Twenty four hours can change everything in the world of Twitter and enable David to overtake Goliath.  Case and point:  On June 24, 2009 @Orbitz had 2,809 Twitter followers, while its competitor @Expedia had 12,612 Twitter followers and a seemingly significant 449% lead.  But in the next 24 hours @Orbitz attracted 11,044 new Twitter followers to rocket past @Expedia with a total of 13,853 Twitter followers.  Amazingly, almost a month later on July 22, 2009, @Orbitz had 14,364 Twitter followers and maintained its lead over @Expedia’s 14,080 followers.

TwitterCounter.com (below) illustrates the impact innovation and complacency can have on a brand’s social media presence.

Question:  How Did @Orbitz Increase Its Twitter Followers by 494% in 24 Hours to Leapfrog Ahead of @Expedia?

Answer: Three Key @Orbitz Tweets of Less Than 140 Characters Each

•  June 24, 2009 at 8:27 a.m. @Orbitz tweeted: “We’re giving away a free airline ticket today! FOLLOW @Orbitz & RT this msg to be eligible to win http://bit.ly/bVSuU” [Note: The bit.ly URL in this tweet, which is now broken, linked clickers to this Orbitz official rules page.]

Everybody can use a free airline ticket. Good idea.  Great inspiration to follow @Orbitz and Re-Tweet the message to your network of followers.

•  June 25, 2009 at 9:15 a.m. @Orbitz tweeted: “Congratulations @tforch!! You’ve won a round trip airline ticket! Pls DM us your email address and we’ll be in touch!”

Tweeting the winner on the @Orbitz Twitter page was a great way to bring followers back to engage with Orbitz’s brand.

•  June 25, 2009 at 10:08 a.m. @Orbitz tweeted: “THX to all who took part in the giveaway! And just for our followers -15% OFF HOTELS, use THXTWITTER, book by 6/27/09 http://bit.ly/1ayoAw”

Giving all Twitter followers a travel discount on hotels was a great way to build follower loyalty and drive additional sales.

Smart. Very smart.  It will be interesting to see who makes the next significant move to grow and engage their Twitter following.  Please post your thoughts and comments below.  Follow me on Twitter @Uppendahl (http://www.Twitter.com/Uppendahl).

This goes to 11!  Spinal Tap (Michael McKean aka David St. Hubbins, Christopher Guest aka Nigel Tufnel and Harry Shearer aka Derek Smalls) is releasing a new album, “Back from the Dead,” on June 16, 2009 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Rob Reiner’s legendary rocumentary “This is Spinal Tap.”  The new release, pictured above, even includes action figures.  “Back from the Dead” can be pre-orderd on Amazon.com for only $11.99 U.S.  How could you leave this behind?!

Attending Spinal Tap’s “One Night Only World Tour” at Wembley Arena on June 30th would certainly go to 11.  A second performance was added on June 27 at the Glastonbury Festival, which will also feature Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band plus Crosby, Stills & Nash among many others.  Hopefully Spinal Tap will also add tour dates that “Tap into America” and resolve the question, “Where’s the stage?”

“If we’re going to do a World tour on only one night, at least it’s this world,” said Nigel Tufnel.

“This show will be dedicated to all of our drummers who have passed on, either to their reward or to middle management at Sainbury’s,” added David St. Hubbins.

Below, Rob Reiner interviews Nigel about one of the many things that sets Spinal Tap apart from other bands.

The Fab Four will reunite on Sept. 9, 2009 to start giving unlimited performances in homes worldwide with a little help from their friends and The Beatles: Rock Band.  Watch this cool video trailer to feel the excitment of the next wave of Beatles mania that’s about to be unleashed. 

Sir Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison collaborated on The Beatles Rock Band game which will be released on the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3. 

Forty-five (45) of songs from The Beatles’ catalog will be available on-disc.  Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles innovative LOVE album project and Music Supervisor / Creative Producer for The Beatles: Rock Band, today unveiled the first ten songs that will be available on the game-disc: “I Saw Her Standing There,” “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “I Feel Fine,” “Taxman,” “Day Tripper,” “Back In The USSR,” “I Am The Walrus,” “Octopus’s Garden,” “Here Comes The Sun,” and “Get Back.”  Additional songs will be announced at a later date.  Along with these 45 songs, the entire Abbey Road album will be available for future download purchase, as will additional music from The Beatles’ catalog.  Click here to pre-order The Beatles: Rock Band.

The Beatles: Rock Band will offer a new set of hardware replicas representing the instruments made famous by John, Paul, George and Ringo. Featured in the set are the Rickenbacker 325 and Gretsch Duo Jet guitars -hailed as two of the celebrated, signature instruments played by John Lennon and George Harrison throughout their careers. Also included is a Hofner bass controller – a large-scale replica of the bass famously used by Sir Paul McCartney. Rounding out the set is a Ringo Starr inspired, Ludwig – branded Rock Band 2 drum set with a classic pearl finish and vintage replica Beatles kick drum head.

It was also announced today that “All You Need Is Love” will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft as a downloadable song for The Beatles: Rock Band through Xbox LIVE on September 9, 2009 with all Apple Corps Ltd, MTV Games and Microsoft proceeds benefitting Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

Tonight is the end of  The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC.  Leno’s final show will air in about one hour on the west coast.  This reminded me of being there for the debut of The Tonght Show with Jay Leno on May 25, 1992.  Shanice Wilson, my client, was Leno’s first musical guest.  Photos and memories of Leno’s debut at the helm of The Tonight Show follow.

Jay Leno (r) and his first musical guest Shanice Wilson (l) after the debut of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 25, 1992. Photo by John Uppendahl.

Kelsey Grammer (r) and John Uppendahl (l) backstage at the debut of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 25, 1992.

Terabytes, networked homes, broadband, wi-fi, wireless, cloud computing, etc.  The toys we’ve been thinking and talking about for years are finally here and getting beter.  This is going to be fun!

Live album tracks include: Glass of Water; 42; Clocks; Strawberry Swing; Hardest Part/Postcards from Far Away; Viva La Vida; Death Will Never Conquer; Fix You; Death and All His Friends.