AUSTIN -- Startup Yappem has landed one of the world's biggest advertisers -- McDonald's -- for a campaign that aims to generate buzz for the Big Mac.
Yappem employees handed out "Be Our Guest" cards that granted holders a free Big Mac at South by Southwest on Saturday. The recipients were encouraged to log onto Yappem -- a social network that rewards users for discussing brands -- and post about their experiences using the hashtag, #BigMac. Those who did so got Yappem coins, which can be redeemed for gift cards at Gyft.com. Although the campaign began in Austin, consumers across the country are welcome to participate.
In the interest of transparency, if the consumers push a #BigMac update on other social networks, it will contain the disclaimer: "I just earned rewards from [fill in brand name] on Yappem for: X.”
McDonald's is the first brand partner for Yappem, which
Users can earn coins by sharing how they feel about products, making suggestions to brands, and polling fellow members about purchasing decisions. Yappem also prompts users to go on "missions" — real-world shopping experiences that they can post about later — to earn additional credits.
Disclosure: Yappem is one of Mashable's sponsors for the MashBash event at SXSW this year.