Twitter + iPhone + Micro site = sweet success.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways in 25 characters or less. 25 characters is the new 140 characters for this sweet NECCO Sweethearts iphone and Twitter app we created.

Download the free iphone app to customize the famous NECCO Sweethearts with your own message on up to five hearts. Your custom box of Sweethearts will be sent to your lover to shake, open, and read your messages of love, lust, or just plain goofiness.

Also, this is a very unique application in that there is an integration with Twitter that allows users to display or deliver their boxes of custom Sweethearts to their followers. Our goal was to create a cross channel social media promotion that also had an iPhone tie in. The combination of mediums is a testament to how we try to leverage synergies between all digital opportunities.

The social web is not just Facebook. It's every element of a brand’s digital strategy. Check out what USA Today and Twitter CEO Biz Stone and Mashable - The Social Media Guide think about the app – we sure think it's sweeeet. 

UPDATE:  January 26, 2010 - AdWeek article "Twitter With a Twist" reviews how NECCO Sweethearts iPhone App inspires users to share content in new ways.

Genuine Interactive client Boston Harbor Cruises was highlighted on last night's American Idol season 9 premiere when contestant Mike Davis auditioned in Boston.

Davis, an 18-year old actor from Boston, works in the summer as a driver on BHC's Codzilla - an entertaining, thrilling boat ride that blares music and cruises across Boston Harbor at 40 miles per an hour. 

Last year, American Idol averaged 24.9 million total viewers and since the show aired last night, people have been flocking to Google and searching for both Mike and Codzilla as BostonHarborCruises.com has seen a 700% increase in site visitors and Codzilla's Facebook fan page has received a 50% increase in fans.

Congratulations to Mike Davis and BHC!

No shameless plugs here...

Genuine Interactive was selected as the winner in the Best Use of Video and Real Estate categories for the 2009 MITX Interactive Awards.

The Best Use of Video award was received for the creation of an innovative lead generation video site for 3DVIA. So, our developer friends actually build the site right before your eyes, because it's all about Speed Baby! The objective of the campaign was to generate awareness for the product launches and capture as many email addresses as possible. The goal was 200; we ended up with 1,200 along with unprecedented user engagement stats.

Working with Rattle Advertising, Genuine received the interactive award in the Real Estate category for Fenway Triangle. Making a convincing case for Fenway Triangle as well as raising awareness and generating interest and excitement, required knitting together myriad lifestyle amenities from cultural institutions and green space, to nightlife, restaurants and conveniences. Through extensive original photography and video the resulting site created a compelling real-world sense of place and a distinct personality for the area.

Congratulations to all the winners and more importantly to everyone that participated in the 14th Annual MITX Awards!

Genuine Interactive and clients make a splash at MITX Awards with Best Consumer Web Site and one of the coveted "Best of" Awards for French's "Skinny on Mustard!"

The annual MITX Awards is the largest awards competition in the country that recognizes achievements in the development and implementation of interactive technologies. MITX winners were announced in 33 categories, including five “Best of” awards, at a sold out ceremony attended by more than 1,300 industry professionals held on November 19th at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.

"There were some great sites in the category.  Reebok, Burton’s Snowboards and Nikon – we’re glad to be recognized with those other finalists," said Chris Pape, creative director at Genuine Interactive. "Just being a finalist is a great accomplishment; winning the category and the Best of Engagement is the icing.  We’d love to thank our clients for their insight and support and the Genuine team for kicking so much mayo ass on this project."

Genuine Interactive also was one of the leading agencies represented at this year's MITX Awards by garnering 5 other finalists in a variety of categories.

"This year’s award winners represent some of the world’s most innovative marketing and creative experts.  These companies and individuals help big-name brands connect with their audiences through innovative and non-traditional use of technology," said Kiki Mills, executive director of MITX.  "MITX is proud to be the foundation for New England’s vibrant digital community and to recognize and help keep our Internet business and marketing practitioners at the forefront of innovation."

Entries were judged by over 100 industry professionals representing various disciplines including creative directors, designers, technologists, online media representatives, investors and business professionals.

The MIT CFO Series  has an amazing line up of speakers who have insight into this wonderful economy that we're all enjoying.

This exclusive event brings together financial executives from around the world and leading faculty from across MIT for a day of interactive learning and thought-provoking discourse on the future of finance, accounting, and business that is not available anywhere else. This year's theme - "Relentless Volatility" – will allow attendees to explore the risk in financial markets and their impact on today’s business. Hear from business leaders and MIT professors, and network with 500+ financial executives.

This annual event, as part of the MIT CXO Series, is organized 100% by alumni & volunteers to improve the MIT Sloan brand to CXO executives. This exciting Summit offers a day of presentations, panels, lunch, networking and a closing reception. Eric Brandt of Broadcom, Jeffrey Henderson of Cardinal Health, Tina Jonas of the US Department of Defense, John Rex of Microsoft, Lizabeth Zlatkus of The Hartford, and numerous others will be speaking to our sold out audience. Come hear these speakers and more at the 2008 MIT CFO Summit!!

If you are a Financial Leader, CFO, President/CEO, Audit Committee Member or an Investor this is a great conference to attend. We'll see you there.

MIT Sloan CFO Summit

November 20, 2008 from 7:30AM-6:00PM

Boston Marriott Newton - Newton, MA