Viral Intelligence: June '09
We've finally got round to sending out our latest round up of the world of viral marketing. Enjoy with caution this almost Susan Boyle free edition of Viral Intelligence!
Quick Links
News Round-up:
Creative copying
Ad creatives have been pilfering creative ideas for years, however in the age of the internet creative pick-pocketing is both more tempting and easier to uncover.
Last year I wrote a blog piece about Fiat stealing a corking cult internet clip and turning it into a long running TV ad. Well, having spotted "the Palindromic sketch" on B3TA last month, I'm taking bets on when we'll be seeing a similar palindrome-based ad creative hitting our TV screens. I'm guessing in the next 6 months - any sooner anyone????
Dan & naD - a palindromic sketch
An agency website that doesn't suck
Agency websites suck. It's official. And every agency would (should) agree. I can't think of a single quality agency that has a website that truly reflects them (and their work) as an agency. That was until I came across this piece of genius from US agency Boone Oakley - a website as a YouTube vid. Can't think of anything more of the moment than that - other than maybe a company website made from Twitter, which wouldn't constitute social media a*sery . . .
Simon Cowell's ITV buzz machine
Last month Simon Cowell did a touching thing - he publicly announced that he'd take a pay cut from ITV. At first I thought this was Cowell's attempt to jump on the credit crunch bandwagon to come across all in-touch-with-reality as a cunning pre-emptive PR tack. However, watching what's happened with the Susan "the badger" Boyle phenomenon in the last week, Cowell's move now all makes a lot of sense.
Cowell needs ITV just as much (if not more) than ITV needs Cowell. This is because Cowell's new media model is firmly reliant on ITV. Cowell has cunningly devised a buzz-generating / fame-making model which relies on the symbiotic relationship of mainstream media (TV and press) and social media. A relationship where his TV show feeds YouTube / social media which feeds mainstream news media which feeds YouTube / social media which feeds mainstream media etc. etc.
It's not by luck that 3 of the most highly viewed clips on YouTube are linked to him: Leona Lewis, Paul Potts and Susan Boyle, whose videos (between them) have been viewed over 200 million times.
The big question is - would Cowell be able to generate such levels of buzz if his shows weren't prime time ITV? The answer to that is a clear no. And Cowell knows it - hence how he's so heart-warmingly offered to take a pay cut from ITV. The other option is of course to join Richard and Judy and their 6,000 viewers on UKTV . . .
Making the BBC South Pacific nature docs a big YouTube hit
We've had fun working on a little project with our friends at the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol- getting word out about this awesome surfer clip
Super Slo-mo Surfer. Seeding saw it garner 500,000 views in 4 days, generating 240+ blog posts to rise to the top favourited video
across YouTube & top 5 viewed globally.
Promoting the new BBC2 series, South Pacific, the clip is shot on a hi-def camera that was modded to sit in the surface of the water, allowing it to catch stunning shots above and below the surface- as the guy who filmed it says in the clip: " I watched it back and I've still got shivers in my spine because it's probably the best shot I've ever got in the water...without a doubt"
5 of the best
Auto-Tune the News #2: pirates. drugs. gay marriage.
For the second time, pundits and news anchors urgently break into song to deliver the news.
Cassetteboy vs The Bloody Apprentice
Let's see how long this lasts then...
You've seen the video, now buy the t-shirt? Maybe? I dunno.
Unveiling Transparent Crystal Book (LG GD900)
This laptop isn't what it seems.....
Forget it Keyboard Cat, It's Chinatown
Roman Polanski's Chinatown enhanced by the sensational "Keyboard Cat"... Ladies and gentleman, let's give "Keyboard Cat" a hand!
Know Your Meme: Single Serving Sites
The Rocketboom Institute for Internet Studies presents its findings on Single Serving Sites -- websites that serve a single purpose, presenting a single piece of information.
