In a recent post I explored a mind set and agile process for working with tribes. Now I want to share some inspiring examples for your next tribal project. When you tap into the power of many, and the prospects of multiplying value together, amazing things can happen. You can co-produce sheer joy, build high engagement and authenticity, earn media, innovate, learn or spark interesting ideas and conversation.
1. You could do like HBO and inspire a mind-blowing setting in Minecraft
100 Minecraft builders banded together to re-create Kings Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms in the Game of Thrones saga. The splendid city, built of blocks, is all hosted on the WesterosCraft server and there is apparently a cue of visitors waiting to login for a tour. (Should this be labeled Virtual Tourism?) Their plans are much grander than just a city, as they are in the process of recreating the whole continent of Westeros.
Let’s get the record straight! HBO did not directly sponsor or set this project in motion. All they did was make a tv-series based on George R. R. Martins fantasy novels. However, that is beside the point. Let’s just say that they could have. The reason we’re mentioning this fantastic creation is to serve you with inspiration for your own tribaling efforts. If you were to engage the minecraft tribe to build something: what would it be?
2. You could do like SOUR and crowdsource a music video
The japanese band SOUR created a real neat music video together with their fan base. This video was directed by four people and only shot using web-cams. More than 70 fans participated in this project from different places. If you were to engage the YouTube tribe or your fanbase to create a music video: what would it be about?
3. You could do like Memoto and launch an awesome Kickstarter campaign
Memoto turned to Kickstarter to fund their lifelogging camera, and surpassed their initial goal of $50K just five hours after launching! In the end they received more than 2871 pledgers and surpassed their goal by 1000%. The monetary aspect is impressive, but consider the marketing and conversation value that was generated by this feat. They were for example featured in the Colberts Report. If you were going to launch a project on Kickstarter: what would it be? If not a new product or service, then perhaps a documentary, book, comic or video game about your current one?
Martin Källström, CEO of Memoto, was interviewed here.
4. You could do like Mojang and create your own Lego product
Lego is encouraging their tribe to help create and promote new lego products. Anyone can design a new product, and refine it with feedback from the community. If the creator can rally 10 000 supporters in favor of their design, then Lego will consider it for full scale production. In return Lego offers 1% royalty.
Mojang, the company behind Minecraft (see #1 above), has done just that. They submitted a design that received more than 10 000 backers in 48 hours. Lego recently announced that the product has passed review to become a real product! Majong will be donating their 1% royalty to charity.
If you were to make a lego product out of your brand: what would it be? Or if you adapted Legos approach to your products, what would that look like?
5. You could do like Curators of Sweden and democratize your communication
Every week a Swede takes over the reins of Sweden’s official twitter account (@sweden). They share their personal views and tips of things to do and see in Sweden. The idea is that the citizens constitute the Swedish brand. Do you have the guts to unleash your official channels to your tribe?
6. You could do like Arrivas and surprise somebody with a flash mob
The transport company Arriva organized a flash mob to celebrate Mukhtar’s birthday. This was part of a larger project aimed at placing a larger emphasis on their paying customers and personnel. If you were to organize a flash mob, what would it be for?
Whatever tribaling endeavors your pursue, ensure to have fun, do something radically different, be authentic, co-create value and don’t exploit.
What was your favorite example? And why? Do you have an inspiring example of your own?.