In a time when Instagram influencers mainly make the news with questionable hashtags and polarizing statements, Bas Smit shows that things can be done differently. His latest action earned him a reach of millions in free publicity and, even more important, within 36 hours a return of more than 600,000 euros for the Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology. As far as I'm concerned, a clear message to all brands in the Netherlands: as a brand, do 'something good' more often!
A while ago I wrote about his Instagram success, where it sometimes seems as if everything he touches turns to gold, but that in the end a horny turtle, a phone call with Freek Vonk and three 'egg incubators' would provide the biggest hit so far, even he could not have expected.
Let's go back to the beginning. You may already know Bas Smit from his funny buy bulk sms service Instagram content , his nickname as 'husband of Nicolette' or his previous projects for the Princess Máxima Center. For example, he raised around two hundred thousand euros with his T-shirt and Christmas ball campaigns both times. This time, things went a little differently.
The birth of Freek
It started when Bas and his family's turtle suddenly laid an egg. Who do you call live on Instagram as an influencer? Exactly, Freek Vonk. Freek told them that they had to look for an egg incubator, or a heat stove, to hatch the egg. In exchange for his help, Freek was promised that the turtle would be named after him and the family went looking for the breeding attributes.