Thinking Outside the Bun Leads to Legal Action THE STORY OF 50 CENT VS. TACO BELL In 2008, rapper 50 Cent filed an unlikely lawsuit against the fast-food chain Taco Bell. Was it an endorsement deal gone wrong? Quite the opposite. According to the rapper, the company had implied an endorsement deal in the media when there was none. Taco Bell, known for their quirky and humorous ads, had released a print ad formatted as a faux “letter” to 50 Cent, requesting that 50 Cent change his name to 79, 89, or 99 Cent as a part of their latest promotion. The letter reached the national press and even television … except for 50 Cent’s actual mailbox. In fact, 50 Cent had no idea Taco Bell used his name. By releasing the letter, 50 Cent became the face of Taco Bell’s whole campaign, too. The letter was part of a larger hip hop-themed campaign, and customers could go to the Taco Bell website and participate in a “Rap Name Creator” to discover their rap name. They also had a “Why Pay Mo’ Rhyme Generator” that played hip hop music and a montage of “hip hop-themed scenes,” according to the rapper’s lawyer, Peter D. Raymond. As soon as 50 Cent found out about the letter on the news, he wasn’t happy. On July 23, 2008, 50 Cent — whose real name is Curtis Jackson — filed a federal lawsuit saying they featured the rapper in an ad campaign without his permission and profited directly from his celebrity status without paying him a multimillion-dollar fee. Raymond said his client sought $4 million in damages. In response, Taco Bell Corp. spokesman Rob Poetsch issued a statement saying: “We made a good faith, charitable offer to 50 Cent to change his name to either 79, 89 or 99 Cent for one day by rapping his order at a Taco Bell, and we would have been very pleased to make the $10,000 donation to the charity of his choice.” In the end, both sides settled, keeping the terms of the settlement confidential and paying their own legal fees. So, it’s possible that 50 Cent was paid after all, but we’ll never know the exact terms of their legal agreement, except “both sides are satisfied,” according to Raymond. Since then, more companies have been careful about using celebrity names in their marketing without permission. It pays to think inside the bun, after all.
So Many Social Media Outlets Which One Should You Use?
A social media presence is essential to connecting with your company’s customers and prospects. But do you need every media platform to engage with others? Each outlet meets different needs and interests, so it’s crucial that you analyze which one will net the most engagement for your business. In fact, the demographic of your targeted audience will help you decide. Let’s look at the three main outlets customers use to discuss their needs and wants. FACEBOOK is primarily used for family-friendly content. Recently, there is an added focus on business ads for networking purposes, which can help you attract more leads. The demographic on Facebook mainly focuses on individuals who are 45 years old and older. This platform is great for businesses targeting seniors, like those in the home improvement and estate planning industries INSTAGRAM was popularized by teenagers, but now over half of its users are between the ages of 25–34. Small businesses use this outlet to share upcoming events, sales, and products because of the new business feature on the app. Relationship-building is the sole focus for companies on Instagram because you can engage with customers through stories, live videos, and interactive polls. TWITTER is the best place to have personal conversations, brainstorm, and share news. Over 59% of Twitter users are between the ages of 25– 49, and 56% have completed some college courses or have a degree. Some businesses use Twitter to see what others are saying about their services and resolve any issues that occur. This is a great way to build trust with your customers and ensure they know you care about their experience with you and your company. If you want to learn more about the different demographics for each outlet, go to Blog.Hootsuite.com/Social-Media-Demographics for more in-depth analysis and statistics.
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