The Works Blog

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  Tour Down Under

  January 28, 2011 By Gemma Hogan

  Kevin Macmillan - super fit partner at The Works, along with Nathan Bilton - copywriter extraordinaire, joined Team Skoda in Stage 4 of the 2011 Tour Down Under.

  This stage is designed to test the professionals, as well as be a challenge for recreational riders. It is a full 135 km stage and includes a very challenging ‘Skoda King of the Mountain’ leg killer.

  Kev and Nathan had a great race. Nate was immense on the climbs with his powerful legs and Kev was quite good at going downhill due to his wafer thin frame!

  Team Skoda managed to raise over $30k for the cancer council, the highest of any team!

  Congrats to them and the rest of Team Skoda.

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  Tagged in: charity | team skoda

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  SxSW

  January 11, 2011 By Douglas Nicol, Gemma Hogan.

  South by South West is touted as one of the most innovative happenings (the word conference just won’t do here folks) where attendees lap up presentations from the brightest minds as they discuss the best new digital works and innovative ideas the international community has to offer.

  Truly one of the most inspiring and creative events of the year, The Works are lucky to have Douglas Nicol, partner at The Works, reporting live(ish) from the event.

  Here is Douglas’ post:

  “Some interesting opportunities coming our way based on what I am seeing here in the US - one of these is what I am describing as ‘Brand Barter’ in social media.

  Brand Barter is where a brand has a fair and equal exchange of value with the consumer. This typically gives the consumer a reward for promoting the brand.

  Feeding the possibilities for Brand Barter is the introduction of Facebook Credits. Facebook Credits are a virtual currency you can use to buy virtual goods in many games and apps on Facebook - Farmville being a good example. This currency will increasingly be used by marketers to reward consumers for promoting their brands.

  A great example of Brand Barter is the first movie ever to be available for rental through Facebook - The Dark Knight, the 4 year old Batman Movie is about to become the first of many movies to be rented this way in the US. Facebook members get Facebook credits for promoting the rental to their networks via the Like button and in return can rent the movie at a reduced price. It costs 30 Facebook credits or $3 to rent the movie for unlimited views over 48 hours.

  Brand Barter fails when it becomes Brand Bribe and there is an unequal exchange of value and you piss off the consumer, so make sure you are delivering tangible value not frothy 10% Off type offers.

  Think of the possibilities for your own brands to use Brand Barter.”

  Stay tuned for more updates from Douglas.

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  Tagged in: South by south west | SxSW | brand barter | facebook | farmville | social media