Captain Morgan for President
August 29, 2008 by Susan Gunelius
Filed under Social Media Marketing & Networking, Viral Marketing
In a new social media marketing campaign launched on August 22nd, Diageo’s Captain Morgan is running for U.S. President. A new Captain Morgan YouTube video and Captain Morgan Facebook page (note: you have to have a Facebook account to view the Captain’s profile) have been launched to support the brand icon’s quest to “Get a little Captain in the White House.” His Facebook profile gives the following details:
- Gender: Male
- Birthday: July 4, 1984
- Interests: Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, boating
- Favorite Music: Loud
- Favorite Movies: Bachelor Party, Animal House, Wedding Crashers, Van Wilder
- Favorite Books: Playboy, Treasure Island
- Favorite TV Shows: Whatever’s on when I wake up at 2pm
- Favorite Quotes: “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of your revolution.”
Check out the YouTube video below:
So what do you think? My first impression was that I think the video looks like it was made by a couple of college kids, but maybe it’s supposed to look like that. When you read what the Captain stands for in the press release announcing his candidacy, perhaps the video is supposed to look amateur:
The Economy: The Captain feels nothing keeps the party going like a well-rested workforce, so he’s calling for five day weekends and two day work weeks.
Environment: While the Captain is all for Green issues, he’d like to ensure the party stays hot, hot, hot and add a little spice to clubs across America.
Transportation: The Captain wants to keep citizens save by asking his fellow Americans to be sure to think ahead and get a safe ride home.
I suppose when you look at the copy and the video and Facebook page together, the target audience is people in their early twenties, so it might work in terms of creating a buzz around college campuses. The Captain Morgan Facebook page already has 295 friends, and the YouTube video has been viewed over 6,000 times after being available for a week. So it seems the viral aspect of the campaign isn’t taking off like wildfire, but I guess there is still time.
I’m just not really sure what to think of this campaign. Leave a comment and share your thoughts. Help me sort this one out in my mind.
Image: Flickr
I think it’s a dumb and unoriginal campaign with shoddy production values…not to mention Capt. Morgan is disgusting.
It WAS made with a couple of college kids. The girl with the light brown hair, the one that the camera focuses on @ 0:54, goes to the same college as I do. I think she is 20 or younger right now.
Uhhhhh Its a joke everybody
if i see his name on the ballot yeah i’ll give my vote but i’m an alchy 