Cannes Lions
DE-DE, New York / DE-DE / 2013
Awards:
Overview
Entries
Credits
Description
Thunderclap is about making a message unavoidable. It is the first crowd-speaking platform. Inspired by the fact that a voice can get lost in the large network of social media, Thunderclap is a way to let other voices join with your own, allowing your message to rise above the rest.
Any individual or organization can create a Thunderclap to say something that matters to them. They register their message on the website. Then, everyone who wants to support the Thunderclap signs up to donate his or her social reach (via Twitter or Facebook, or both) to the cause. On the day that the Thunderclap “tips”, the same message is mass-shared at the exact same time via everyone’s social networks, helping the cause rise above the white noise that fills social media feeds everywhere.
Execution
There was no campaign across channels; the product was launched in the market. Matt Taibi, a writer for Rolling Stone magazine, found the product on his own and created the first big Thunderclap in the summer of 2012, talking about financial reform of Wall Street. It was polarizing and within a day he had 3000 supporters of his message on Thunderclap. When it blasted out, the message reached almost 3 million people. This jumpstarted people’s interest in Thunderclap, and the product has naturally grown in content since.
Outcome
Thunderclap has had tremendous traction since launching. Thousands of Thunderclaps have been created, reaching multi-millions of people around the globe.
It has been used by multiple high profile individuals and organizations: the Obama campaign (three times), United Nations, The Royal British Legion for Remembrance Sunday, Stand Up to Cancer, Discovery's Shark Week, and Charity: Water have all created and blasted their own Thunderclaps.
The variation in effect has been incredible. It has ranged from the UN spreading awareness about World Humanitarian Day to one billion people, to a mom in Ohio generating seven times the number of bone marrow donor registrations.
The business model is to help larger brands and advertisers amplify their marketing, as well as letting them be part of an authentic community on the website. So far Levi’s, Sony Pictures, Major League Baseball, Durex, Avon, Condé Nast and Tom’s Shoes and have all used our commercial program.