how to sell a fast bike
Your creative brief: show that this BMW Superbike can go from 0 to 60 in 2.9 seconds. How do you do that?
Simple, effective, awesome. From The Denver Egotist.
Labels: ads, automotive, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:59 AM
0 comments
Thursday, March 04, 2010
chat roulette chick challenge
You've probably already seen your local news station sensationalizing the dangers of the the new internet hit Chat Roulette, a social video chat service that pairs random visitors with other random visitors for instant video chat. (Hilarity, freakeeness and NSFW activities ensue.)
Now French Connection has launched a new promotion on the controversial network that will pay cash to any man (or woman) who can successfully seduce a woman on Chat Roulette.
Awesome timing with a new tool that's getting loads of buzz and yet somehow directly on target for a slightly edgy fashion brand. Good sleazy fun for anyone who wants it.
Labels: ads, fashion, social media, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:35 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
john denver never sounded more manly
The Old Spice ad that is now a part of our pop culture is also a beautiful love song. This had to happen.
Labels: adindustry, ads, parody, pop culture, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 01, 2010
if you like stats, this will rock your pants
Here's a really awesomely animated and illustrated presentation of the state of the internet.
Labels: creativeinspiration, google, trends, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:07 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
a complete waste of your time
Somehow...this video of people doing random stuff is oddly engaging. Like you'll watch it, and pretty much it goes nowhere, but you can't stop watching.
Do we really need to spend millions producing commercials anymore? From @coudal.
Labels: creativeinspiration, video, viral, youtube
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
3 comments
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
do not mess with the bears in alaska
You may wonder what it is that makes this stadium video intro for the Alaska Nanooks so unbelievably awesome.
No need to wonder...it's the power of the bear. Only Chuck Norris can stop them now.
Labels: creativeinspiration, pop culture, sports marketing, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:33 AM
0 comments
Thursday, February 11, 2010
that b-roll you were looking for is here.
Looking for some awesome b-roll to complete that masterful video production? Look no more.
There are awesome videos, and there are more awesome videos. This one is more awesome times ten. From @chicalibre.
Labels: creativeinspiration, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:39 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
this is how to sell t-shirts.
Rhett and Link, makers of the finest local tv spots ever seen by humans, have a new project called T-shirt war.
So good, so creative, and so fun. You'll want to be these guys. In the meantime, you can buy the shirts off their backs.
Labels: adindustry, creativeinspiration, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:14 AM
0 comments
Monday, February 08, 2010
remix culture: how it all comes together
Think that internet memes and viral culture is completely random and without intellect?
Check out this outstanding analysis of remix culture and social play. A must view for anyone working in the socialsphere.
Labels: pop culture, social media, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:53 AM
1 comments
Friday, February 05, 2010
welcome to your augmented reality future
In the future, everything will be augmented reality and plastered with banner ads. And making tea will never be easier. Thanks, Casey!
Labels: augmented reality, creativeinspiration, technology, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:29 AM
0 comments
Thursday, February 04, 2010
don't ask.
The latest internet meme that has everyone going gaga? Selleck Waterfall Sandwich. You don't have to understand it, you only have to respect it.
Someday, aliens will look down on our civilization and be confused.
Labels: creativeinspiration, pop culture, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
2 comments
Monday, January 18, 2010
internet perfection
Finally, the two things that make the internet awesome have come together in one handy place.
What happens when cuteness and explosions get married: Cute Things Exploding. From YesButNoButYes.
Labels: creativeinspiration, pop culture, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
Thursday, January 14, 2010
how to make a campus of students fall in love with your brand
Absolutely awesome experiential work for Coca Cola. And now it's gone viral, too. This will put a smile of happiness on your face.
Labels: beverage, outdoor, viral, youthmarketing, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 11, 2010
a tool to clean your balls
Call me immature, or call me "in the demo", but stupidly funny innuendos are always stupidly. funny. I've watched this more than once.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:45 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
some things are better on paper
Let's say that you're really into parkour - but you're not really limber or fit enough to bound across buildings, somersault over cars and generally jump around the neighborhood. What's a parkour wannabe to do?
Introducing parkour on paper. All of the fun without the real danger, bruises or brushes with the law. Awesomeness. Thanks, Devon!
