This Sunday millions of people will be sitting down to watch the big game – The Super Bowl. And just as many people will be paying attention to the other entertainment that takes place during those few hours, that’s right – the commercials. 

Super bowl commercials have become famous of the years because companies notoriously spend millions of dollars to buy just a few seconds of air time to reach this captive audience. And these aren’t any ordinary commercials. No way, Super Bowl commercials are an art form in themselves. Funny, entertaining, sometimes tear jerking, long after the game is over, people will remember the commercials they watched. 

Traditionally the big players in Super Bowl commercial air time include the major beer companies and soft drink companies, as well as a handful of others. That’s why; it came as such as shock to the industry when Pepsi announced earlier this year that for the first time in 23 years, they would not be airing any ads during the Super Bowl. Instead they will be focusing their dollars on a social media campaign - $20 million to be exact.
The campaign, Pepsi Refresh Project was launched on January 13, 2010 and Pepsi took the unique step in allowing users to submit their ideas for ways to refresh their communities and make the world a better place. Voting began on February 1st and the project ideas that receive the most votes will be funded by Pepsi. 

The idea of foregoing the traditional Super Bowl ad space and launching a massive social media campaign is seen as a risky move for some. However, Pepsi could be on to something, social media is on the rise and if they can pull off the Pepsi Refresh Project and generate enough buzz through social media avenues, it will be wildly successful. 

If Pepsi is willing to forego prime television advertising space for a social media campaign, what are you willing to do? Social media is one of the least expensive methods of advertising and is quickly becoming more and more successful.  

What do you think of Pepsi’s move? Let us know! And if you want to learn more about taking advantage of social media, contact us at www.netgainsmarketing.com