Instagram Builds Toy Fair Momentum, Community

January 23, 2013 By

By Julie Livingston, Senior Account Executive, CarrotNewYork, formerly Senior Director, Public Relations, Toy Industry Association

The adage “a picture tells a thousand words” perfectly describes the free, mobile-sharing app Instagram. The simple act of setting up your Toy Fair product line, exhibit booth, or private showroom can be turned into a compelling narrative easily and effectively. The free application has a simple interface; the bottom part of the app allows you to access the feed and see all of the photos added by you and the individuals you follow. You can click comment to voice your opinion and like a photo by clicking on the heart icon. To give Instagram photos a promotional edge, add a caption including a hashtag or two, such as #BrandXYZ and #TF as well as other, common Instagram tags such as #toys,  #love or #photooftheday that are relevant to your show posts. The site Webstagram is a helpful tool for identifying which hashtags are trending. Remember that although Instagram is a terrific mobile marketing tool, it works best in tandem with other visual content sites such as Facebook, Pinterest, and Tumblr, as these offer the best viral impact for sharing and discussing photos. [Read more...]

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Use Twitter to Amplify Toy Fair Messaging

January 16, 2013 By

By Julie Livingston, Director of Business Development & Accounts,Child’s Play Communications; former Senior Director of Public Relations, Toy Industry Association

Want your toy or plaything to pop up more in online search? You’ve got to feed the social media engine! By regularly posting information on the leading social media platforms with relevant, ongoing messages and links, the more your company or brand will pop up in online search. This is also a primary means of putting your brand or products on the radar of the legions of reporters who use social media to do their pre-show fact-finding.

As there are a variety of social platforms to choose from, there is no “one size fits all” solution. You don’t have to be everywhere. Focus your efforts on one or several platforms that are well suited to your product, where you can shine. Consider the content itself—who will plan an editorial calendar, create the content, post it, and manage responses? This is critical because members of the press will expect to get expedient responses to their requests.   [Read more...]

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Winning Moves Donates Games for ‘Likes’ and Followers

December 12, 2011 By

Earlier this fall, Winning Moves Games committed to donate two new games to Kids Wish Network for every 10 Facebook “likes” and Twitter followers through Thanksgiving. The initiative was so successful that the program has been extended until Christmas. So far, 587 games have been shipped out to Kids Wish Network, and Winning Moves has more than 4,000 likes on Facebook and an estimated 1,500 Twitter followers.

If you would like to help with this initiative, visit Winning Moves’ Facebook page and Twitter account.

[Read more...]

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Child’s Play President Wins Social Media Innovator of the Year

April 29, 2010 By

Stephanie Azzarone, president of Child’s Play Communications, has won the Gold award for Social Media Innovator of the Year in the 2010 Bulldog Awards for Excellence in Media and Public Relations.

Child’s Play Communications specializes in public relations, social media, and word-of-mouth communications targeted to moms. Azzarone recognized early on that mothers were using social media as their communications channel of choice. In 2006, before many agencies took the plunge, Child’s Play began reaching out to moms in social media.

[Read more...]

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Webkinz World Celebrates 5th Anniversary with Twitter Party

April 27, 2010 By

Ganz is celebrating the 5th anniversary of Webkinz World on April 29, which is being hailed as Webkinz Day. The day will be highlighted by a Twitter party—a first for Webkinz—featuring prizes, new information about upcoming Webkinz releases, and more. The Twitter party, hosted by Ganz and Resourceful Mommy, will be held from 8 to 9 p.m. this Thursday. To learn more, visit www.webkinznewz.com.

Launched in 2005 by Ganz, Webkinz pets combine plush with the world of the Internet. In Webkinz World, children can adopt a pet, play games, do quizzes, create rooms, earn KinzCash, and “chat” with other members. Since its launch, new languages and features have been added, including Zumwhere, the Caring Valley, and the Kinzville Academy.

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