’ll find as you check out the new tool:

-  Buzz integrates tightly with your Gmail inbox, so there’s no need to start from scratch with building a whole new network of friends.
-  Share anything from pictures, links, videos and updates either privately or to a restricted group.  Experience photos in high-resolution and full screen videos within the same window.
-  Messages about responses to your posts are sent directly to your inbox, where you can actually view the conversation live and in real-time.
-  Connect to other sites you use such as Picasa, Flickr, Google Reader and Twitter, so your friends can view all your updates in one place.
-  Google Buzz can also be accessed on your mobile phone, through Gmail.

Google Buzz seems worth giving a try.  However, where’s the integration with Facebook?  I find an uncanny resemblance between both the look and feel as well as the offerred functionality of the two.  I welcome Google’s attempt at improving how users can engage socially within their current products.  How do you respond to the Buzz?

Google Buzz