A few months ago I received an email from my dad and the title had something to do with "You have to watch this video!" I'm not to into the Youtube craze and rarely watch many videos online so I put it off for a while. Well, finally the other day I was emptying out my Inbox and saw the email so I decided to finally open it up and watch the video. Along with the link came an article discussing these twin babies having their own conversation in their own language. In the video it is clear that these two toddlers are discussing something in their own "baby talk" language. They giggle at each other and give hand signals just like an adult would do to interact during a typical conversation.
My thoughts after watching this video, and now while taking our Social Media Marketing class, is how often do we or our close family members participate in viral marketing or making videos go viral and not even realize it? Many people have a bad connotation associated with the word "marketing" or "advertising" and claim not to fall for the "scams" laid out by these people. However, when they forward emails containing videos associated with a brand or product they are doing exactly what marketers wanted to happen with that video. I just find it interesting that marketing has such a bad rep when millions of people participate in it daily without even knowing it.
ABC News: Viral Video
My dad did something similar to this with the etrade babies. Apparently you can go on their website and make your own etrade baby commercial and send it to whoever you want. The one he made said something about how bad WKU's football team this semester. I was really funny and he had made a few different ones to send to a bunch of different people. When we watch these videos we just think they are funny, but actually it is a very effective way of viral marketing.
ReplyDeleteI much like you do not watch very many videos on Youtube. But I had heard a lot of people talking about this video with the twins. I loved it and I have shown several other people as well. I think that marketing gets a bad rap when it is forced. If the advertisements are happening and people don't feel like they are being sold a product directly then it is taken a lot better. Successful viral videos are hard to develop because they often seem to scripted or forced but if they are done correctly they have a lot of potential.
ReplyDeleteLike your Dad, my Mom sends me emails with youtube videos attache to it ALL the time that was passed on from her work collegues. I Don't even think she realizes that she is participating in Viral Markting. I haven't heard of the twin video.. but since Iam a twin and its generate some buzz.. I think I'm going to have to check this one out!
ReplyDeleteI think you dad was ahead of the Viral Video craze when he sent you this Youtube video link a few months ago! I've been seeing that video on my Facebook news feed just starting this past couple weeks. It's crazy how fast Youtube videos can spread. The lady I work with loves funny chain e-mails from her high school friends. It has a similar effect on us. Spreading via email gets the content to more people, faster. I always wonder if the people behind these viral videos ever expect to create so much hype when they post it on their Youtube account.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting way to look at viral videos. As part of the advertising department, we're constantly taught to "brand" ourselves. And it's so ironic, like you said, that people will participate in this self-marketing without realizing it, then turn around and bash other marketing efforts.
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