Authentic & Direct - Wendy's Marketing on Twitter & #AerieReal

When I read Dina Gerdeman's article on how likes aren't the best teller of a successful social media campaign, I immediately thought of Wendy's Twitter. They tweet hilarious things, and even respond pretty frequently to users who ask questions. More than anything, I think there's a shock factor, that this is a real corporation that is saying these ridiculous and sometimes offensive things, and they seem so authentic in it. I think it's an awesome marketing campaign, because so many people on Twitter are the kinds of consumers that would enjoy that kind of communication with a brand. Here are a few of my favorite Tweets:

In the fashion world, this is pretty hard to come by. Most brands' Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram are full of models with looks of indifference, and they're surrounded by some kind of luxury. However, brands like Aerie, whose recent campaign, #AerieReal, encourages authenticity and being comfortable in your own skin.

It's inspiring to me to see brands take this move of direction and authenticity, because showing fake lives 24/7 seems to just push people away from your brand, instead of drawing them in. I think this kind of marketing is an awesome way to bring your customers together, and to unite them in some kind of connected community, particularly on social media accounts.