#DrummondPuddleWatch drew over 50,000 tweets – with brands including Greggs, Lidl and Innocent riding the wave
On Wednesday, a puddle in Newcastle all-of-a-sudden became a social media sensation with hundreds of thousands of people tuning into a Periscope live-stream.
Brands wrestled on social media to create the content which would be most closely associated with the internet phenomena that - for some reason - acquired over half a million live-streamers on Periscope.
Breaking international boundaries, with coverage across the pond in USA Today, ABC News and Time, its fair to say a global audience was gripped by the British people’s own captivation with the alluring puddle-feed.
Beth Hazon, manager director of Drummond Central, the marketing agency behind the live-stream, was even interviewed live on CNN by Richard Quest.
Twitter released a heat-map showing the reach of the hashtag the world over.
The #DrummondPuddleWatch Periscope has captured the world's attention; over 50K Tweets. https://t.co/PyENbIq2Hb pic.twitter.com/si7ah7z8Pu
— Twitter Data (@TwitterData) January 6, 2016
BrandWatch also documented the rise of the trend.
#DrummondPuddleWatch: One puddle's dreams came through today when it went viral. It garnered a whopping 24K mentions pic.twitter.com/JHbyXS8DvN
— Brandwatch React (@BW_React) January 7, 2016
A tsunami of brands hijacked #DrummondPuddleWatch which was a top trending term in the UK on Twitter. Some criticised brands' association with the event but it was like water off a duck’s back to social media managers across the country looking to make their mark.
Social media managers for brands on Twitter right now... #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/NSZ8pq8d0A
— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) January 6, 2016
Here are some puddle highlights if you missed them live.
A guy just placed a 'slippery when wet' sign in the Drummond puddle and it's amazing #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/akjYHE0ZHV — Elliot Wagland (@elliotwagland) January 6, 2016
This guy just did the most amazing jump during the #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/GjmeEWFNyx
— Elliot Wagland (@elliotwagland) January 6, 2016
BREAKING NEWS: There's a man on a lilo in the puddle #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/DQNVzWzniy — Elliot Wagland (@elliotwagland) January 6, 2016
Fame has changed you, puddle. #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/MARz4M3XJK
— Molly Fitzpatrick (@mollyfitz) January 6, 2016
Here’s how brands dived in.
Greggs
Problem solved #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/CpkRmTIoIC
— Greggs (@GreggsOfficial) January 6, 2016
Hunter
Hunter, helping you cross puddles since 1856. https://t.co/3m3x2qL6Ca #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/4xggWzmLdM
— Hunter (@HunterBoots) January 6, 2016
Lidl
Always be sure to have proper puddle-traversing footwear when you’re out and about! #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/3Vp5SKpVSE
— Lidl Ireland (@lidl_ireland) January 6, 2016
Comedy Central
Honestly, you can enjoy the puddle on your phone, but you should really see it in 70mm. #DrummondPuddleWatch
— Comedy Central (@ComedyCentral) January 6, 2016
Bounty
We can end this here. #DrummondPuddleWatch
— Bounty (@Bounty) January 6, 2016
PG Tips
20,000 people watching a puddle? I’d rather watch the kettle boil! #DrummondPuddleWatch #keepittea pic.twitter.com/SDE9lU7QxA
— PG tips (@PGtips) January 6, 2016
British Museum
Pining for puddles? Here are a few from across the centuries… https://t.co/SKzYJ1wKxI #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/bHv7faIL6E
— British Museum (@britishmuseum) January 6, 2016
Berocca UK
Surely someone just needs to build a bridge so we can all get over this #DrummondPuddleWatch
— Berocca UK (@BeroccaUK) January 6, 2016
Boylesports
Puddle water on Ebay. Welcome to 2016. #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/lt9aN9BpJA
— Boylesports (@BoyleSports) January 6, 2016
HB Ice Cream
Well, that’s the ice broken on the first great event of 2016! #DrummondPuddleWatch #HBGoodbyeSerious pic.twitter.com/1pOx3Vy02y
— HB Ice Cream (@HBIreland) January 6, 2016
Swatch UK
Dark Water https://t.co/6977ohnjf5: the (un)official watch of #DrummondPuddleWatch(ers). Water resistant up to 20bar pic.twitter.com/ngSd16mmih
— Swatch UK (@SwatchUK) January 6, 2016
Marmite
I took on the puddle and failed... #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/TWdkK0TruG
— Marmite (@marmite) January 6, 2016
Domino's
Domino's - delivering to puddles near you. #DrummondPuddleWatch https://t.co/WDVJQbqbpy
— Domino's Pizza UK (@Dominos_UK) January 6, 2016
Maoam
10 out of 10 for technique! #DrummondPuddleWatch https://t.co/8nVFa9Qyye
— MAOAM UK (@OfficialMAOAM) January 6, 2016
GumTree
Just in case anyone in Newcastle wants to join in #DrummondPuddleWatch https://t.co/Go6o1Iw7w3 pic.twitter.com/XZ5gft36Z2 — Gumtree.com (@Gumtree) January 6, 2016
Coral
THERE'S A MAN IN A PINK LILO! #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/fmbJpk1loZ — Coral (@Coral) January 6, 2016
Innocent Drinks
Somebody brazenly has a bike in the puddle now. The lilo man is parading for the camera. This is beginning of the end. #DrummondPuddleWatch — innocent drinks (@innocent) January 6, 2016
Star Wars UK
Crossing the Drummond puddle like... #DrummondPuddleWatch pic.twitter.com/XOI7VuCuLM — Star Wars UK (@StarWarsUK) January 6, 2016
Ski Official
2016 is off to a great start #DrummondPuddleWatch #YogurtPuddle https://t.co/Ogh3bMwBUb
— Ski Official (@Ski_Dairy) January 6, 2016