Labels: creativeinspiration, illustration, streetart, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:30 AM
0 comments
Monday, January 04, 2010
if star wars had facebook
Have you ever wondered what Star Wars might have been like, if Facebook was around? Yeah. Me too. From @paulmcenany
Labels: facebook, film, pop culture, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:54 AM
0 comments
what are you actually doing about your resolutions?
If you've made New Year's resolutions, what are you actually doing about them? The magic of the internet proves that just about anything is possible, and there are tools to help make it happen.
That's Bugsy's attitude - and my bet is that he actually completes his resolution: to have beer with Richard Branson.
Bugsy set up a site, a tweet hashtag, and has enlisted the crowd to help him get a beer with Branson. If you haven't made a resolution, then help Bugsy with his, by sending a tweet out to your friends with the hashtag #beerwithbranson.
And if you have made resolutions, what kind of actions have you taken to put them in motion? From @charliecurve
Labels: creativeinspiration, social media, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
what everyone else is watching
Ever wonder what everyone else is watching? At this very moment? Here you go: all the videos being tweeted as we speak. From @mouselink
Labels: social media, twitter, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
Friday, November 27, 2009
best unsubscribe message ever
This unsubscribe message from Groupon is so good, you'll want to unsubscribe over, and over, and over again.
You can bet that this message is now driving more subscriptions than any ad campaign could ever do. From @passitalong.
Labels: creativeinspiration, directmarketing, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:15 AM
0 comments
Monday, November 09, 2009
naked victoria's secret models can sell anything
This is more than just naked girls prancing in the street. It's an effort to promote Victoria's Secret. Even though there doesn't appear to be any Victoria's Secret apparel in the clip. The press release say that it's "already received a lot of attention around the world for its titillating music video". Interesting.
Apparently this is part of a new Victoria's Secret TV campaign - even though the video was released months ago (because tv is slow??). And the parody is just as entertaining.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:22 AM
2 comments
Thursday, November 05, 2009
how bloggers are sharing video
Sysomos has done some interesting analysis on video streaming and sharing as it relates to video shared on blogs. They examined 100 million blog posts since July of this year, and determined:
Young Males Engage the Most - 20-to-35-year-old males constitute the most engaged demographic group in the study. In total, 77% of users are under 35-years old, while 60% of all users are male.
Asian Users Engage Differently - 90% of the users from Asia and Oceania are under 35-years-old. In comparison, a third of North American users are over 35-years-old. Bloggers in Asia and Oceania are less likely to use services other than YouTube, with 89% of the links and embeds pointing to YouTube.
Engagement Peaks on Tuesday - The most popular day for engaging with video in the blogosphere is Tuesday and Wednesday. The most active engagement takes place between 11a.m. and 1p.m EST.
There's a boatload of additional data where that came from. Read the details from their entire study and learn what's likely to get your video shared, posted on blogs and viewed by millions.
(There's also some slammin' graphs and charts that will make your PowerPoint deck look all juicy when you present this to the boss.)
Labels: analytics, blogging, social media, trends, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
Thursday, October 29, 2009
all your viral hits in one fast clip
To promote the fact that they've been providing internet to Sweden since 1999, Comhem produced a clip featuring all of the most popular virals since they started. How many can you identify?
Labels: ads, pop culture, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:35 AM
1 comments
Friday, October 16, 2009
something to kick off your friday
Watch this because it's Friday, or because you've always wanted to do one of these videos for yourself, and you needed the inspiration to give it a shot today.
(You'll really wished that you worked with these guys.) Happy Friday.
Labels: creativeinspiration, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:13 AM
3 comments
Friday, October 09, 2009
make exercise fun and people will do it.
Check out this fun initiative (brought to you by VW!) that answers the question "if we made the stairs more fun than the escalator, would people take them? Cool.
Labels: automotive, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:19 AM
3 comments
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
you should do this on your neighbor's house
Another fantabulous stop motion masterpiece from Notblu. Thanks, Lee!
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:42 AM
1 comments
Thursday, September 17, 2009
come to denmark and have anonymous sex
This is definitely one of the oddest tourism campaigns that you'll ever see. A single mom from Denmark who doesn't remember her baby daddy's name, but hoping that he'll see the YouTube video, and remember having sex with her.
