Reddit Reprise: Molly Ringwald Gets It

• May 3, 2012
• by Greentarget
• Posted in: Industry Trends
• Tags: communications planning & measurement, media relations publicity & social media
  

As a follow up on our previous conversation on the risks associated with new media accurately portrayed by the negative fallout of Woody Harrelson’s venture into Reddit, we wanted to keep the discussion current and showcase the great rewards that can come from new platforms when handled correctly.

In a stark contrast to Harrelson’s interaction, actress Molly Ringwald recently took Reddit’s AMA forum by storm and successfully engaged the community.  The glowing reviews and comments in her forum speak for themselves. With nothing to promote, Ringwald was able to create positive buzz about her personal brand, which has a halo effect of positively impacting viewership for her current TV series and anticipation for her pending books and albums.

Why was her forum so successful? Two words: preparation and authenticity. She took to heart the lasting impression of Harrelson’s AMA, which helped her grasp the rules as she humorously stated in her introduction- I’m here to answer all of your questions about Rampart.

Ringwald’s success was directly related to her authenticity during the forum. While the questions posed to her were not as intrusive as those to Harrelson, she took on all questions regarding her past work and her current personal life. A first-time Reddit subject, Molly was prepared to address a number of questions she would receive regarding her work in cult film classics such as “The Breakfast Club” and “Sixteen Candles” and although she might not have wanted to talk about this, she understood the importance of staying true to the Reddit rules. She even knew the “reddiquette,” and posted memes, photos of herself, her writing and albums only when relevant to the question, demonstrating her willingness to engage with the active redditors.

We close this post with a sampling of positive comments from the Molly Ringwald AMA:

• Well that seals it. You’re the Queen of Reddit now.
• I love AMA’s where the interviewee has a clearly defined voice.
• She’s answering every question the way a Redditor would. I wonder if she’s been a lurker for sometime and has learned our ways…
• The fact that you’re basically putting on a how-to-be-ridiculously-charming-and-hilarious clinic with this AMA makes me want to read all your books.