All Africa Poker uses social media at WSOP

PRCA Africa's Internship Charter drives best practices across Africa’s PR Industry

During the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas this year, All Africa Poker used social media networking tools to communicate with fans with up-to-date news. All Africa used WSOP to launch and test its online communication strategy.

Five primary online platforms were used for news, interviews and updates. Piggs Peak marketing manager Wendy Graaf accompanied the team to Vegas to ensure that all the channels were constantly up to date.

“As the action happened I was tweeting, facebooking, blogging and uploading pictures and videos. In the finals I was tweeting and blogging card-by-card action, the SA poker community were hanging on each update and collectively rooting for Warren Zackey.”

Zackey finished 22nd in the tournament and the news success story, according to All Africa, spread quickly through social networks and reached a new non-poker audience. When the news of Warren's place at the final table came through on Twitter from Graaf in Vegas it was immediately tweeted to interested journalists who were first to break the story minutes later.

“It was hard work keeping our blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr channels updated, but the feedback and appreciation we've had from poker fans has been worth it. For me, it shows that a social media campaign doesn't need to be huge in terms of numbers, the focus should be on building and serving your community.”

All Africa plans to continue with its social media marketing in the run-up to its next major tournament happening in August.

All Africa blog: www.allafricapoker.com/poker-blog.aspx
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllAfricaPoker
Twitter: twitter.com/allafricapoker