Love Story

When Barbie was first launched in the market in 1959, it became the most popular doll in the doll’s world. It was until 2 years later, in 1961 when Mattel decided to give her a male partner: Ken Carson.


And here is where the story begins.

The first time Barbie met Ken was on a TV set commercial the year of Ken’s launch into the market. Since then, Barbie and Ken were inseparable; they filmed several movies together, launched different dolls, and shared a doll life together. They were the perfect-love icon globally.

It was until 2004 Valentine’s Day when Mattel announced the world, Ken and Barbie were going to split apart and take different paths in their lives. The break up of the couple was big and shocking news for everyone who followed this couple love story.

Nevertheless, seven years later Ken wanted to get Barbie back, so Mattel launched a marketing campaign where they involved the use of social media for Barbie and Ken to get together again and so people could vote in favor or against Barbie taking back Ken.

This campaign included mainly four social media networks (Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and YouTube) where Ken could show Barbie how much he wanted to get her back and people could follow this love story again.

The campaign lasted since January to February 2011, and at the end the campaign released positive results: Ken and Barbie were back together again.

Here is the social media campaign:

Sources:

Swallow, Erika. "How Barbie & Ken Were Reunited by Social Media." Social Media News and Web Tips – Mashable – The Social Media Guide. 05 May 2011. Web. 07 Sept. 2011. <http://mashable.com/2011/05/05/barbie-ken-social-media/>.

Jeremy, Low. "The Love Story of Barbie and Ken." Ezine Articles. 10 June 2007. Web. 07 Sept. 2011. <http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Love-Story-of-Barbie-and-Ken&id=600749>.

"Barbie and Ken Are Together Again! - YouTube." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 07 Sept. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0IQBgfphk4>.