Put people in the picture.
Staples wanted to make their e-reader page more engaging.
When you’re competing with a giant like Amazon in a space they pretty much own, it can be tough to get noticed.
Responding to the brief, one of our team suggested embedding a speed reading test inside an image of an e-reader. We did a quick check to see what speed reading tests existed online. There really wasn’t much.
Comparing yourself to others can be a very powerful hook. People like to discover things about themselves, provided there’s a small barrier to entry and the results are sufficiently rewarding.
Curious?
After reading the passage of text, you’re challenged to answer 3 quick questions to check you read it properly.
Then you can see your results.
You can see where you lie on the spectrum of reading speeds – from 3rd grade students to world speed reading champions:
You can see how quickly you could read different books – from Harry Potter to War and Peace:
Then you’re shown how many books you could get through on different e-readers before the battery dies – a nice bit of product placement that fits within the story:
This was one of the first pieces I ever saw that got a natural second wind, receiving a wave of additional shares and coverage. It even ended up on a TV show in Portland, about things that go hot online.
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- Personally responsible for executive creative direction