May 2nd, 2010 
joel It’s been exciting watch Erie and the rest of the supporters of the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation come together to put their cause to the top of the Pepsi Refresh voting in April. It was also a lesson in the power of how viral marketing, social media, along with good old-fashioned public relations and a helpful traditional press can put solid rocket boosters behind a message.
It’s unfortunate that Pepsi won’t release vote totals, because it would be descriptive of what it takes to win that deal. I would anticipate vote totals in the hundreds of thousands if not over a million, and the sheer breadth of the outreach indicating a very large lead over #2. Of course what was shocking was the flipping of #2 & #3 on the last day; almost certainly caused by a last minute St. Louis Post-Dispatch article on the Ben-Gil Boosters situation.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: even though I’m just as excited and in awe of the power of social media, when push comes to shove, you can’t discount the sheer force of multiple messages on media that touches 96% of the entire population of your community, such as radio, TV, and newspaper.
New or old, we are all about Erie media at Press and Tower. Join us on this open forum with your civil and constructive comments below, or e-mail me at joel@nataliemedia.com or tweet @pressandtower.
Embrace the chaos!
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The recent Pepsi Refresh program proved to be a bolster to our community, and Kanzius research.
We have a free, $250,000 in town that we did not have before.
I have looked at the current leaderboard, and I sure hope that Erie folks know that this program is ONGOING.
There is no reason for Erie, PA to sit back and say we won, and do no more entries. First and Second Place prizes every month are $250,000 , however the balance of prizes contain up to Ten winners in varied categories.
I am amazed that a Screamfest proposal is in the top three to win 1/4 million dollars. This is the power of online voting, and Kanzius folks proved their mettle at winning.
Folks, look around our town and find projects that YOU feel need funding, in any of the categories as Health, Education, etc, and in any monetary amounts (smaller prises have greater chance of winning).
Put your heads together for the next several months and let us submit from Erie, PA a series of proposals , in ALL the categories available, not just Health. And also do it in every dollar amount listing to increase odds of winning. And, let us have proposals in All of the categories and amounts, every month.
Our odds to win repeatedly are very good.
We have had amazing luck with a $100 million dollar philanthropy donation, Extreme Makeover for Clara Ward, the $250,000 Kansius win from Pepsi, and the opportunity to continue winning many prizes in that program.
The current proposals pale in comparison to the needs in our town, that could readily be submitted in a wide variety of areas.
Please read the Pepsi link below to see current status. It is too late to enter this month. It is a perfect time to prepare and soon submit at the end of EACH month, a variety of proposals that would knock the socks off what the nation is proposing currently on the leaderboard.
Here is the leaderboard link for you to review the categories, types of proposals, and consider what else in Erie, PA would benefit by submitting proposals every month this goes on: (and Good Luck!)
http://www.refresheverything.com/leaderboard