Facebook brand timelines went live this morning, and though we've known about these for a while, some of the executions are pretty impressive, including founding documents, early advertising, memos, news clips and photos. It's as if dozens of little corporate museums just launched on Facebook.
While Facebook has long been a way to make connections with consumers, it just became a powerful storytelling medium, and an opportunity for brands with interesting stories to tell. Here are a few of our favorites culled from the staff at Advertising Age.
Coca-Cola
facebook.com/cocacola
What's cool: A handwritten letter from the owner
of Alpha Drug Co. in Woonsocket, RI, in 1893: "In over 20 years
experience of soda fountain management I have not known a beverage
to be put upon the market that in point of giving universal
satisfaction and extent of sales can compare with Coca Cola..."
Walmart Stores
facebook.com/walmart
What's cool: A picture from the first Walmart
store opening in 1962 in Rogers, AR. There's also the first
official and consistently used logo, which was known as "Frontier
Font Logo."
ESPN "SportsCenter"
facebook.com/SportsCenter
What's cool: A photo of "SportsCenter"'s first
studio set, taken in October 1979. Bob Ley, an early "SportsCenter"
anchor who's still with ESPN, said, "It was a mandate from Getty
Oil Company, former owners of ESPN, that one anchor had to wear a
(Getty) red jacket..."