This is meant to inspire you to vacation in Denmark.
There's much more juice and background on the campaign over at Adland, including some detail about where the concept might have originated from (a ripped off idea?).
Planning a vacation? Bring protection.
Labels: ads, hospitality, travel, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:52 AM
1 comments
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
how to cram 100 people in a photo booth for 60 seconds
Here's what the crew from Never Hide Films can produce with footage from a video photo booth at SXSW. Videomixmasterawesomeness. From Cory Obrien.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:05 AM
0 comments
money talks and social media walks
Just when you thought that everyone on earth has already done a YouTube contest and it's impossible to get any buzz with the same old "submit your video" idea comes a new YouTube mystery contest that's getting tweeted, blogged and otherwise socially loved.
They can't tell you exactly what the contest is for, what it's about, only that they're going to give away $100K. Proof that money still talks, even in the social mediaverse.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:55 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
what you could be doing with office supplies
Just another fun stop motion piece that someone devoted countless hours to building, all for your productivity sucking enjoyment. Thanks, Where's My Jetpack!
Labels: art, creativeinspiration, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:12 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
how to turn heads in a music video
It's like the more you watch it, the more mesmerizing it becomes.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
entertain your friends with the squirrelizer.
If you do this, your normal friends will think that you've totally lost it. But your internet geeky friends will think you're awesome.
The Squirrel meme started as a freak photo accident and now entertains millions of bored internet citizens daily.
Finally, you can add the internet famous squirrel to any online image without the aid of Photoshop. Just use the handy Squirrelizer. (I've used it above to show the squirrel crashing a night out with coworkers.)
Labels: creativeinspiration, photography, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:53 AM
2 comments
Monday, August 17, 2009
not your average feature release video
Who says that you need a fat production budget, killer effects or even animation to promote a game release? XBox 360 Achievements promotes a new "Slo-mo death match feature" for the game FEAR 2 with...a silly, low-budget home grown video.
30K views (so far) is not a bad return on the investment.
(If you work in an office that's not tolerant of moderate swear words, you may want to listen in headphones.)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:53 AM
0 comments
the apple store: your new production studio
There's something totally infectious about this kid, and the fact that he produces and broadcasts his videos from the Apple store.
He's evolved and has gotten to be quite good - look at one of his earlier broadcasts and you'll see that he wasn't always entirely comfortable performing in the space.
Just begging to be a part of a fun campaign.
Labels: apple, pop culture, retail, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
that banzai pool is very little
What do you do if you buy a pool based on what you've been promised on the outer packaging, and then it's nothing like promised? Let your kids tell the story. And then write a blog post. Awesome.
Brands: the days of lying to your customers ended years ago. The internet knows the truth.
Labels: branding, package design, productdesign, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:03 AM
0 comments
how thin is your computer?
The MSI computer is soooo thin that you could catch it in your butt.
Dabitch points us to this hilariously funny promo for MSI computers. The concept plays on the original Ray Ban video which was later co opted into a jumping jeans video.
It's officially a meme people - so start catching stuff with your body.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:35 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
using facebook connect to create a personal brand experience
This is one of the best uses of Facebook connect that we've seen yet. (Click on the buoy on the far right.)
This wins because it uses your personal information to create a more personal experience. That's the way to capture attention without leaving users feeling icky or taken advantage of. Shark week wins.
Thanks, Rob!
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:17 AM
0 comments
Thursday, July 30, 2009
we hate it when bras fail
We SO wanted to enjoy the Wonderbra Scandalous promotion. You simply fill out a form at their site with the name of someone you like and a few tidbits about your life and ... get a story. With your friend's name in it. And the words you typed in. Um, yeah. No video, no bouncing, no scandalous photos, no, oh man, the things Wonderbra could have done.
No offense, Wonderbra, but you left us feeling flat.
