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Create a successful launch campaign

Launch campaigns are often simply a numbers game, with huge amounts of money being thrown at getting a product out to market...

Launch campaigns are often simply a numbers game, with huge amounts of money being thrown at getting a product out to market. Cream looks at how brands can spend more wisely to achieve maximum launch impact. There are countless brand launches each day, with most of those falling flat on their faces. In today’s tough economic climate, a dud launch can be a crippling expense. In many categories, such as alcoholic drinks, there are dominant established players ready to quash any plucky upstarts in an instant. In others, such as entertainment (including film and DVDs), launches occur so often that it is easy to get lost in the crowds. Cream looks at how brands can on one hand launch with a bang, but on the other create sustainable brands with a lasting positioning in the marketplace.

  • A beer brand becomes The One

    Subvert the category's communications trends

    • The One
    • Dominican Republic
    • 2006

    A new beer brand establishes itself in the Dominican Republic by creating an underground movement of followers and activists.

    Rated zero stars
    Read full case study
  • Get people talking

    • Samsung
    • Spain
    • 2008

    Samsung launches its new Omnia touchscreen phone with a leftfield campaign that gets people asking 'Where is Columbus' finger?'

    Rated zero stars
    Read full case study
  • Bring the product to live through new technologies

    • Coraline
    • USA
    • 2009

    Holograms and augmented reality promote the launch of a dark animated movie

    Rated zero stars
    Read full case study
  • Surprise the consumer

    • Evian
    • UK
    • 2004

    Euromillions fakes a political campaign rally to attract attention to its new lottery product.

    Rated zero stars
    Read full case study
  • Act like a big brand

    • 3
    • UK
    • 2003

    3 launches in the UK, identifying 'Trust' as the most important factor influencing consumer choice for technology companies. It acts like a big brand to build consumer confidence.

    Rated zero stars
    Read full case study
  • Tell a story

    • Nine Inch Nails
    • USA
    • 2007

    Nine Inch Nails creates an elaborate viral campaign that takes fans on an adventure into a near-future dystopia - turning an album launch into a game

    Rated zero stars
    Read full case study
  • Be nimble and outwit huge competitors

    • Nortel
    • Global
    • 2008

    Nortel goes head to head with Cisco systems to increase its market share of the enterprise networking category.

    Rated zero stars
    Read full case study
  • 'When' you launch is as important as 'how'

    • Fear 2
    • UK
    • 2009

    A video game launch plays on people's superstitions with a furry new medium

    Rated zero stars
    Read full case study
  • Back to List

6 Key Lessons

  • Know your competitors as well as your own brand
  • Subvert the category's communication trends
  • Get people talking
  • 'When' you launch is as important as 'how'
  • Resist the temptation to oversell your product
  • Implement a scientific launch process ensuring all stake holders are on the same page

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  • Coca Cola
  • Europe
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How To...

Cream guides that help you navigate the changing communications landscape.

Create a successful launch campaign

Launch campaigns are often simply a numbers game, with huge amounts of money being thrown at getting a product out to market...

Read more
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