Mecklenburg County business roundtable launching ad campaign

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Mecklenburg County leaders are expected to announce details Friday of a $150,000 ad campaign aimed at getting the public to take preventative measures against COVID-19.

Billboards, digital ads, social media posts, TikTok videos, memes, a website, and posts from influencers were all mentioned as possibilities during the county’s business roundtable meeting Wednesday.

Text on an example of a post includes "stay at least one Kuechly away from others," Jennifer Appleby of Wray Ward told leaders, referencing the Panthers legend and future Hall of Famer.

Billboards are expected to start popping up in Charlotte next week. According to leaders, possible slogans include:

• Spread compassion, not the virus.
• Show the virus you mean business.
• Face down the enemy, let’s win against the coronavirus.
• In your face coronavirus.

During the meeting, other possible plans mentioned include getting mascots to wear masks, social media posts, creating TikTok videos and memes, producing a rap song, and using influencers.

Leaders are reaching out to local and national personalities to see if they will participate. During the meeting, only two names were mentioned as possibilities -- CNN commentator Bakari Sellers and YouTuber and former Vine star Nash Grier.

"There have not been a lot of dollars to pay local talent, we are actually depending on a lot of people that are doing this pro bono and doing it for the community," Appleby said.

The ads will be targeted to all age groups and backgrounds. Another possible ad slogan was mentioned during the meeting that will certainly be a talking point, “The farther the better, like your mother-in-law.”

Can you get COVID-19 more than once? Can you get COVID-19 more than once?

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