Labels: sex in advertising, viral
posted by Ben Kunz @ 7:38 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
A new Homage to a very old viral clip debuts tonight courtesy Mother NY
Can I admit this in public? I kind of love self-referential advertising. Ads that reference other ads, ads that reference web phenomena. But it has to be done right. This new ad from Mother New York, which will debut tonight on US airwaves, references what was a popular viral clip way back in 2000. (I don't like ads that copy such films straight up, however, and didn't back then either, you need to add something to it)
Labels: commercial, viral
posted by Åsk Dabitch @ 7:12 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
what to do with that small pea-shaped bump
Hearing yesterday that sales of sexual accessories are skyrocketing amid recession, we immediately launched an investigative team. Turns out marketers are using the web as a separate-standards medium ... saying things there that would scare off TV networks or print publishers, such as how to apply gel to body parts packed with nerve endings.
The separate-standards strategy really works for any brand that wants to push the limits; Microsoft's recent puke promotion was launched online and got, ugh, buzz. The most egregious example we've seen was the British Elave video last year, in which confidently unclothed actors flapped around to promote skin cream.
There's nothing like the solitude of the web to post risqué communications. Anticipate approximately 20 intense experiences when this strategy is used as directed.
Labels: sex in advertising, strategy, viral
posted by Ben Kunz @ 7:49 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
send this to that girl who writes code
A wonderous song devoted entirely to girls. Who write code. "Feels like my first LOL." Nice.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 5:54 AM
4 comments
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
not the kind of viral you were planning for...
While flying to Nebraska, musician Dave Carrol had an unhappy experience with United Airlines. While on the tarmac at O'Hare Airport, he was horrified to look out the window of his plane to see baggage handlers tossing his $3500 guitar around. When it arrived smashed, he pursued the issue with United Airlines. You've probably already guessed where this is going...
Dave didn't get a new guitar so he decided to tell the story in song. And video. And now the message continues to spread.
Labels: customerservice, music, travel, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:28 AM
2 comments
Monday, July 06, 2009
you don't need a hollywood effects budget
Here's one of the most creative music videos that you've seen in a long, long time.
Incredible creativity, lots of planning and a handful of webcams from fans come together to achieve glorious video magic. From make the logo bigger.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:27 AM
1 comments
what it takes to be a leader
Sometimes it's just having the guts to step out and make it happen. From Neal Stewart.
Labels: creativeinspiration, music, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:16 AM
2 comments
how hardees harnessed the power of holes
You've probably already had a few friends send you a link to the latest Hardees promotion. If you haven't already checked it out, you should.
Neal Stewart points us to a great post about why this is such a successful campaign.
They've hit all of the important points, and created content that engages users at every level:
+ People who only want to watch have plenty to consume
+ People who want to create have opportunities to contribute based on their personal comfort level (write in, video participation, voting, etc)
+ And everyone can share.
Now let's go eat those tasty little holes. Or whatever you want to call them.
Labels: ads, food, social media, viral, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:11 AM
0 comments
Monday, June 22, 2009
robots taking over the world
The new Transformers film has more than it's share of cool promos going for it. Check out the fun video above, or learn about The Real Effing Deal, or Giant Effing Robots, or just check out Team Rubber's guide to the whole campaign. Effing robots rock.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:41 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
fool your friends on the internets
Here's another one of those "make a video with your friend's name and photo in it and fool them real good" promotions. This version promotes the Graham Norton show Psychoville, and puts your friend into a segment on the show. (These are always better when hosted by real celebrities.)
As tired as this promo concept is, these still get great attention. Everyone loves to see their name on the internet.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:32 AM
0 comments
Friday, May 01, 2009
everyone's doing the slap chop
Our friend Bill alerted us a while ago to the auto tune trend that's sweeping the internet.
Well stop everything, because Church of the Customer has just found the best auto-tune song yet. But wait - there's more: it's also a commercial. But wait there's more: it features slap happy Sham Wow dude. The internet is truly an awesome place.
Labels: ads, parody, pop culture, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:32 AM
2 comments
Monday, April 27, 2009
honda shines immersive
Honda's new ad for Insight totally takes over. From Waxy.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:53 AM
1 comments
Monday, April 20, 2009
send this to the computer nerd in your company
They'll love you more than they ever did before. Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody performed entirely on old computer things. Like a geek cupcake with extra icing.
