Iconic Kiwi drink MILO launched a new campaign today with the help of Bullet PR, achieving extensive coverage across all major media outlets: ONE News 6pm, TVNZ Breakfast, New Zealand Herald, Otago Daily Times, Radio New Zealand, RadioLive and Newstalk ZB.

The Play Movement follows a recent study – the first of its kind to investigate the play habits of New Zealand children aged 8 – 12 years old – revealing that nearly half (46%) of New Zealand children are not playing every day.

An IMR (Interactive Media Release) was used to launch this campaign, which featured:

• The State Of Play report
• Media release
• Info-graphic
• Play tips for parents
• Key facts from the research
• Images from the report

Kiwis were also encouraged to visit the MILO Facebook page to keep up-to-date with the movement and share play tips with other parents.

In keeping with its position as a challenger brand, Kiwibank is launching a cheeky new ‘bank switching’ initiative for consumers today, which is less like a traditional ad campaign and more like a film launch.

Unlike traditional approaches to bank advertising, Kiwibank’s new ‘Easyswitch’ campaign, encouraging consumers to switch to Kiwibank, is focusing primarily around a unique interactive online channel called ‘Green Ops’, with the look and feel of a ‘first-person POV’ styled online game.

Nicky Ashton, Head of Brand & Marketing Communications for Kiwibank, says that the ‘gamification’ approach of the web site aims to provide a richer and more engaging experience for consumers.

“Kiwibank needs to stand out from the competition, so it’s our job to continually find new ways to connect with new customers” says Ms Ashton.

Hosted on a bespoke YouTube channel, the site is built around a loose narrative of an elite team within Kiwibank whose mission it is to help rescue customers from bad banking experiences.

“It’s kind of like ‘Get Smart’ meets the ‘Bourne Identity’, as the Kiwibank ‘Green Ops’ team goes around making it easier for people to switch to Kiwibank. Just one signature and Green Ops will deal with the rest,” says Ms Ashton.

Visitors to the channel can hunt for screen ‘hotspots’ where they will encounter random moments of humour and discovery amidst the pitch for them to switch banks, including some tongue-in-cheek references to Kiwibank’s competitors.

The channel also features a number of interactive elements that will allow users to share their experience with friends via various social media platforms, such as Facebook.

One top secret campaign element will remain under wraps until the 9th of September when a lucky new Kiwibank customer stands to be significantly rewarded.

Ms Ashton says the Green Ops site will be supported by an above-the-line media campaign with all the elements of a blockbuster movie launch, including cinema trailers, movie posters with QR codes, outdoor and dramatic cinema styled voiceovers on radio, online advertising and TV spots, all produced by ad agency Ogilvy.

Teasers for the campaign are running now on radio and outdoor, and the site will go live on Monday 15th August.

To preview the Green Ops site, visit http://youtube.com/kiwibankgreenops

Today, in conjunction with House of Travel, we launched the Contiki mixandmatcher Facebook application.

The application sits on both the House of Travel and Contiki Travel Lounge Facebook pages and offers entrants the chance to win holidays and lots of other prizes.

Entering the competition involves spinning a virtual slot machine. One column brings up random friends from your own Facebook profile, the others bring up various prize combinations. The prizes range from Kiwi classics like a pair of jandals or an All Blacks shirt all the way through to Contiki trips to the United States.

Once you have found a combination you like, you can enter for a chance to win. You can enter up three times a day and each entry appears in your Facebook news feed.

The main aim is to promote Contiki NZ’s various tour options in what is the key booking season over the next few months.

Bullet PR client Bookmyshow.co.nz featured in the Weekend NZ Herald as well as the NZ Herald online. Bookmyshow General Manager, Matthew Preen, commented on the phenomenal box-office success of Twilight: Eclipse, the latest installment in the multi-million dollar franchise. Preen commented that the Eclipse had:

“gone mad – gone gangbusters”, having sold out several screens well in advance of the release date.

Mr Preen attributed the general rise in movie ticket sales to a combination of factors, including several blockbusters, but also the bad weather over the school holidays:

“Families want to do something with their children and the terrible weather made movies the obvious choice.”

Bookmyshow.co.nz is the only place Kiwi’s can book movie tickets online for different cinema chains across New Zealand.

Official website of the real estate industry and Bullet PR client, Realestate.co.nz, yesterday released research that debunks the theory that summer and spring are the best times to list your property. It reveals that sales are actually less susceptible to the seasons than some may think. TV3′s Campbell Live featured the research which illustrated that when selling a property, the best time may actually be in the middle of winter, a time traditionally considered to be the least advantageous for property sellers.

In the latest issue of b-Innovative, the industry publication produced  by the Auckland Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, writer Catherine Slogove sought commentary from three ‘media and marketing gurus’ on the topic of media diversification.

In the article entitled ‘Fragmentation or Freedom’ Nicholas O’Flaherty, Managing Director of Bullet PR, presented a set of powerful media tools businesses can utilise, all widely available on the internet.

“Small businesses cannot compete against large corporates with vast advertising budgets in the traditional media.  Due to minimal costs of new media, there is a potential for them tohave an equal, if not greater, online presence”

“Blogs provide a cost-effective opportunity for businesses to showcase their know-how and establish thought leadership in their areas of expertise” says O’Flaherty.

Read the full article in the July 2009 issue of b-Innovative, or visit the b-Innovative website here.

Bullet PR Senior Account Manager Paul Matthews spoke recently to conference delegates at the 12^th Annual Strategic Communications and PR Forum in Auckland. Paul discussed the advent of Social Media and the inseparable link this medium has in managing your reputation online.

As well as providing both local and international case studies to illustrate the effectiveness of managing and enhancing online reputation, Paul‘s presentation also gave delegates tips on how to start a positive conversation online, using social media to combat negative commentary and crises, and the rules of online engagement.

Bullet PR assisted Maori Television with the social media presence of the channel’s innovative Waitangi Day online initiative. In partnership with M&C Saatchi, Bullet PR created an interactive microsite, including multiple webcam views of an unfolding live billboard featuring two master carvers creating a multi-cultural art work.  The online campaign was highly successful, attracting hits from 37 different countries, including many NZ expats. The microsite was live for three weeks in the lead up to New Zealand’s national holiday, Waitangi Day on 6 February.

The Warehouse has selected Bullet PR to assist with online and offline communications around its industry-leading employer branding programme. As part of a new recruitment strategy, The Warehouse, one of the country’s largest employers, has launched this innovative recruitment website.