Tax season is fast approaching, and I was impressed to see both TurboTax and H&R Block using internet marketing as a way of promoting their products and services, in two very different ways.
TurboTax has partnered with YouTube and BrickFish to create “Tax Laugh” a unique online video contest.
There are two parts to this contest. The first is to submit a funny tax related video for a chance to win $10,000 and open for comedian Joy Moh.
The second part of the contest is the “Taxlaugh Promoter” campaign, where TurboTax has created incentives for internet promoters to take an active role in driving Word-of-Mouth about the contest.
Promoters are asked to post their favorite video on their website, blog, myspace or Facebook page, and the best promoters will have a chance to win a 3-day trip to California, a flip video camcorder and $1000 bucks.
Tax Laugh: Video Submission
H&R block has come up with their own unique way of marketing themselves this tax season. They have created the, Digits Community, a place for people to discuss money, art, politics, the planet, and much more.
As you would expect, the Digits Community is a tax and personal finance resource designed to promote H&R block, and their Tax Cut software, but it also attempts to find a balance between self promotion and real conversations and debate. One way they did this is by inviting respected voices in a variety of fields to become conversation starters.
There is also a weekly podcast, an H&R Block island in Second Life, and lost of entertaining videos featuring Truman Greene, like the one below where he is spoofing the HouseHacker video How to Charge an iPod using electrolytes and an onion.
How to file your taxes online using onions and electrolytes
As you can see, both companies have chosen very different and unique ways to promote themselves. I will be very interested to find out the results from both of these campaigns. I will be in touch with the marketers behind both of these projects and report back to you once everyone has finished filling their taxes.
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