• by Karl Greenberg , July 30, 2010

Suzuki is launching a series of promotional programs under a banner called Suzuki AllPoints. The program, for which Suzuki created a microsite at SuzukiAuto.com, comprises a palette of programs wherein people can earn points toward an array of prizes by using social media platforms and uploading content.

Registered users can earn points and sweepstakes entries for several program activities. Depending on the activity players can earn from 10 to 100 points, 250 per day, max.

Players earn points by doing various activities on Suzuki's AllPoints site, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube channel. Monthly high scorers win a $500 Apple Store gift card. Players are also automatically entered in a weekly drawing for $25 Shell or Best Buy cards. And they are also entered in a grand-prize sweeps dangling a 2011 Suzuki Kizashi GTS. Besides the car, the company is also offering things like a Sony 3D TV, and Garmin GPS as prizes.

The site also has an online racing game called "Kizashi Ring of Fire" where players race a Kizashi around four future-themed tracks, earning points for lap time and driving.

On August 25, the AllPoints program launches a promotion called "Live Large Video Contest" where AllPoints registrants can create and submit a video on how he or she "lives large" a line extending Suzuki's tag, "Live Large, Drive Small." YouTube users will vote for first, second and third prize winners, with grand prize a trip for two to any city in the U.S. First prize is a $1,000 Macy's or Target gift card, and second is Sony PlayStation 3, per the company.

The company is using the Suzuki AllPoints program to generate buzz for a series of vehicle-centric events. Content about the events will be on AllPoints Web platforms so participants gain points for tweeting about them or linking content about them to Facebook, for instance. Among the events are "L.A.: The Hard Way" road trip. For that global road trip editors from Motor Trend and other magazines will take the Suzuki Kizashi car, the Suzuki Equator truck, and the Suzuki V-Strom 650 motorcycle through Japan, Siberia, Alaska, Canada, and back to Los Angeles over the period of a few weeks.

Suzuki will also upload coverage of a high-speed testing of a Suzuki Kizashi at Bonneville salt flats, and Suzuki's presence at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.