Ploning The Movie and Twitter
439 words | Last Updated: March 8, 2008 |
You can use Twitter as a marketing tool to promote your site. In a previous post, you even got to read some tips about Twitter and Blog Traffic.
Well, someone recently tried to use Twitter marketing for Ploning: The Movie. They practically broke all the rules about Twit-promotion, and yet they succeeded. Here's what happened...
Everyday I get an email message letting me know that so-and-so is following me on Twitter. So I decided to check out their Twitter page, one of whom was called Ploning.
What's this? Not a single Twitter post?
And Ploning is following over 500 people, yet is being followed by only 20. (Not that bad, actually. Some accounts are following over 3,000 Twitter users, but are being followed by only 2.)
And then I see the URL of their site in the bio section of their Twitter page. I visit their site...
...and am inspired by the movie trailer.
In fact, I blogged about Ploning, The Movie, grabbed a guitar and tried to play their folksong, and then even posted those chords online.
Apparently, I was not the only one moved by their images and words. The last time we checked Google, there were about 21,700 pages containing the word "Ploning."
So how did they make their internet marketing work, even if they made a few "mistakes" in Twitter marketing? They were lucky.
How can you be lucky online? Start with good content. 
The Ploning movie trailer or teaser makes use of breathtaking panoramic shots, orchestral music, and words that somehow reach deep within your being. And although I am not a Cuyunon, and Cuyo Island in Palawan is hours away from Manila by plane, I still feel drawn to it.
That's the magic of the internet.
And yes, I am definitely seeing the indie film by Panoramanila Pictures Co. (and directed by Direk Dante Nico Garcia) when it launches in April/May 2008 in the Philippines.
What's the lesson here for internet marketers? Start with good Content that connects with your readers or viewers, and your promotional efforts will still count (even if they are not ideally executed).
For more info, please visit http://www.ploningthemovie.com
"Ploning The Movie and Twitter"
First Posted: March 8, 2008 | Filed in: Keyword Research
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Dear Mr Viloria,
Good morning!
We're glad to hear about your positive feedback on PLONING!
Soon, we will release our cinema trailer in theaters nationwide... But, our internet fans will get the first view! So, do hang in there and keep spreading the word on this exciting event film on April 2008!
God bless you all!
All the best,
Guia Gonzales
PANORAMANILA PICTURES CO.
Great move for "Ploning." Keep spreading the word!
=) Oliver
http://oliverpublicist.blogspot.com
Hi Manuel, I'm one of the producers of Ploning... I'm very interested on your inputs on our web marketing... and i can see that your insights are geared towards Twitter. I would like to know how to maximize our efforts for the second wave of promotions when we actually do post our MOVIE TRAILER and also our BEHIND-THE-SCENES. in short how can we use twitter to build up towards our trailer release. Can you help us gain some insights? We are just discovering now the power and potential of web marketing and as a newly formed group we are trying to learn as much as we can. Thank you even for this article which i believe will reach a lot of people in itself.
Interesting teaser! Can't wait to watch the movie...
Judith Bueno
Stages Production Specialists, Inc.
@Guia - I thought the movie was going to be released in May, the birth month of Ms. Judy Ann Santos? Btw, I enjoyed the Ploning entries in your Multiply blog.
@Oliver - Thanks for visiting! Interesting blog you have there.
@Judith - I'm looking forward to reading your blog one of these days.
@Jourdan the Dreamer - If you want to use Twitter, please post at least one Twitter entry everyday (maximum of 8 a day). For example, what are the people behind Ploning doing right now? Post photos in your blog, then Twitter about it.
Guia,
Great move by spreading the word for Juday's movie "Ploning" through internet (websites from Juday's group of Friends). Likewise nice meeting you last March 6, at the Gerry's Grill n the gang behind the cast of Ploning and you can reassure that my personal support and my group of frens and tito alfie's Angels here in San Diego, LA, San Fran, New Jersey n New York will support this movie of Juday 200%. More power to PANORAMANILA PICTURES CO.
Hi, Mel!
Playdate is April 30. Just a few days shy of Juday's 30th birthday! Perfect time to watch a film since it's pay day and Labor Day the next day. Whooopeee!!!
We'd love to meet you and have you view our film!
All the best,
Guia
Oh, thanks for visiting my blog! Will write more in the coming days...
Tita Libay! Thank you for all the support! Yes, it's good to meet you too. I look forward to seeing you again as we bring PLONING to the US!
Hello manuel,
This is Bj, one of the writers of the film. I'm alslo part of the promo and marketing team. Thank you so much for the positive feedback and support for our film. It's very heartwarming reading your blog. Promotions through new media is something we're really serious in pursuing so it would be really great to have your inputs on our campaign. There are more materials to come which will be exclusive to new media. It's really exciting how all this is working out. We'll keep in touch. Again, our deepest gratitude.
Hi Tita Libay, Bj here. It was nice meeting you in Gerry's last time. Had fun celebrating your son's birthday. Hehe. Thank you so much for the support. I hope to see you in our US screeniings.
BJ, thanks for visiting! When I viewed the trailer of Ploning: The Movie, I was deeply struck by your choice of Tagalog words (that appeared in the sub-titles). Now I'm counting the days until April 30, because I can't wait to watch the entire film!
'Ploning' teaser/trailer on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXfoG95OIOw
Can't wait for April 30, Oliver!
