We waited for years for one of the most powerful movies about Abraham Lincoln to ever come out of Hollywood.
Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln didn’t
disappoint.
But that big-time movie guy better watch out, because on the cusp of his film’s 12 potential Oscars, the $65-million, 150-minute Lincoln experience has a
bit of competition.
Take a look at this fun little 1:29-minute clip from the Illinois Office of Tourism.
“We’re bringing the character of ‘Mini Abe’ to life to show our support for the Lincoln film and highlight the rich Lincoln heritage and travel
destinations found throughout Illinois,” says Jen Hoelzle, deputy director, Illinois Office of Tourism.
Your hospital or health care organization may not be up for a dozen Oscars and you probably don’t have a celebrity in your midst with the popularity of the
16th president.
That’s okay. You can still learn from #MiniAbe’s Academy Awards adventure.
Assess your strengths and weaknesses: In stark contrast to his onetime political opponent Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln was known
for his disheveled hair and frumpy attire. The Illinois Office of Tourism team knew an appearance like that wouldn’t do for his big night, so it “gussied
up” the frontiersman for his big night on the town.
No matter what project you’re about to undertake, take a good look at your organization or your team. What do you do well? What could you do better? Draw
upon your strengths. Improve upon your weaknesses.
Use a multimedia approach: Hoelzle says the office of tourism will also “be engaging in conversations around Lincoln on Oscar night and
responding with real-time content. Real-time marketing is something that audiences and consumers expect, and it creates a long-term relationship through
dialogue with our fans.”
The Illinois Office of Tourism shared its #MiniAbe flick on its Enjoy Illinois YouTube page, but it’s not stopping there. It will use Twitter and Facebook
Sunday evening to keep the enthusiasm alive. And, thanks to its press release, other tourism organizations are sharing the video on their Facebook pages.
Whether you’re planning a campaign, disseminating information, or sharing exciting news, don’t stop with just one medium or social media platform.
Don’t limit your news to one event: February is a big month for the 16th president, and not just because of the Oscars.
Whether celebrating his birthday on Feb. 12, the actual anniversary of his birth, or on President’s Day, the second month of the year offers lots of
opportunities to spread the word about the rail splitter-turned-president.
The tourism department’s press release explains how it is celebrating “all things Lincoln” this month:
To honor the film and the state’s rich Lincoln legacy and travel destinations, Abraham Lincoln himself is on a trip around the globe.
Lincoln made a splash in London with his signature black top hat, full beard and tall physique—delighting tourists and locals alike, everywhere from
Big Ben to Buckingham Palace and the Tube.
Lincoln’s World Tour is renewing international interest in Illinois as a travel destination and generating buzz about the state’s Lincoln heritage,
history and attractions.
Don’t overlook the opportunity to share more than one morsel of news when you pitch the press. Reporters are inundated with news. If you’ve got a couple
things coming up, why not plug both when you’ve got their attention?
Have fun when you can: You can’t tell this communicator that the people who brainstormed and produced this video didn’t have a blast
doing it. From the cucumbers (or, wait, are those dill pickles?) on the president’s eyes to the pop culture reference about one of Hollywood’s iconic
personalities, this little film has “this was fun” written all over it—and it’s überfun to watch.
As you set to work on a project, look for ways to make it enjoyable for your creative team and for your audience. If you’ve enjoyed working on it, it will
show in the final product, and it’s bound to be a hit with your audience.