Chevrolet Connects to Consumers through Social Media

Chevrolet will launch three social-media applications at South by Southwest, as a pilot test of emerging technologies that will help the carmaker connect with consumers and to learn what attendees feel are the best practices and emerging technologies in social media. During the interactive, music and film conferences and festivals, Chevrolet will have an opportunity to introduce more than 185,000 attendees to products like the Camaro, Volt, and Cruze.

First of all, from their smart phones, Gowalla users can "check in" to let friends and followers know where they are at a given moment.

Chevrolet will also use Quick Response (QR) codes to introduce attendees to the key features of vehicles including the Camaro, Volt, and Cruze. When photographed using a camera phone, the QR codes will launch a dedicated microsite with key features of the vehicle.

Finally, users who download the Chevrolet iReveal application, available in Beta form, will be able to unlock three-dimensional models of Chevrolet vehicles. The application will provide key specifications of the vehicles, and insert the virtual image of the car over the actual streetscape viewed through the smart phone camera lens.

"Social media is a powerful tool in a digital world where people can get news instantly on their smart phone, watch television shows on streaming video, and communicate with friends on social-networking sites," Jim Campbell, Chevrolet general manager, said in a release. "For Chevrolet, South by Southwest provides an invaluable opportunity to learn how best to communicate with customers in by leveraging these technologies."