Social Media on Jackson Hewitt, Domino’s

There is brand buzz in the social media sphere and it's not all good. Franchisors McDonald's and the National Basketball Association are among the top ten tweets for last week, according to Mashable.

McDonald's: Twitter users were fascinated that some New England McDonald's restaurants launched lobster rolls. So did some the Canadian Maritimes too.

Will McLobster be next on the national menu?

Domino's: Motley Fool reports that the pizza chain's "social media strategy fell like Domino's." The marketing team asked:

"You wanted better chicken, and we listened," goes the scribbling on its boxes for its new wings and boneless chicken."Did we get it right? Tweet what you think with #DPZChicken, or tell us at facebook.com/dominos"

Ask and ye shall receive. And the brand received an overwhelming response — of bad hashtag tweets. Here are but a few.

Wow. $6 for 8 slightly larger than normal chicken nuggets? Passing on #DPZChicken next time, Domino's.

All of the chicken you loved from Dominos Chicken Kickers without any of the FLAVOR.

Source: This morning's tweets / twitter

Did the mighty marketers of pizza underestimate the power of the Internet democratization and its ability to come back and bite them?

Jackson Hewitt: Meanwhile, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service on Friday launched two social media initiatives: the "Jackson Hewitt's Got My Back" photo sweepstakes and the "Win Win with the Big Check" video contest.  Consumers enter one or both promotions between now and April 15, 2011, for a chance to win a $1,000 weekly cash prize through "Jackson Hewitt's Got My Back," or $20,000 in total cash prizes through "Win Win with the Big Check."

Contestants take a photo in front of any non-Walmart-based Jackson Hewitt location around the country, and then upload it to Jackson Hewitt's Facebook page, tweet it to Jackson Hewitt on Twitter, or upload the image to www.JacksonHewitt.com/sweepstakes. Weekly winners will be randomly chosen (one entry per week from all valid entries) to win a $1,000 cash prize.  Jackson Hewitt will also create an online interactive map, posted on JacksonHewitt.com/sweepstakes and its Facebook page, which will allow site visitors to view all entries.

"We wanted to energize consumers in a creative and fun way that encourages them to interact with Jackson Hewitt both online and off," said David Koroghlian, director of interactive marketing, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. "We know that millions of consumers use their annual tax refunds to pay off debts like credit cards, school loans and mortgage payments, or to help their families and others.  These contests celebrate both online creativity and human interactions, while also providing ways to win some extra money to pay debts, have fun or help others.  We can't wait to see the images and videos that consumers create and submit."