Geico Gecko Travels the Nation
If you’ve watched television within the past ten years, you have most likely seen the Geico Gecko, Martin. Tiny, green, and always speaking with a posh accent, Martin is the star of many of the insurance company’s popular advertisements. The little green guy can be seen telling people to stop confusing him with Geico because he is a gecko, or telling others how much they can save on car insurance. Now, you can watch him travel across the country, as he spreads the news about how much can be saved with Geico insurance.
Not only can you see Martin on your television or computer screen, but you can follow him on his journey as well! Since last fall, Geico has featured Martin’s voyage on their website, allowing users to track each and every city Martin visits. Users can also friend him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter to see what city he’s going to visit next. Fans are also encouraged to tweet suggestions to Martin for his next travel location. Martin has traveled to New York City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and most recently Ft. Worth, TX. The next stop on his list? Las Vegas, of course!
Geico is not the only company to employ strong strategies to build a loyal social media fanbase, and Martin is certainly not the only famous company mascot. Progressive’s spunky insurance saleswoman, Flo, The Progressive Girl, has a Twitter page for people to follow, with over 7,000 followers. She also has her own Facebook page with nearly 3.4 million fans. Her commercials can be recognized by their quirkiness and witty humor.
Many of the campaigns that employ these strategies gain fans and customers, but most importantly they encourage global involvement through social media. Anyone with Facebook or Twitter can “talk” to their favorite company mascot through these means. Other companies like Starbucks offer rewards and incentives, and take suggestions through their social media platforms in an attempt to fully engage their customers.
Geico’s Martin is probably one of the most recognizable social media mascots in the United States, and definitely one of the most recognizable little, green lizards. Everyone loves Flo, The Progressive Girl, and who can pass up a coupon from somewhere like Starbucks? Social media tactics like these certainly aid the campaigns of the companies that employ these tactics, garnering a huge fanbase, and gaining loyal customers.