Scion Uses Widgets to Promote Three Models

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Never one to shy away from an experimental marketing technique, Scion has created shareable widgets to promote three of its makes. The Toyota division partnered with rich media firm Interpolls to create and distribute the widget to sites including Gamespot.

The widget allows viewers to click images of the Scion XD, XB and TC to view previously used video creative from Scion agency Attik, or engage with polls or trivia content. True to widget form, the ad can be reposted to users' Web pages or social networking profiles.

Scion has a long tradition of using non-traditional media to promote its brand and reach younger consumers, having launched its own virtual world environment and established virtual presences on WhyVille, Second Life and There.com. Its online ad buys have tended to target urban niche sites like Blastro.com, BlockSavvy.com, Streetfire.net and HipHopDX.com. The company has also worked with Interpolls before to create interactive HTML-based non-shareable ads.

Toyota views its experimental marketing initiatives for Scion as a test bed for its other brands, Adrian Si, Scion interactive marketing manager, told ClickZ in August.

"For our brand we're not just after the youth demographic, but the trendsetting youth. We're looking for them to spread the gospel about our brand," Si said. "Part of our job is to investigate new ideas and non-traditional media, and pass those learning on to our sister companies."