Filed under: Comment
So recently I was cooking some dinner [because I am such a new age man] and as I reached for the salt, I saw this:
Yes, that really is a Facebook fan page for a salt manufacturer.
Now I appreciate people may like salt on their food, but that’s very different to being a Facebook fan of it.
So I went over to check it out and found they have 86,456 fans.
EIGHTY SIX THOUSAND!!!
That’s more than Lionel Richie’s clay head from his ‘Hello’ video!!!
“But what do they talk about”, I hear you cry.
Well this is the thing, you see while Morton are trying desperately to promote the ‘cool factor’ of their product … from saying ‘it’s the only rock humans eat’ to pimping out their instagram page [no, that’s not a joke] … the ‘fans’ aren’t comparing salt facts or recipes, they’re literally taking the piss and it’s brilliant.
To be honest, all this correspondence between ‘fans’ seems to be a relatively new phenomenon because there’s pages and pages of posts that some poor Morton salt social media monkey has churned out that have been ignored, however recently it appears people have decided to jump on and just have a laugh and in all honesty, the fact Morton has just let them get on with it makes me sort-of like them.
Yes, I am admitting to liking a salt manufacturer. Jesus.
I know it’s an American company, but it all feels eccentrically British … and that’s why I’m a bit conflicted because when I first saw Morton’s had a Facebook fan page, I scoffed in dismissive delight, however now – admittedly because of the fans, rather than the brand – I have signed up to their fanbase army and I don’t feel in the slightest bit embarrassed about admitting that.
Jesus, I’ve even written a post about it!
If only this blog had more than 5 people who visited it – and they weren’t rude, dismissive pricks – this could almost turn into a classic social media case study.
You know the sort, no sales impact, but masses of superficial brand love.
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youve written a blog post about fucking salt?
thats it, im done.
Comment by andy@cynic December 18, 2013 @ 6:17 amI am more concerned Robert knew there was a Lionel Richie clay head facebook fan page and was aware of their membership level.
Comment by George December 18, 2013 @ 6:28 amI’m not surprised in the slightest. It’s just the sort of weird shit that is his normal.
Comment by DH December 18, 2013 @ 6:36 amIt’s worse than that George. http://tinyurl.com/7r6x4ph
Comment by Bazza December 18, 2013 @ 6:42 amOh dear.
Comment by George December 18, 2013 @ 6:49 amWhat will be of more concern to you Andy is I’m a ‘fan’ of both clubs. Which actually says more about the quality of user on Facebook than anything else.
For their sake of their revenue, let’s hope their advertisers never discover this fact.
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 7:22 amYes I have Andy, but if it makes you feel any better, I haven’t visited the page since I wrote this post – which was probably a few weeks ago.
Does that help? No, didn’t think so.
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 7:21 amyou made me fucking check it out campbell, i fucking hate you for that.
Comment by andy@cynic December 18, 2013 @ 6:22 amIf this blog was about salt, the comments would be similar to the comments on the Morton Salt facebook page. I am unsure if that is a compliment.
Comment by George December 18, 2013 @ 6:26 amThis blog is about shit and the comments are disinfectant.
Comment by DH December 18, 2013 @ 6:34 amThis extremely rude comment makes some sense which is disturbing.
Comment by Miguel December 18, 2013 @ 9:05 amI’m sorry, Mr. Campbell… is a blogpost about salt and social media, you did lowered your standards here.
Thou I’d not generalize about the whole blog content. This specific post reads like as social media guru crap… The rest is either hilarious or interesting. Thanks for writing.
Comment by Miguel December 18, 2013 @ 9:23 amJesus Miguel – you’ve only just started commenting and you’re already joining in the abuse, ha. And for the record, I am slagging off the social media element … I’m simply saying that in the case of Morton’s salt, it’s been saved by the good-natured abuse of their Facebook ‘fans’.
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 9:35 amIf a salt company can do it, then these food producers certainly should – think of the possibilities.
http://usvsth3m.com/post/70289738332/delicious-rimming-sugar-is-sure-to-make-your
Comment by John December 18, 2013 @ 6:33 amGeorge, does the fact John knows about this stuff make him stranger than Rob knowing about a clay head fan page?
Comment by DH December 18, 2013 @ 6:35 amDidn’t Rob once write about anti masturbation gum? I’d call it equal.
Comment by Bazza December 18, 2013 @ 6:40 amThey both may have a touch too much time on their hands.
Comment by George December 18, 2013 @ 6:50 amI certainly do, but this actually appeared on my twitter this morning.
Comment by John December 18, 2013 @ 6:51 amUnderstatement of the year.
Comment by DH December 18, 2013 @ 6:59 amThe above comment was for George, not John’s sad attempt to shift blame to coincidence.
Comment by DH December 18, 2013 @ 7:00 amLonely night again John?
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 7:23 amI certainly learn new things coming on here Robert. Whether they are new things I want to learn about is questionable.
Comment by Lee Hill December 18, 2013 @ 7:34 amI clicked on it.
If you are a low interest category and want to appeal to a broader audience, then allowing commentary madness to flow on your page is one way to attract a larger following. Naturally it relies on people to write blog posts about it to reach a wider audience, but it makes a pleasant change from the highly curated, positive press stance that most brands adopt.
Comment by Pete December 18, 2013 @ 7:41 amShame Rob’s blog only attracts 5 people who wouldn’t do anything he said even if he had a gun to our head.
Comment by DH December 18, 2013 @ 7:46 amThanks Dave. Quick question, did you click on any of the links in this post?
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 7:48 amHe probably clicked on mine. What can brands learn from that?
Comment by John December 18, 2013 @ 7:57 amI clicked on both. I’m a puppet. #devastated.
Comment by DH December 18, 2013 @ 7:58 amI win.
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 8:05 ammanipulative prick.
Comment by andy@cynic December 18, 2013 @ 9:15 amJesus… Salt makes you thirsty – Being thirsty makes you drink more – Drinking more gets you pissed faster. Fuck Rob, do I have to explain everything to you?
Comment by George Parker December 18, 2013 @ 8:18 amCheers/George “AdScam” Parker
the answer is obviously a big fucking yes george. now if these salty fuckers were actually a booze company in disguise, then that would be the sort of shit id almost respect planners for. but it isnt so i dont.
Comment by andy@cynic December 18, 2013 @ 9:14 amThat would be devious strategy at it’s finest Andy. But they didn’t do it … though Droga5 Australia did once make [VB Beer] spicy crisps to be sold in pubs to encourage people to drink more of their beer, which was pretty awesome.
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 9:34 amTrust the Bruce’s and the Sheila’s to suss that out first.
Comment by George Parker December 18, 2013 @ 10:33 amI was just surprised the crisps weren’t sheep flavoured.
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 11:30 amIt might be a blog post about salt, but it makes a bloody good point about social media guruness. It still winds me up that social and PR gurus get away with even softer measures than brand awareness.
Comment by northern December 18, 2013 @ 5:43 pmBy the way, I cannot critique this blog anymore. I have been showered by freebies this christmas, I’ve had working holiday this year and worse of all, I’m blogging like a corporate toadie. What is happening to me?
I think it’s called ‘the gravy train’. Or something.
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 6:43 pmThough it could also be, ‘approaching 40 and trying to justify your job/value/presence’.
Comment by Rob December 18, 2013 @ 6:52 pmEvil bastard
Comment by northern December 18, 2013 @ 6:59 pmstating the fucking obvious there northern groper.
Comment by andy@cynic December 18, 2013 @ 10:33 pm