Online Marketing

How has the film been marketed to ensure it successfully reaches its target audience?

Official Website

First thing you see - quotes from newspapers, reviewers, ratings etc claiming how amazing the film is and how necessary it is to see it. Next, you are taken to the movie's official trailer which automatically starts playing. There are links below the trailer directing you to the official website page, download the trailer and to purchase tickets to see the movie - these links help to raise awareness of the movie and to make profit from its popularity.

The official website page is extremely snazzy and aesthetically pleasing with a scrolling panel, background music and good quality images - this starkly contrasts to the webpage for Paranormal Activity, which was much more basic and cheap. There are links to Facebook, Twitter and Myspace and the movie even has its own youtube channel. All of these options make it easy for the audience to interact and find out more about Avatar, intriguing them and making them want to see it for themselves.

Youtube

On youtube, the trailer clocked over 8 million views as well as many comments and ratings left by fans. Avatar had its own youtube channel meaning that the official trailers were high quality and also available to watch in HD.

Facebook

On the facebook page, you can leave comments, read comments, view links to relevant websites, look at photos and view more information about the film, its release etc. You can also see video clips of the trailers and interact with other fans of Avatar.

Avatar 'The Game'

The game also has its own trailer on youtube - interest surrounding the game may attract a wider audience to go and watch the movie. This would probably include younger kids (aged 10+) and those who enjoy games more than watching movies in the cinema.

Poster

This is the poster we saw most of the time on billboards etc, showing half of a human face and half of the 'alien' face, with the floating mountains of the world of Pandora in between them. It tells you key information about the movie including its release date, its tagline and the fact that the director's also directed the movie 'Titantic.' The 'human face' is that of the famous actor Sam Worthington who was also in Terminator Salvation. This could attract people who were fans of his previous work to watch Avatar - this is the power of star status.

By Ella and Natasha