SAN FRANCISCO: At the end of each year, Twitter’s internal team devises a list of the brands that stood out on the social network’s platform over the previous 12 months.
Usually, the list highlights quirky and fun campaigns, with categories unique to the big moments from that particular year. But when Twitter’s internal creative teams sat down to discuss what they were going to do for the 2020 list, it was immediately apparent that they needed to take a different approach.
“We wanted to reinvent the categories to reflect the trials and tribulations and difficulties of 2020,” said Ryan Oliver, Twitter Next’s senior director for the U.S. and Canada. “We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge this wasn’t an ordinary year.”
Twitter decided to honor the brands that were resilient and found creative ways to navigate and connect with consumers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This year presented various opportunities for brands to stand up and be part of the conversation versus putting their head in the sand, Oliver said.
“We wanted for this set of awards to be an ode to the brands worth remembering from the year we will never forget,” he added.
Here are Twitter’s #BestofTweets 2020 honorees…
Best campaign for quenching our thirst for sports: Gatorade
When live sports were abruptly taken away in 2020, ESPN’s The Last Dance quickly became the sports event of the year and reignited fans’ passion for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. This was @Gatorade’s time to shine, except they weren’t an official sponsor. So they partnered with the NBA to turn back the clock, streaming Game 6 of the 1998 Finals on Twitter. The brand teamed up with OMD, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Optimum Sports and Swift.
Run it back to ‘98 and MJ’s final Bulls game. Join @NBATVAhmad for #game6live with special guests @S10bird, @HARPER04_5, @ZachLaVine and @BigTicket_JW. #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/0vkk97kWZW
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) May 18, 2020
Best campaign for driving positive change: Uber
In collaboration with Wieden+Kennedy and MediaCom, @Uber’s in-house creative team asked everyone to stay home with its #MoveWhatMatters campaign. And even though its message on Twitter was to stop using the app, it never stopped moving. Uber drivers delivered 10 million free rides and food to frontline workers, seniors and people in need.
If you can, stay home. We can stop this. #MoveWhatMatters
— Uber (@Uber) March 31, 2020
Best brand speaking out and standing up: Ben & Jerry’s
Whether working to dismantle white supremacy or speaking out against the gender pay gap, @benandjerrys took a stand on Twitter.
Tomorrow is #Juneteenth! Learn more about the origins of the holiday and why we need to stand together and continue the long march toward justice: https://t.co/Z3baQD7mm8 pic.twitter.com/k0M7MbvMfq
— Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys) June 18, 2020
Best campaign for connecting us from the couch: Trolls
With the pandemic leading to movie theaters closing, Universal Pictures released Trolls World Tour directly to premium video-on-demand and hosted a live watch party on Twitter. Universal and its partner agency Essence took to Twitter to spread the word and celebrate the film’s release. Trolls World Tour became the biggest Universal digital release.
Are you ready for the #TrollsWatchParty and World Premiere happening tomorrow?! ??
— DreamWorks Trolls (@Trolls) April 9, 2020
? April 10: 10am PT/1pm ET
1?? Set Your Reminder Below ?? ?? ??
2?? Pre-Order #trollsworldtour
3?? Get Ready to Watch and Live-Tweet with us!https://t.co/kukrS3s6Q4
Best campaign for redefining home entertainment: Verizon
With partner agencies R/GA and VM1, @Verizon launched PayItForwardLIVE livestreaming concerts and gaming events on Twitter for eight weeks. While entertaining fans, Verizon also helped small businesses affected by the pandemic. The first livestream featuring Dave Matthews Band gained a 100% net positive brand sentiment – the highest for a Twitter livestream by or from a brand.
? this tweet for a reminder every Tuesday and Thursday to tune in to our #PayItForwardLIVE livestreams, where big names come together to support small businesses. pic.twitter.com/DgCcRNmQYX
— Verizon (@Verizon) March 31, 2020
Best campaign from the future: Westworld
Leading up to the premiere of Westworld Season 3, HBO’s in-house creative team worked with Hearts & Science to give fans in Mexico, Brazil and the U.S. a proper #Welcometo2058. When fans liked a @WestworldHBO Tweet for a premiere reminder, a Twitter app connected to the show’s handle communicated with IBM’s Watson Personality Insights service. After analyzing the fan’s most recent Tweets, the app then assigned their fate in 2058, matching them based on personality type to old and new characters alike.
.@WestworldHBO is now powered by Incite - we've done our research and we know your past. Who are you based on your Twitter history?
— Westworld (@WestworldHBO) March 13, 2020
?? this Tweet and we'll analyze your Tweets to find your future, and remind you to tune into the season premiere on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/WaFILGRtrQ
Best campaign for making us nostalgic: Airbnb
Airbnb offered consumers the opportunity to spend the night at the last Blockbuster store. It announced the offer with a tweet from the iconic video store itself (and its first in six years).
...cause the last BLOCKBUSTER in the world will be offering movie lovers in Bend a 90s themed sleepover for a limited time—only on airbnb. who’s down? ??https://t.co/dd4yz1UtZP pic.twitter.com/NJEZK2wxeW
— Airbnb (@Airbnb) August 11, 2020
Best campaign for making missing out memorable: Chase
Chase, along with VaynerMedia, asked the collective graduating class of 2020 to #ShowMeYourWalk. This consisted of a two-part graduation event livestreamed on Twitter, one for high school and college grads, and another for historically Black colleges and universities. #ShowMeYourWalk got 44 times more views livestreaming on Twitter than any other social video platform.
Join us for a special live stream event May 2nd for all 2020 grads, featuring guest speakers Kevin Hart, Serena Williams and Stephen Curry. Get ready for a virtual graduation walk like no other. Spread the word and tag a 2020 grad in the comments below. #ShowMeYourWalk
— Chase (@Chase) April 27, 2020
Best campaign that rallied their community: Manny’s Deli
Manny’s Deli co-owner Dan Raskin let his followers know when his family business began to feel the repercussions of COVID-19. With help from Fresh Content Society, Manny’s Deli asked neighbors to show some neighborly love. With a single tweet, it drove a 1,500% increase in sales, 20 million media impressions and 500,000 engagements across all channels and media pickup.
“Hello, internet. Thank you for supporting Manny’s. We really appreciate it. You are all family to me.” - Gino pic.twitter.com/CCL1AwTqMw
— Manny's Deli (@mannysdeli) July 23, 2020
Best campaign for pivoting when it counts: U.S. Census Bureau
The U.S. Census Bureau and its agency partners Reingold and Culture One World used Twitter’s takeover products to drive awareness and own the coveted top place on the timeline for 24 hours for the #2020Census launch. They also got influencers on board to speak to young people and those in underrepresented communities.
Nothing about us should be decided without us. That includes our representation in Congress & resources in our communities.
— this is a jingle jangle stan account. (@MsPackyetti) July 7, 2020
Join the @USCensusBureau - go to https://t.co/TTxOGAm7C6 & make it happen.
It takes just a few minutes to be counted and #ShapeYourFuture #2020Census #ad