Labels: music, technology, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:02 AM
0 comments
slo mo that looks totally hot
The latest video to hit "viral" status doesn't include anyone farting. Or jumping over a car on fire. Or hot girls doing sexy things.
Just the most wonderfully shot imagery in the highest definition you've ever seen on video. Mesmerizing. From charlie @ curve.
Labels: technology, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
how to close down your competition
Just send this link to everyone that works at your competition. They'll be mesmerized and start playing around, and before they know it, hours will have passed. Work will have stopped. All of their employees will have been hypnotized by the musical mystical button pushing tool.
Labels: creativeinspiration, Flash, gaming, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:20 AM
2 comments
Monday, April 13, 2009
how to get teens to target
Retailers looking to make themselves cool to teens might want to look outside the agency PowerPoint decks, and just let a teen do the job for them.
Target should totally be sending this dude a mondo-big gift certificate. The internet is an awesome place.
Labels: creativeinspiration, retail, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:28 AM
1 comments
Friday, April 10, 2009
your business card is crap
Yes, this guy kisses himself in the mirror every morning, and then takes a picture. And he wrote the book on "A type" personalities. And, no, you probably don't want to hang with him - but oh boy, his advice on business cards is pretty good.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:20 AM
4 comments
Thursday, March 26, 2009
"i think we're in a viral."
Here's a fun piece for MINI Clubman that plays on a popular concept for viral videos - but in a different way.
"You're a fake, I'm a fake, everything's a fake."
By the looks of it, the video is starting to actually go viral. Cool work.
Labels: ads, automotive, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:48 AM
1 comments
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
that money and his lizard friend are watching you
Check out the new series of Geico videos that play with legendary viral hit videos. They've snuck the googley-eyed stack of bills and that lizard with the accent into the background behind your favorite viral video stars. Fun.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:53 AM
3 comments
Friday, March 13, 2009
even if you're not at sxsw, check this out
Pepsi scores big with their sponsorship of SXSW - and with this super delicious mashup of the SXSW Twitter stream. Even if you're not at the interactive/music/film conference , you can enjoy watching what's happening while it's streaming and graphing and making your browser look a coloriffic twitterlicious soft drink.
This is a fantastic idea that could live with other events where Twitter is prevalent too. Think of any major televised event, or other conferences. Impressive. I'm going to get me some man-Pepsi, right now.
Labels: beverage, mashup, social media, sxsw, twitter, viral, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 9:23 AM
2 comments
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
this is how you promote a physics department
Check out this video about the Science of Watchmen. Think it appeals to geeks? Yep. Think it's made science interesting? Yep.
Think it's positioned the University of Minnesota in a cool way to prospective students? Absolutely.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:41 AM
0 comments
send this to your IT person
How do you convince tech people that the Samsung SSD hard drives are super, super fast? You build a super, super fast computer. If you appreciate processing power or run a bunch of applications at the same time, you'll love this. (Otherwise, you'll just wonder what all the fuss is about.)
An excellent example of an uber targeted message produced in a fun, reasonable budget kind of way.
Labels: ads, technology, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:24 AM
0 comments
Monday, March 09, 2009
stickers to help you through those uncomfortable offline moments
Don't you hate it when you're in real life, and you can't type FAIL over an obviously bad situation? The best internet lingo doesn't always translate to real life. Until now.
CalebKramer shows us the FAIL sticker. Buy a pack of them, and stick them on anything in your life that's failing.
But wait...there's more. Tired of watching tv on your 726" flat screen? Now you can get that small-screen feel with handy YouTube stickers. Put them on the corner of any old-school tv, and you'll be fooling your friends into thinking they're watching the internet. Fun for the whole family.
Labels: art, pop culture, streetart, viral, youtube
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:31 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
the government is not watching you.
Or, at least not from your cable box. There's been a conspiracy theory going around that the government is putting cameras in the DTV converters that they're giving away as a part of the DTV switch.
Software Engineer Adam Chronister decided to have a little fun with that, and made a video "exposing" the camera. As you might imagine, it quickly went viral and fueled the conspiracy theories. He's since come out with his story - which you can now read at Wired.
