Castrol use mobile to promote oil

Castrol are using mobile to provide motorists with a handy oil finder. Simply text “Oil” to 83080 to receive a link to the Castrol mobile site. Enter your car registration number and the site confirms the make and model and recommends a type of oil for you. A very useful service for the non-technically minded motorist who just wants to buy the right oil for their car.

Augmented Reality – what’s the point?

I’ve just seen this video from Citroen showing their use of Augmented Reality for their new car, the DS3.

 

Yes, it looks pretty cool but, other than that, what’s the point? I can hold a piece of paper up to my webcam and see a car superimposed on the image on my screen. I can also rotate my piece of paper and the on-screen car rotates as well. Is it not easier for me to control a 3D model on the screen using my mouse or cursor keys? Surely that’s quicker, and easier, than printing off a AR code, potentially downloading some software and then holding the paper up to the webcam like an idiot?

OK, so, if you watch the whole video you’ll see that Citroen have created a cool looking driving game where I can steer my DS3 using my piece of paper with the AR code on it. Pretty neat technology but what does it do for me as a customer? I suggest that it does absolutely nothing. Again, is it not easier for me to control the car with my mouse or cursor keys? If I’m holding an AR code up to my webcam, can I even see the screen to know where I need to steer?

This strikes me as yet another use of technology for technology’s sake and it delivers zero as a customer experience. But, hey, I haven’t actually tried this example. Maybe it’s a dream to experience. But I doubt it. Please, please, please think about the customer experience before you insist on using the latest technology du jour.

Amazing 27% CTR for Honda

Honda have achieved an amazing 27% CTR for a mobile campaign in Greece. In a good example of a properly thought out mobile campaign, Honda tied up with the World Wide Fund for Nature to launch the Honda Insight.

Mobile banner ads link through to a mobile site where customers can find out more about both the Honda Insight and WWF’s Earth Hour initiative. Customers could sign up to receive SMS alerts reminding them to switch of their lights for Earth Hour. Read more about it here http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/advertising/4393.html

Why is it that car manufacturers all seem to be running great mobile campaigns? Why is it that they get it and other sectors don’t? Now’s got to be the time to up your game and claim even better response rates for your own brands!