Do you bleed Blue?

Do you bleed blue? Oh, I mean, have you joined the revolution yet? What revolution you ask, well the Blue Revolution of course. The St. Louis Blues are implementing a new marketing strategy for the new era under Dave Checketts. There are high hopes across Blues nation for a turnaround season after the dismal last place finish in the 2005-2006 season.

The new campaign is a form of viral marketing.

According to wikipedia.com viral marketning refers to marketing techniques that seek to exploit pre-existing social networks to produce exponential increases in brand awareness, through viral processes similar to the spread of an epidemic.

The Blue Revolution was initially launched as a fan-led movement to reinvigorate St. Louis and get the passion back in Blues hockey. Only days after the first “fan-made” signs and billboards were placed around the St. Louis area, the word leaked that it was a viral marketing campaign designed by a firm. Local newspapers wrote articles and some fans even complained, however, this form of marketing has been around for years whether consumers have known or not.

Since the word was out on the campaign, a link to the Blue Revolution website was but on STLBlues.com. There are numerous features on the sight including a fan forum where fans can share there favorite Blues moments, as well as share opinions about the team in general. Another feature of the site is the fanifesto. The fanifesto contains classic blues quotes from fans and hopeful wishes for the future. The last feature of the website is a download page where fans can find banners, buddy icons for instant messengers, and video and photo downloads sent in by fans. One video that caught my attention was a video of “fans” putting up the first banner in St. Louis for the Blue Revolution. One interesting quote from the video the lead vandal yelling,

“I’m not a builder, I’m a fan.”

For the St. Louis Blues sake, I hope this new campaign assists in selling out the newly renamed Scottrade Center and bringing life back to Blues nation. I’ve joined the Revolution, have you?