Labels: pop culture, stunts, technology, tv, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:38 AM
4 comments
Thursday, February 19, 2009
films using the internet for fun and profit
Some people in Hollywood are really starting to get it. There's a couple of new films that have totally harnessed the power of the internets to produce as much online entertainment as on the screen.
Coraline should be written as the new case study in blogger outreach and online promotion. If their blogger boxes weren't enough...there's the Bobinsky blog (Thanks, Liz!) And the Bobinsky calls your friends site. Or see your name in mice.
And there's the new Terminator movie. They've already launched the site for Skynet Research (thanks, Michael!) and the movie hasn't even finished shooting!
What's working:
+ Building buzz looong in advance of release
+ Multiple online properties (one microsite is no longer a healthy promotion)
+ Giving people the tools to use things in their own way
+ Specific promotions geared to the multiple audiences
How could you do the same with your brand?
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:55 AM
1 comments
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
100 days/songs/locations/dances.
100 days, 100 songs, 100 locations, 100 dances. Why ask why? Isn't the internet your favorite place, ever??
From Kevin Rose, via Twitter.
Labels: creativeinspiration, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:59 AM
2 comments
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
watchmen fans rejoice
Paramount Pictures has made a boatload of previously unseen content for the uber-anticipated film Watchmen available online. And they've styled it in awesome retro tv set players (above). That's a cool detail that's often ignored in our embeddable society.
Send this to your geeky comic book friend, and he'll love you more than the smell of ink on a new graphic novel.
Not enough? Explore more at the exclusive Watchmen YouTube channel,
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:23 AM
0 comments
internet pop culture school
Sadly, there is no internet pop culture school. But if there were - the first class would be to watch everything on Greg Rutter's Definitive List of the 99 Things You Should Have Already Experienced On The Internet Unless You're a Loser or Old or Something.
New internet employers should require their employees to watch everything on this list.
Even better - the next time you're at a party, and someone says "grape stomp?? what's that??" you'll have a remedy. Instantly send Greg's list to the offending dork, and you'll be making the world a better place.
Labels: pop culture, video, viral, youtube
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:44 AM
2 comments
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
does your grocery store generate this kind of love?
If you're lucky enough to live in a market where there's a Trader Joe's, then you'll absolutely love this user generated video of love devoted to the store.
YesButNoButYes suggests that Trader Joe's adopt this as their official spot. A 30 second edit would be a grand idea. Bonus that it's shot on a cell phone. And now I'm hungry for Chili & Lime cashews.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:47 AM
0 comments
pepsi's gravitational pull
This is either a brilliant viral marketing stunt or an OMG I can't believe that insider look at the background behind the new Pepsi logo.
A PDF floating around the internets titled "Breathtaking" details the theory and background behind the design of the new Pepsi logo. The document ties the logo to design theory as far back as 3000BC, and compares the logo's curves to the gravitational pull of the sun.
Perhaps it's a lesson of what's required to charge a client $2 million for a logo redesign. I tend to believe it's a joke - having a lot of fun with all of the bloggers and design geeks who have had a lot to say about the design of the new Pepsi logo.
Either way, it's internetastic.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:29 AM
1 comments
Thursday, January 29, 2009
songs reworked with the help of microsoft songsmith
If you're bored today, and haven't already seen the Microsoft Songsmith videos, here's a treat. There's a new Microsoft application that lets you sing vocals, and then it automatically creates a music soundtrack for you.
Some people have taken existing vocal tracks to see what kind of music Microsoft Songsmith might come up with. As you might expect, hilarity ensues. (Thanks, Eliza!)
Labels: creativeinspiration, mashup, microsoft, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:51 AM
3 comments
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
the history of asics told in paper
Here's a stunningly produced history of Asics/Onitsuka Tiger. You should use this as an excuse to go buy yourself a new pair of sneakers in honor of this wonderous production. C'mon. I'll join you.
Labels: creativeinspiration, fashion, pop culture, sports marketing, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:37 AM
1 comments
Friday, December 19, 2008
who would you fire at this agency?
A Belgian agency claims they need to reduce their staff by one member, but can't decide who. So they're taking an online vote, where site visitors get to choose who gets the axe.
I'm sure that agency workers who were really laid off this week will see a lot of humor in this.
