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Grateful Dead Facebook Page: Great Use of Interactive Content

April 20, 2011 by Adam Sherk

Grateful Dead skull and rosesThanks to Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead we know that the band’s approach over the years offers useful insights for marketers. But how is the organization itself doing with social media today? Based on a current promotion on the Grateful Dead Facebook page I’d say they’re doing great.

In support of the release of the complete recordings from the Europe ’72 tour (and the 40th anniversary of that tour) the Grateful Dead Facebook page utilizes a separate tab to create a multi-page interactive experience for fans.

Users can follow the tour route on an animated map, view set lists and photos and read accounts from people who were at each show. Best of all, a live track from each date is streamed right from the tab. It’s not every day you hear a rip-roaring Truckin’ suddenly jump out of a Facebook page.

They have also done a good job of building in elements to encourage repeat visits. The tour took place in April-May 1972 so the content for each show is featured on the Facebook page during the corresponding week this year. This gets users coming back week after week:

Grateful Dead Facebook wall post

The tab also includes a sweepstakes which allows them to collect fan email addresses and of course a link for buying the complete recordings.

In terms of the technical setup I like how the use of sub-navigation buttons makes it possible to offer a multi-page experience within the same tab (see below). And effective use of colorful, interactive pages with multimedia content brings it all to life.

One thing that needs improvement is the message that is provided when a user clicks the “Share” link on the intro page:

Grateful Dead Facebook share

An image and a more compelling message will significantly improve the click-through rate.

Since the content won’t be on the Grateful Dead Facebook page indefinitely I’ve grabbed some screenshots:

Grateful Dead Facebook Page Europe '72 promotion

Grateful Dead Facebook page Europe '72 map

Grateful Dead Facebook page live music

Grateful Dead Facebook page Europe '72 photos

Grateful Dead Facebook page Europe '72 sweepstakes

Related posts:

  1. Alicia Keys Facebook Page: I’d Sign Up if She Asked Me All Cool
  2. 5 Good Ideas for News Media Facebook Pages
  3. JVC Facebook Page Sweepstakes a Big Success. But Does it Violate Facebook Guidelines?
  4. Newsweek’s Tim Geithner Interview Live on Facebook: Don’t Forget to Link to the Video Afterwards
  5. News Sites Not Making Much Use of Static FBML on Facebook Pages

Comments

  1. David Meerman Scott says

    April 20, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    The challenge for the modern Grateful Dead (and their label / business manager Rhino) is to market like the Dead did back before online media. Build a following & get people to share. They did a great job tapping the ideas they pioneered in the marketing of the Europe ’72 collection.

  2. Adam Sherk says

    April 20, 2011 at 3:52 pm

    Well said, thanks David. The Europe ’72 collection promotions both on Facebook and on Dead.net have come together nicely.

    Regarding getting people to share, all the more reason to improve the formatting of the Facebook message that’s generated when users click the “Share” button on any of the pages with the Europe ’72 feature. They missing the opportunity to help their fans make a stronger impression with those shares.

  3. Nick Stamoulis says

    April 29, 2011 at 9:49 am

    Great example of how to use Facebook as an effective marketing tool. I especially like that the posts are mimicking the tour from 40 years ago and encourage commenting via a contest. It’s a great way to maintain fan interest and stay top of mind.

  4. Adam Sherk says

    May 3, 2011 at 6:03 pm

    I agree Nick, following the tour route is pretty cool, it definitely pulled me in.

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Adam Sherk is an SEO and PR consultant helping publishers with digital strategy and audience development, including enterprise SEO, public relations and social media marketing.

Adam is VP SEO and Digital Strategy for Define Media Group.

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