Taco Bell Demonstrates How to Approach Social Media with Imagination (and Without Worrying Too Much).

I’m not sure about the pistachio/mint color, but almost-spontaneously helping a self-professed fan wear a corrupted version of a former slogan on his Speedos ranks as really good social media decision-making.

Five years ago, can you imagine how many meetings would have been convened to consider the question of whether one high school diver should be given official, company-sanctioned Speedo swimwear with a slogan that your company doesn’t officially actually use right now? Especially if the request came right at the busiest part of the holiday season?

But now, just a few days later and right after the Taco Bell social media folks officially got back to work, such a request was granted.

Swimmer Guy (on 12/20): “[after explaining how he’s a big fan] …is there any way you guys could make me a customized speedo that says think outside the buns [sic] on the back of it?”

Taco Bell Facebook Person (on 1/2): “What size do you wear? And what’s your address?”

That’s what it takes to staff a social media account: find people who can be made to feel empowered to grant wishes from superfans, and to do it boldly, and (relatively) quickly. (It was over the holidays, so you have to give them a break.)

Whether it’s a good idea is beside the point.

It was the cool thing to do, to grant the wish of a fan without blinking.

Taco Bell has been doing great social media work for quite awhile.

An additional fifty points go to Taco Bell, and Taco Bell retains the lead.