Labels: adindustry, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:22 AM
1 comments
Thursday, December 18, 2008
how to produce a video without a camera or production budget
Isn't it awesome when creative genius trumps production budget?? From Ryan Varjas, via Facebook.
Labels: creativeinspiration, music, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:51 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
nothing smells sexier than beef
Burger King now has a fragrance product. For real. You can buy it and impress your lover with the romantic scent of...flame broiled meat. Mmmmm. Juicy.
Labels: marketing, productdesign, viral, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:13 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
throw away your video camera
Really. Who needs it. All the cool videos are now made with stop motion, or photos, or whatever.
Two awesome videos that are making the rounds in internet land are living proof that you don't need that old video recording machine. The clip above was produced with 45,000 individual photographs. For real.
And then there's this new clip from Melpo Mene. More wonderous stop motion. See? Everyone's doing it. What are you waiting for? You have thousands of photographs to shoot. Get moving!
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:05 AM
0 comments
Monday, December 01, 2008
bringing whoppers to the world's whopper virgins
The work that Crispin Porter Bogusky has produced for Burger King has been nothing short of astounding. They're about to unleash yet another promotional feat - Whopper Virgins.
Equally impressive is to see that Stacy Peralta is involved. Here's a guy who was a legend in the skateboard industry, and has now reinvented himself with career number two: film producer.
So get a nice, warm Whopper in your hand and curl up in front of your monitor. Only a few days until Whopper Virgins is released.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:36 AM
6 comments
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
the hottest girls on the internet
Like everyone's totally buzzing all over the internet about the I'm Just Saying Show. It's like totally like awesome and amazing like.
Hipster girls talking about whatever, like. This will keep you entertained for hours. Or annoyed. You decide. (If the F word isn't welcome in your workplace, you might want to watch it at home, or with headphones.)
Labels: podcasting, trends, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:41 AM
2 comments
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Let me google that for you
How many times have you been annoyed by your stupid friends who IM you with ridiculous questions that they could answer themselves if they just Googled it?
Well today's the day you can point out their ridiculousness. Thanks to the Let Me Google That For You tool. You do the search, and then send them a link where the search animates in front of their eyes. And they'll learn how to use Google, in the process!
This may be the best thing ever invented. So hot. So awesome. You could use it daily.
Labels: google, pop culture, search, viral, web2.0
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:41 AM
5 comments
Monday, November 17, 2008
welcome to now.
Sprint just launched a super festival of widget goodness for your enjoyment. If that wasn't enough fun, they added super-future girl voice soundtrack so that you might feel that you're actually on the dashboard of a spaceship.
Dashboards rock. Girls from the future rock. And this Sprint mega-future-dashboard-of-widgets-from-the-future definitely rocks.
Thanks, Eric!
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:05 AM
0 comments
Thursday, November 13, 2008
even better than the real thing
There was a fake New York Times distributed across NYC yesterday. And it only featured dreamy, good news. If you're feeling sad, you can even check out the website. Nothing but good news, all the time.
Gawker gets to the bottom of the stunt, which was pulled off by notorious pranksters the Yes Men. Even the NY Times likes it. Good news, all around.
Labels: newyork, publishing, stunts, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:00 AM
3 comments
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
people in france don't wear shirts to class
Amazing: 140 people pulled off a lip dub version of Thriller. In ONE take. Just in time for Halloween. Oh yeah - and it appears that in France, students go right from gym class to lectures.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:09 AM
3 comments
Thursday, October 23, 2008
everything's cute with puppies
With puppies and kittens, you could finally tell the kids that Grandma is no longer here. Cute cards for the most difficult circumstances.
You can customize them to add your own details. It's a shame that there's only a handful of subjects, and that you can't customize the front of the cards. How else will you tell the kids that mom's a hooker? From YesButNoButYes.
Labels: creativeinspiration, parody, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
send this to that person in your office who isn't registered
Maybe you've already seen this video. But there are probably five people that are in your circle of friends who haven't seen it. And since the deadline to register for voting is quickly passing, you might want to give them the inspiration to do so.
(Just don't send it to anyone that might be offended by hearing the word sh*t or f*ck once or twice. Because this is the uncensored version. And that could make the prude in the cubicle down the hall's head explode.)
