There are SO many reasons to completely fall in love with HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother), brilliant writing, in-depth charecterization, awesome cast and increasing loyal fanbase. Aside from the usual ingredients of a succesful TV show, HIMYM has gone an extra mile both online and offline to win our LOLs and free word-of-mouth promotions!
After the recent episode – Old King Clancy, I couldn’t help to search if the site Barney (Legendary Neil Patrick Harris) mentioned actually exists. I followed the search link to canadiansexacts.org, and soon realized it was yet another show-related creation by the geniuses behind HIMYM. Impressed by the seamless experience they’ve bought us, I conducted some good ol’ fashion research. Here is the list of digital assets which have been created by HIMYM’s staff to complement the show.
Barney’s Blog (Must read!!! It’s obnoxiously hilarious ^^ Barney is the womanizer who is known to use the words “Awesome” and “Legendary” too liberally and often invents his own High Fives.)
HIMYM MySpace Page (Characters all have their own pages, tons of videos and extra “show-notes” you will find intriguing)
Barney’s Video Resume (Barney also has an unknown corporate job. When asked about what he exactly does, Barney merely responds; “Ha….Please.”)
marshallandlilywedding.com (not mentioned on the show, but contains photos and webisode-type footage from within the show’s continuity)
www.slapcountdown.com (“Slapsgiving”; now links to a fan forum; If you haven’t seen the episode, watch it, it will get you hooked on the series.)
www.tedmosbyisajerk.com (“The Bracket”; Note that tedmosbyisnotajerk.com is fan-created and unofficial)
Lily & Marshall sell their stuff dot com (“Everything Must Go”; linked to a real charity auction of HIMYM props and wardrobe)
MysteriousDrX.com (mysterious doctor x web site from the episode “The Possimpible”, not mentioned on the show)
Now we can add the new discovery to the legendary list
www.canadiansexacts.org (“Old King Clancy”; according to Barney “they really just want to get the information out there…” No worries though, it’s completely safe for work)
Shifting gear to the marketing perspective, if HIMYM were a brand, it has done a remarkable job to maximize the brand enthusiasm and engagament. “How I met your mother” makes us laugh when we tune in to CBS on Monday 8:30, but the show creators know they could excite us more in this hyperconnected world. From the Bro Code on Amazon to the various show-related sites above, HIMYM has energized us, the enthusiasts, with additional creative content to further strenghen the relationships. This is not only a good model for other TV shows, but the principle could apply to all brands who have promoters/fans.
If we agree all businesses are media businesses in a way, then it’s all about transferring knowledge/information from the creators to the outside world. Carter Bays & Craig Thomas have done it, now what’s your way of keeping brand enthusiasm going?
