Worldwide recognition for Embrace Life
Embrace Life smashed through the 250,000 views mark between Tuesday 02 and Wednesday 03 February, now reaching 87 countries and has been invited to appear on French national TV and at the TED.com Conference in California next week.
Embrace Life – online at www.embracethis.co.uk - is the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership’s latest seat belt campaign which has been sweeping around the world. As of 11:30am Wednesday 03 February, Embrace Life has had a minimum of 269,198 views – and the total is likely to be far higher. Sussex Safer Roads Partnership (SSRP) Communications Manager, Neil Hopkins, explains:
“We are watching the viral spread of the Embrace Life campaign, monitoring approximately 110 websites world-wide which are carrying the message and video.
“The current figure of 269,198 comes from the YouTube official video, www.embracethis.co.uk, a dutch blogger site and another social media source. A large number of websites around the world have embedded the official YouTube video into their own page – but, as YouTube themselves admit, views through other websites aren’t always recorded.
“The total views of Embrace Life could therefore be as many as 100,000 higher than the current total that we know about.”
The campaign has a dedicated Facebook group – set up by one impressed viewer – which aims to get the advert shown regularly on national TV. The membership has rocketed to over 900 people in just a couple of days.
This extraordinary success has been fuelled by the online advertising and marketing communities, who have taken Embrace Life’s unique approach to heart.
Sites such as Adgabber, Adland.tv, Osocio.org and MediaBlips have been fuelling traffic to the sites being monitored. A Google Search just for ‘embrace life’ reveals results 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 of the top 10 results. Search for ‘ “embrace life” advert’ and the campaign occupies the top 19 spaces.
In the UK, the campaign has been picked up by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety as well as a large number of community forums from car owners to motorbike riders, road safety professionals to motoring bloggers.
The campaign has even had invitations to appear on French National TV and at the TED.com (Ideas Worth Spreading) conference in Long Beach, California
Please keep checking the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership website – www.SussexSaferRoads.gov.uk for further details.
The Facebook Group can be found at http://tinyurl.com/EmbraceTV and the YouTube feed for Embrace Life is available at http://tinyurl.com/EmbraceLifeAdvert.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1) Sites carrying Embrace Life include:
http://www.adgabber.com/video/this-is-the-most-beautiful
http://osocio.org/message/embrace_life_always_wear_your_seatbelt/
http://constructivewitticism.wordpress.com/2010/01/29/51/
http://mediablips.dailyradar.com/story/embrace-life/tweets/
http://grahamhurdle.wordpress.com/
http://www.pacts.org.uk/news.php?id=422
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/812441/19b017c6/kijk_postbus_51.html
2) Feedback comments have included:
No advert has ever had such an impact on me as this one, it moved me to tears. I've just watched it for the second time with my 14 year old son and the affect it had on me was just as powerful as the first.
My son was silent throughout, he was moved by it too, he turned to me and said 'mum that was amazing!' he couldn't understand why it's not being shown on TV.
Chris H, Sussex
A remarkable, extraordinary, outstanding piece. This should be required viewing every time you renew your driver's license
Mr G Sogar, Sussex
Brilliant....just brilliant. This ad will not only save lives in Sussex but also many others around the world.
Sam, Adelaide, Australia
May I congratulate you on an excellent advertising film.Though I no longer live in in the UK I've spent 25 years in Sussex and still see it as home; the film is powerful in it's message by keeping you focused on what is important: the family which depends upon you.In an instant it shows that it only takes an instant of distraction to cause an avoidable tragedy.
Ms A, Sardinia
Feedback from workshops with new drivers:
• Quality advert. Music grabs attention, indoor scenario causes interest. Powerful way of putting important message across! Male 21
• Advert was so effective. I think it is aimed more at family. I get turned off by the gory trailers but I found this watchable. Female 19
• Strong! Powerful impact on all audience. Male 17
• Great advert. Nice to have a different approach to wearing a seatbelt. Everyone has someone who cares about them, so if you won't wear one for you...wear one for those who love you. Female 19
• Really powerful way of getting the message across. Made me think - also I will tell my family and friends that they must wear one - I don't want to lose them! Male 18
• I thought the advert was good. Powerful and thought provoking. Made me WANT to keep safe. Male 23
More feedback can be found through the links provided.