Ploning+Twitter together! Web 2.0 FTW!
here's an actual song inspired by Ploning (by Nityalila):
http://nityalila.multiply.com/music/item/13/PLONING_an_inspiration_-_Dahil_Sa_Pag-ibig_Mo
It's easy to build momentum with Web 2.0 tools but at the end of the day, the advocates need to update the content and connect everyday (I agree with you on that - esp. your advice to Jourdan the Dreamer!)
Enjoy Nityalila's song!
Thanks, Paul! The lyrics are great, and I was able to hear the song (good thing I have a Multiply account). I wish the sound file were also available even to those without a Multiply account, to help spread the word faster. Thanks!
hey yo!
i'am makoy, ako po yung nasa likod ng kinaiinisan nyo. =P
part ako ng webteam ng ploning, malas nyo lang sirugo kasi ako yung nasa buzz marketing. =P
lahat ng nakikita nyong "PLONING" sa net except yung main site nila ako yung may gawa.
makoy
http://zaidkram.multiply.com
"Well, someone recently tried to use Twitter marketing for Ploning: The Movie. They practically broke all the rules about Twit-promotion"
may rules ba?... wala namang rules pagdating sa buzz ha.
"Google, there were about 21,700 pages containing the word "Ploning.""
wow congrats to me man. =P
tumataas pa yan.
visit nyo yung ploning dito: http://www.ploning.com
then you can add ploning as a friend in multiply.com : http://ploning.multiply.com
badtrip kasi yung developer nila sa main site, wala manlang RSS FEED. anong klaseng developer yun. mukang kabababa lang ng bundok at hndi pa yata alam yung RSS ay napakamahalaga.
For the record, Makoy, I wasn't irritated by your buzz marketing tactics. I wrote this post to point out that people can still succeed in Twitter, especially if the site promoted contains good content.
No, there are no "rules" when it comes to promoting your sites via Twitter. There are just certain "good practices" such as posting more Twitter messages before following people, or following a reasonable number of people per day (so that people won't see, for example, that you're following 400 people but are being followed only by 5).
Anyway, Makoy, congratulations on your web promotion campaigns. I hope you're able to track which traffic sources are directly attributable to your buzz marketing efforts. In my case, I first found out about Ploning via Twitter, thanks to you.
(On another note, here's a case where buzz marketing did not work.)
I just wish, however, that you would be more understanding if knowledge or awareness of RSS is not yet that widespread.
The great thing about teams is that the members each bring their unique skills to the table, and by working together, all these different talents help produce something wonderful. There's really no pressure to do everything yourself, because you can rely on the other members of the Team.
Congratulations also to the creators and the entire team of Ploning, because even from just the trailers alone you have instantly inspired people to write about Ploning online way ahead of your opening day. Had your trailer not moved me, I would've simply written off someone as a typical Twitter-spammer-at-first-glance. Clearly, good content helps a lot!
(Sencya na, Makoy, kung di ako nag-reply in Tagalog, kasi karamihan ng visitors ng site na ito ay mas sanay sa English. Loose translation: "Please understand, Makoy, if I didn't reply in Tagalog, since most of the visitors of this site are used to English.")
(Sencya na, Makoy, kung di ako nag-reply in Tagalog, kasi karamihan ng visitors ng site na ito ay mas sanay sa English. Loose translation: "Please understand, Makoy, if I didn't reply in Tagalog, since most of the visitors of this site are used to English.")
pasensya sila.
PILIPINO ako eh at nasa PILIPINAS ako. sila mag adjust
kulang pa nga yung na follow ko na 500, tinamad lang ako target ko 3000 to 5000.
"I just wish, however, that you would be more understanding if knowledge or awareness of RSS is not yet that widespread."
hala
hndi mo ba alam kung gaano kahalaga ang RSS? nakakatawa ka blogger ka pa naman. =P
"(On another note, here's a case where buzz marketing did not work.)"
may sagot kami dyan
Just to Answer A Critic, and Future Critics...
News Roundup of Articles About or Related to Ploning the Movie
then from the blog of Ploning's Director
Mababaw Lang Ang Ploning At Hindi Pang Intelektwal!
sa http://ploning.multiply.com nalang para makita mo yung reaction mga taong nagmamahal sa ploning
Feel free to comment in Filipino, Makoy, just as others are also free to comment in English. (Wait... Why is your site, TechnoWeird.com, in English? Just kidding!
Naimbag nga rabii, Makoy!)
You wrote: "hala hndi mo ba alam kung gaano kahalaga ang RSS? nakakatawa ka blogger ka pa naman. =P"
To clarify my reply to your comment about RSS: I was referring to the main site's developer and your disdain over his/her apparent lack of appreciation for RSS.
As for your links to the reactions to Ploning Shmoning, those links were answers to SmokeTalk's negative review.
They were not answers, however, to the example about "buzz marketing not working."
Check out Rom's comment: "well, there you go. you were part of the buzz-making machine. That explains the hardsell."
Just to be clear, we're not talking here about whether Ploning is a good or bad movie. That's not what this post is about, Makoy.
We're talking about buzz marketing that sometimes works (Twitter spam-like activity + good content), and sometimes doesn't (i.e., Ploning Shmoning comments area shows reactions to good/glowing reviews published by a member of the "buzz-making machine").