• by Steve McClellan  @mp_mcclellan, November 10, 2011

WPP’s MEC is putting together the UK’s first “celebrity hangout” social media event designed to drive awareness for both Google+, the social network that launched earlier this year, and MEC client Specsavers.

The promotion provides registered Google+ users the opportunity to “hang out” with celebrity eyewear designer Gok Wan at Google’s London Headquarters Friday. Participants will be selected from among Google+ users who add Wan to their Google+ “celebrity circle.”

So-called “hangouts” are one of the main features in Google’s social network, allowing people the opportunity to run a group video chat that can host up to 10 different users at one time. MEC will be responsible for identifying and inviting key online fashion bloggers to the event.

The event will also be streamed on Specsavers’ YouTube channel. Live status updates will be broadcast to the eyewear marketer’s 60,500 fans on Facebook.

Wan designs eye glasses for Specsavers, which is currently promoting an upcoming annual event known as the Spectable Wearer of the Year Awards. Wan is also host of the awards. The grand prize is a one-year modeling contract.

Tim Langlois, Specsavers digital marketing manager, called teh Google+ hangout "an amazing opportunity to take blogger and public engagement [with the awards] to a new, dynamic level.”

Richard Fitzgerald, social media manager, MEC, called the brand awareness effort "the forefront of the next generation of social engagement.”