Social media builds awareness. Case in point: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

If you’re involved in any way on social media, you’ve seen celebrities and friends alike accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or “Lou Gehrig’s Disease” is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord and has been referred to as a “glass coffin” that leaves sufferers consciously aware but dependent on technology for motor control within three to five years of diagnosis. And because it is so rare, funding for continued research is markedly insufficient for finding effective treatment or prevention methods.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is simple: you have 24 hours to donate $10 to ALS research and share a video pouring a bucket of ice cold water over your head, or skip the ice water and instead donate $100 to ALS research. When you post your video, you’re supposed to challenge friends (usually four) to do the same within 24 hours. And the response has been phenomenal. The ALS Foundation reports that, “As of Tuesday, August 19, The ALS Association has received $22.9 million in donations compared to $1.9 million during the same time period last year (July 29 to August 19). These donations have come from existing donors and 453,210 new donors to The Association.”

If you’ve ever doubted the power of social media marketing, the Ice Bucket Challenge is a case study in peer-to-peer marketing that has an exponential impact. Whether your business is a social media monolith or just getting started in digital marketing, Black Tie Digital Marketing can help you develop a strategy that works for your brand. An organic marketing campaign like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is just one of many ways to get fans and followers excited about your organization’s products, services, or goals!