To follow up with Top Gear's infamous stunt of blowing up a caravan to celebrate passing its 10 millionth fan milestone on Facebook, the show is now asking for suggestions as to what they should do next. The marketing survey is taking place on Facebook, with some of the more noteworthy suggestions being "Drift fifteen one million dollar cars in sync," and "Crush a Prius. then have it ground up and recycled."
The rise of social media has made it possible for more people to become involved in the direction that a TV programme or brand takes. New apps make it possible to use an existing fan base as a focus group, creating a more interactive experience and a platform for new ideas. Ultimately, the Top Gear Facebook initiative is mutually beneficial.
Socially Sourced Stunts
Top Gear Fans Suggest Facebook Celebration
Trend Themes
1. Social Media-driven Participatory Marketing - The rise of social media has enabled brands to leverage their fans as focus groups, creating more interactive, participatory experiences that foster in innovative ideas and content.
2. Crowdsourcing for Creative Ideas - The Top Gear Facebook initiative showcases the potential of crowdsourcing to generate ideas for entertainment, marketing campaigns and product development.
3. Interactive Marketing Surveys - Marketing surveys conducted on social media platforms like Facebook create more engagement opportunities for consumers and brands, leading to more insights for product innovation.
Industry Implications
1. TV and Media - TV shows can involve their audience more in the creative process and generate new ideas for stunts and content through social media-focused initiatives.
2. Marketing and Advertising - Marketing surveys and campaigns can be made more engaging and effective through social media platforms that enable audience participation.
3. Product Development and Innovation - Social media platforms are an excellent source of ideas and feedback for new product development and innovation, especially when seeking out creative and outside-the-box ideas.