Case Study
Cancer Research UK uses Twitter video to launch a nationwide conversation
Key results
76%
peak video view rate
3.5M+
video views
4.5M+
poll impressions
The opportunity
Cancer Research UK (@CR_UK) wanted to get people talking about the link between obesity and cancer. Less than 20% of the UK public were aware of this link, despite obesity coming second only to smoking as a preventable cause of cancer.
The strategy
@CR_UK identified Twitter video as the ideal format for capturing attention, generating curiosity, and engaging people in a nationwide conversation.
The campaign began with a quiz-style Video Poll that asked people to vote or comment with their guess for the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. A longer follow-up Video Poll showed members of the public making their guesses. Eventually, @CR_UK revealed the correct answer, much to people’s surprise.
@CR_UK complemented its Video Polls with Video Website Cards, offering people an easy way to click through to the charity’s website for further information about obesity and cancer.
Encouraged by a strong response to this initial campaign, @CR_UK renewed its creative and ran a second round of activity.
01
Gain engagement with gamification.
Tasked with presenting serious health information in a fun and engaging way, @CR_UK packaged its message in clever quiz formats.
02
Turn viewers into voters with Video Polls.
Video Polls offered @CR_UK a compelling creative vehicle, along with a simple way for people to engage and feel they had a stake in the conversation.
03
Invite people in with Video Website Cards.
@CR_UK used Video Website Cards to put a friendly, helpful face on its message about obesity. The format also offered people an easy way to click right through to the Cancer Research UK website for more facts and advice.
04
Reap rewards and repeat.
After its campaign strategy paid off with strong results, @CR_UK reinvested and spread its message even further.
The success
@CR_UK succeeded in generating awareness and discussion around obesity and cancer, at scale. With 4.5 million impressions, its Video Polls delivered an engagement rate of 14.66%, and a total of 280,000 votes. The peak view rate for its Video Website Cards hit 76%, with a total of 3.59 million video views over the campaign’s two phases. The videos launched deeper discussion; for example, people replied with questions about supporting @CR_UK’s calls for new government limits on junk food marketing.
Hollie Webb, senior health marketing manager for Cancer Research UK, explained how the campaign’s impact reached well beyond Twitter: “Twitter allowed us to drive a conversational buzz around the campaign, which ultimately led to the content gaining plenty of earned media and attention.”
The video poll format was an innovative, creative solution that aligned with our content and allowed us to spread awareness in a really engaging way. Twitter’s position as a social news platform helped inform users at scale about the link between obesity and cancer and opened up a discussion.
Solutions used
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