Visa Social Media Channels Help Extend Reach of Go Fans Campaign
Steve Nash, Cafu and Fan Video Submissions Generate More than
5.6
Million YouTube Channel Video Views and 53,000 Facebook
Application
Downloads
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), a FIFA partner, announced today a series
of digital
successes from the company?s first-ever global FIFA-themed
marketing
campaign ? Go Fans, which celebrates the common love that
all
fans have for soccer. Visa is using popular social media channels ?
YouTube and Facebook ? to connect with soccer fans worldwide and
in the
first few weeks of the tournament has exceeded early expectations.
With
the help of popular fan- and celebrity-submitted goooal shout
videos,
including those from Steve
Nash (NBA star, Canada), Cafu
(former soccer player, Brazil) and Andres
Cantor (sportscaster, Argentina), the Go Fans YouTube
channel
(www.youtube.com/visagofans)
has attracted more than 5.6 million video views to date, while the
company?s first FIFA social media application, the Visa Match
Planner
(www.visagofans.com),
has been downloaded by more than 53,000 fans for the Facebook
platform.
?Social
media is an integral component of every campaign we undertake, but
this
kind of early response truly demonstrates the power of the medium ?
not
to mention the unique passion that fans have for the sport of
soccer.?
Drawing nearly 800,000 views in the lead up to the FIFA World Cup?
alone, the Go Fans YouTube channel enables soccer fans to
express
their true colors in support of their national teams by viewing,
uploading and sharing videos capturing creative, entertaining,
passionate or humorous goal calls. Today, Americans account for
the
largest viewership at 1,665,218 video views, while Mexico and
Brazil
trail slightly at 1,524,209 and 1,295,921, respectively. In the
competition for most viewed goooal shout video, Cafu currently
holds the
title with 1,077,107 views, followed by Nash with 647,100 views
and
Australian fan ?Bazza?
at 416,846 views.
?We?re extremely pleased with the fans? response and interest in
our
social media extensions, which were developed to provide them with
an
outlet to express their passion for their teams and the FIFA World
Cup,?
said Kevin Burke, Head of Global Marketing and Strategy, Visa.
?Social
media is an integral component of every campaign we undertake, but
this
kind of early response truly demonstrates the power of the medium ?
not
to mention the unique passion that fans have for the sport of
soccer.?
To drive additional interest, Visa is holding a promotion on the
YouTube
channel throughout the duration of the FIFA World Cup?
(June
1 ? July 11) in which viewers will receive an opportunity to enter
the Visa
Watch your Way to Brazil Sweepstakes for a chance to win a
trip to
the 2014 FIFA World Cup? in Brazil each time they find a
goal
call video with a golden tint treatment. In addition to the grand
prize
trip, fans will have the chance to win weekly prizes including
$100 Visa
gift cards. No purchase or obligation necessary to enter or win.
Official rules are available at www.youtube.com/visagofans.
Visa launched the Visa Match Planner (www.visagofans.com)
in May to allow fans to create customizable, dynamic FIFA World
Cup?
viewing schedules to share with friends via social
networking
channels such as Facebook. Available in English, Japanese, Spanish
and
Portuguese, and be customized for each of the 32 qualified
countries,
the Visa Match Planner also lets users organize match
viewing
parties, chat with friends, track scores and standings, and obtain
exclusive offers from merchants such as the ?FIFA Official Store?
on
FIFA.com.
Visa is one of six global FIFA partners with exclusive global
category
rights through 2014, and is the exclusive card for the 2010 FIFA
World
Cup?. In recognition of Visa?s sponsorship of the 2010
FIFA
World Cup South Africa?, Visa credit, debit and prepaid
cards
are the only payment cards accepted, along with cash, at all FIFA
stadiums and Onsite Stadium Merchandise Booths. The partnership
provides
Visa with global rights in the Financial Services product category
to
all FIFA World Cup? activities that may be activated by
financial institution clients and merchant partners. Visa?s FIFA
sponsorship includes the rights to the 2010 FIFA World Cup South
Africa?,
the FIFA Women?s World Cup Germany 2011? and the 2014
FIFA
World Cup Brazil?.
Editors Note
To view and download Go Fans creative, Visa FIFA-themed
images
and assets, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visa
or www.visa.com/fifamediakit.
To view Goooal videos and enter the Visa Watch
your Way to Brazil Sweepstakes, visit www.youtube.com/visagofans.
About Visa
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects
consumers,
businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than
200
countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable digital
currency.
Underpinning digital currency is one of the world?s most advanced
processing networks?VisaNet?that is capable of handling more than
10,000
transactions a second, with fraud protection for consumers and
guaranteed payment for merchants. Visa is not a bank and does not
issue
cards, extend credit or set rates and fees for consumers. Visa?s
innovations, however, enable its financial institution customers
to
offer consumers more choices: pay now with debit, ahead of time
with
prepaid or later with credit products. For more information, visit
www.corporate.visa.com.