I confess. I have moustache envy. Movember is the campaign I wish I created. Man, it rocks!tomselleck

If you’re a Movember virgin you are in for something special. Movember is a campaign that encourages men to grow a moustache in November (“Movember” is the month formerly known as “November”) and raise money to “change the face of men’s health”. You start clean shaven on Movember 1st, encourage family and friends to sponsor your growing efforts and then celebrate with a rockin’ party at the end of Movember. Proceeds go to Prostate Cancer Canada.

Their website, videos and all materials are sexy, funny and innovative. Brilliant creative, engaging copy, well-crafted calls to action. The direct marketing trifecta.

But best of all, dudes all over town are sporting moustaches, and starting conversations about Movember and Prostate Cancer Canada everywhere they go!

It was my brother Adrian who first introduced me to Movember. He participates every year and I honestly look forward to the whole thing. He sends regular emails, tracking his experience with Movember from “dirty teenage boy” (my favourite stage in the process) to his triumphant ‘stache at the end of the month. He is part of a team of moustached men at work – totally beats the pants of “I’m dressed this way for United Way”.

I remember Adrian’s girlfriend telling me that they went to some fancy affair in early Movember last year and she had to explain to the fancy ladies what the deal was with her handsome and dashing boyfriend’s face and ridiculous facial hair. But when they heard about his commitment to charity, the fancy ladies couldn’t help but swoon.

Talk about great stories!

But it’s not all makes-me-weak-in-the-knees-like-Tom-Selleck at Movember. Here are a few things I would do differently.

1. Where are you on Twitter? Why can I not add a moustache avatar to my profile pic? That would be hot!
2. Further to point 1, where are you on social media? I’m seeing no blogs, no Facebook posts, no viral marketing at all.
3. Where is Prostate Cancer Canada? Why am I not seeing and hearing how funds from Movember will be put into action, what will be made possible when I sponsor Adrian this year?
4. Why aren’t you talking to me? I’ve sponsored Adrian and other friend of ours for at least the last 3 years. You have my email address. I think I got a non-personalized “hope you support us again” email but it was forgettable. I hope there’s more coming!