United - #Hemigram

United - #Hemigram

Sometimes a simple plan is the best plan. Since January of this year, United Airlines’ Hemispheres inflight magazine has been setting aside a quarter page space just to feature self-snapped photos of passengers holding a copy of the publication.

All passengers need to do for a chance at being featured is share an image of them with the magazine through social media, using the hastag #Hemigram. The more inspiring the image, the better. United (or more likely Ink Global, which publishes the monthly inflight magazine by contract) then picks a favorite snapshot to showcase in the next month’s issue. It’s quick, easy and fun.

This simple and non-commital nature of this campaign is actually quite refreshing in an age when too-good sounding prize packages often mask over-zealous lead generation initiatives that demand our email adresses and phone numbers and the maiden name of our Granny’s cat ;).

Regardless of it’s simplicity, the initiative does certainly help get United’s name out there on social media. Another thing we like about it is that it also gives passengers an opportunity to be playful and promote what’s important to them.

United and Ink Global recently produced a short video to showcase all the #Hemigram photos that they couldn’t put in the magazine. Maybe it’s time for more page space?