PR agencies that promise “viral” media campaigns watch closely – sometimes the viral effect can backfire spectacularly.
Sandy Balls is a Hampshire, UK-based holiday centre targeting families and weekenders with a range of tented, cabin and caravan accommodation.
The company apparently asked Poly Media PR to put together a nice promotional video to showcase the beautiful surroundings of the New Forest and the various types of lodging available for punters.
The result was, according to BrandRepublic, a cross between Baz Lurhmann’s Australia and the Sound of Music.
The problems – or perhaps not – started after the clip was placed on YouTube.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEyKFkkcHAc
Nothing wrong with that.
Unfortunately the well-known and often hilarious FailBlog in the US thought the name of the company was just too side-splittingly funny to dismiss and also embedded the video in a post entitled Resort Name FAIL.
Nearly 30,000 views later and the Sandy Balls ad has become a legitimate viral hit – but maybe for all the wrong reasons.
Disclosure: by amazing coincidence this author is due to stay at the aforementioned Sandy Balls in June 2010.
Fantastic! I think Sandy Balls should make far more of their name than they do. Its an ideal opportunity to create a lasting impression. Consider the effect that other campaigns such as FCUK have had.
Yes, you do wonder whether there’s a certain level of dark humour involved.
Especially as the sign-off is:
“For simple pleasures”…
yes of course but lets not forget the other resorts like breezey ass holiday resort or titus resort?
I’d say the viral video did exactly what it was meant to, throw in the name and you’ve a surefire hit. Great place too, well done the Sandy Balls marketing team
I’m really looking forward to the response videos too
Hopefully their marketing team are monitoring the buzz in blogs, social media, etc. and are prepared to respond to such things….
@threluja: what they should be doing is a visitor videos competition on-site, something around the name, such as “Have you got Sandy Balls?”.
They could host them on the site and YT, ask web visitors to rate them etc, etc.
I’m sure the PR company have thought of that through.
Dear ‘Sandy Balls’ PR
Here’s a start on how to monitor:
1. the Blogosphere
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=sandy+balls
2. The Twitter stream:
http://twitter.com/#search?q=sandy%20balls
There’s a growing buzz about this story and it would be shame for them to miss out on this engagement.
But what we all want to know is: what attracted you to the Sandy Balls resort in the first place?
Andrew: I am a mere puppet to the trip organiser’s desires.
I have stayed at Sandy Balls many times, in a touring caravan, in a lodge, a hideaway lodge for 2. Its a great place, ironically the history of the place is gives the clue to the name although it is very different now from what it started out! You should have a great time, if you get the chance take or hire a bike.
LOL, this thing is way too funny. I am going to share that.