Marketers launch campaigns in light of Swine Flu outbreak

The swine flu scare may be over, but some companies are looking to infuse an A/H1N1 strain—the technical name for the virus—into their advertising. If you search for keywords such as 'Swine Flu', 'H1N1', 'Swine Flu symptoms' and 'hygiene' on Google.com, you are likely to see a sponsored link on the search results page, with the headline, 'H1N1 Flu (Swine)' and the description – "Dettol kills 99.9 per cent bacteria and Flu viruses. Learn more now!” This is Dettol's search engine marketing (SEM) campaign, which started around July 20 to educate consumers about Swine Flu. Dettol has used about 20-25 Swine Flu related keywords to promote its search ad. Digital media agency, Zed Digital handles Dettol's SEM campaign.
So, if purchases of Tami flu, the Roche drug that fights the flu are regulated by the government, what can people do? For starters, they can wash their hands more often, says a micro site that is part of the website of Unilever Plc. brand Lifebuoy (www.lifebuoy.com). “Swine flu? Not in my house. Have no fear with Lifebuoy,” says the micro site.
On the other hand platforms disseminating information are also being used to associate such products with precautions against Swine flu.In.com, recently launched a micro site to provide information on swine flu in an attempt to alleviate fears and spread correct and comprehensive awareness about the flu. The micro site also aims to serve as a one-stop source that will provide people with key medical information on swine flu symptoms, prevention and cure, common public doubts, emergency helplines database, tracking of number of cases being detected and treated, and real time news on everything that is being reported on swine flu.

Sources: Livemint, exchange4media and Afaqs