Pepsi Like Machine

You walk up to the Pepsi’s “Like Machine”, tap “Like” for Pepsi on Facebook using your smartphone or the machine’s touchscreen, and it dispenses a soda. Simple rule. Instant reward.

The Like Machine mechanic

Coca-Cola has created a whole bunch of innovative vending machines over the last couple of years. Pepsi, on the other hand, created only a couple. Now to add to that collection, Pepsi piloted its latest vending machine. Dubbed the “Like Machine”, it was programmed to dispense soda to fans who “Like” the brand on Facebook via their smartphone or via the touchscreen on the machine.

Where did Pepsi pilot it

Pepsi piloted the machine at a Beyonce concert in Antwerp, Belgium and received a good response. So do not be surprised if you see more of them popping up nearby.

Why “Like” works as currency here

The exchange is clear. A lightweight social action becomes the trigger for a real-world payoff. The behaviour is familiar, the barrier is low, and the moment is easy to understand even in a noisy live-event setting.


A few fast answers before you act

What is the Pepsi Like Machine?

It is a vending machine that dispenses a Pepsi to people who like the Pepsi brand on Facebook, either via their phone or on the machine touchscreen.

Why test this at a concert?

Concert crowds are already in a high-energy mindset and open to quick interactions. That makes participation fast and visible, which boosts word of mouth.

What is the simplest lesson to copy?

Make the rule obvious, the action effortless, and the reward immediate. If any one of those is slow or unclear, participation drops.

What should you measure?

Participation rate per hour, completion rate (start to dispense), and the incremental social lift tied to the activation window.

bpost: Live Webshop

bpost is Belgium’s biggest postal service. To prove their ability to deliver and to fend of new contenders in the market of delivery services, they decided to open a pop-up store bang in the center of Brussels.

A lot of must-have items were put on display, from smartphones to designer coffeemakers. But then the only way to buy them was through a special online auction where the prices of all products dropped every second. 😎

People had to act really fast to catch the items before someone else did. Once sold, the item was immediately picked up by a postman, right in front of the webcam, and delivered to the winning bidder. This way everyone could see for themselves how fast and reliable bpost was.

As a result the awareness of the specific service – bpack – rocketed to 65%. In 6 days 260,000 unique visitors were registered and for every hour the shop was online, bpost sold 8 products on an average.

A barrel for every Maes

Maes is Belgium’s second most popular beer and also Belgium’s 3rd most common surname. Since the market leader for beer in Belgium was outselling Maes 4 to 1, they decided to garner support from all the Maes families in Belgium by giving them a free barrel of beer.

The eligible families had to sign up for this special offer through a custom Facebook app that also allowed them to book a pub on a chosen date while inviting all their friends. The campaign was a huge success and pushed the Maes fanpage into 6% of the most active Facebook pages worldwide! 😎