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There’s a new social media craze on the horizon!
Vine is a new app that allows users to capture glimpses of their lives with looping, six-second videos. Though Twitter launched Vine in January, recent endorsements from celebrities and superstar athletes have enabled the simple video-sharing app to quickly grow a mass following. In fact, Vine’s popularity is so impressive that Facebook banned the foreseeable Instagram competitor within 24 hours of its release. But superstar backing and controversy aside, why is Vine already considered an asset to the auto industry? Enter the #DontDriveandVine campaign.The hashtag-driven campaign is quickly gaining momentum amongst avid social media users and car enthusiasts, alike. In case you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, in each of the videos marked #DontDriveandVine, people showcase their vehicles on daily commutes, at the car wash, on road trips, in traffic, in exotic locations and more. Though it’s a simple concept and quite brief in length, the originality displayed in each video has made #DontDriveandVine one of the most popular hashtags on the app, to date.
Disclaimer: We at 3 Birds do not encourage “Vining” while driving, or doing anything else that can be distracting behind the wheel for that matter. In fact, this hashtag can be a good lesson as to why you truly “don’t drive and Vine.” See Exhibit A.
With each six-second upload showcasing vehicle appreciation, there’s an opportunity to capitalize on social media sales leads and take advantage of free advertising. For that reason, it’s no wonder automotive brands such as Toyota are jumping at the chance to join the Vine trend and spark easy, yet effective consumer engagement.
Do you believe Vine is a valuable advertising tool for automotive brands?
Let’s start with a scenario. You are in the market for a car, as a result, you spend subsequent hours on social networking sites and dealer websites, researching the best deals in your area, the benefits of one car brand over another and the best options in your price range, among many other decisive factors. Afterward, you ask family and friends about their car buying experiences to gather insight that will eventually sway your vehicle purchase. But which is the bigger influence on your decision making: internet surfing or word of mouth from trusted sources?
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