Let’s face it, if you don’t have a MySpace page you simply aren’t a legitimate fictitious spokes-character. Uncle Ben doesn’t have one but the Geico Caveman does. Mrs. Buttersworth doesn’t but the Pillsbury Doughboy does. Not to be left out, America’s favorite statuette has posted up and is open for visitors according to MediaPost:
He’s got a hard body, he’s rock-steady and now he has a MySpace page. Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome is “still that shy chap from the garden,” according to his MySpace page, where he’s already accumulated more than 5,000 friends. No shock here, but add the gnome as your friend and you’ll receive travel deals from Travelocity. Also included on the site are downloadable icons and profile skins, videos, ringtones, games and a link to the Gnome store. Roaming Gnome will also blog on a regular basis. He recently revealed that he sports a tattoo on an undisclosed area.
To call this Marketing for Good is problematic but let’s try. A MySpace page offers interested consumers a chance to engage with a particular brand of interest. In the case of the Gnome, one would expect this world traveler to be interesting, informative and entertaining. If that proves to be the case, then kudos to Travelocity. If not, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Regardless, expect to see many more of these attempts by spokes-characters to social network. You will know when this approach is played out when the Staples Easy Button has its own page. Can’t wait!