BEER.COM BEGINS VIRTUAL BARTENDER PROMOTION
By Adnews Staff
Beer.com of Toronto has begun a promotional initiative called the Virtual Bartender. Visitors to the site, which is aimed at 19- to 30-year-old beer drinkers, can interact with video footage of a bartending character called Tammy by submitting instructions through a Web form. Installed ten days ago and promoted solely by email and word-of-mouth, the program has so far attracted 2.3 million visits to the site, according to the company. "For too long, the Web has mimicked other media such as magazines and television," said Beer.com director Paul MacLaren. "Interacting with video by typing in commands is something unique to the Web and is one vital component for its future as an entertainment medium. The Virtual Bartender encourages repeat traffic and prolonged stays on our site, which is good news for us and for our advertisers." Earlier this year, US-based fast food chain Burger King conducted a similar promotion at SubservientChicken.com.