Thanks for the inspiration, Missy!
Labels: video, viral, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:42 AM
0 comments
Monday, October 06, 2008
because nothing is cooler than drinking from skulls
And the real hipsters drink from crystal skulls. There's been an internet basket of hoopla surrounding the promotion behind Crystal Head Vodka.
Is it a viral-style promo for a new ghost busters movie? Is it a promo for the DVD release of that waste-of-film-stock Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull?
Bubblicious gets to the bottom of it all with a full scale investigation. Turns out, it's not a viral style promo for anything other than...itself. There's even an unboxing on NotCot. Insane.
We have to go buy some of this right now. Just because the skull will look super sweeeet on coworker's Sara's desk.
Labels: beverage, package design, viral, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:02 AM
1 comments
Thursday, October 02, 2008
brandstalkers: ready for stalking.
What if you could turn your brand over to your fans, and have them do something really cool for you? That's what Brandstalkers asks. A new marketing concept from a group of brand fans ready to do whatever it takes to get your brand some attention.
Here's the deal: You agree to hire them. Providing they're actually fans of your brand, they'll produce something for you. They maintain 100% creative control. You let go. If you like it, they release and distribute.
Their first project is a magical marker fueled party for a restaurant in Australia called Guzman Y Gomez. Let's assume that this is the most amazing Mexican food that you've ever eaten. Ever. And you love it so much that you have a magic marker party. And paint your friends up real good. And then take it to the streets....
(Side note: Is Australia way behind us or way ahead of us? Are 80's new wave mullets just hitting the cozey little island, or have they come back in style and not hit the U.S. yet? Oh, how I hope they're coming back.)
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:37 AM
4 comments
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
what happens if you have a flash mob, and nobody shows?
Here's one man's take on the flash mobs that Improv Everywhere has made so famous. It's only funny because it's on video, and he "announces it". Otherwise, he would just be that freaky guy that's always hanging out down the street from your office.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:46 AM
0 comments
Thursday, September 18, 2008
your boyfriend is a viral marketer
This is great. Really great. What if viral marketing companies hired people to form a relationship with key influencers?
There couldn't possibly be a better way to promote The Women. (Hate to be the one to break it to you, but your boyfriend is being paid $14/hour by an advertising agency.) From livingbrands.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:32 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
watch your favorite songs sung by art students and internet geeks
Lip syncing. Reserved for select artists like Ashley Simpson or Milli Vanilli. Lip dubbing is for the rest of us. It's fun to watch, fun to produce and fun to share with friends.
Finally someone's created a nice place where you can watch them all together. The Vimeo Lip Dub Stars. From BenKunz, via Twitter
Labels: creativeinspiration, pop culture, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
paper: what a waste.
INFORM - the people behind the uber successful production of the Secret Life of Cell Phones has done it again. This time, they're putting paper into perspective - with the Secret Life of Paper.
What a cool example of how a non-profit can create educational entertainment that furthers the cause. Well done.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:11 AM
2 comments
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
take your canvas bags
Just tolerate the first 60 seconds of this video, and you'll be thankful. And then you'll want to watch it again and again, and sing along. And maybe work on a dance routine. Yes, it's over a year old - but canvas bags are really important now and Tim Minchin was just ahead of his time back in 2007.
Labels: creativeinspiration, green, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
how to make a snowboard video fun
You'd think that just about everything has been done in the world of snowboard videos. And that watching dudes ride rails would get boring after a while.
Mike Benson proves otherwise, and re-imagines the snowboard video by adding a single wonderous effect. Totally, totally awesome.
Labels: action sports, video, viral, youthmarketing
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:50 AM
2 comments
Thursday, August 21, 2008
just when you thought you were tired of engrish...
The makers of I can haz cheezburger bring you Engrish Funny. If you swore that you were over bad english internet jokes, some of these will still make you laugh. Hard. From Adrants.
Labels: ads, creativeinspiration, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:01 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
those copywriters really know what they're doing.
Send this to your copywriter friend. She'll hug you. (Yes, it's long and in French or something - but you can deal with it. Trust me.) From Mave Gibson, via Facebook.
Labels: copywriting, creativeinspiration, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:00 AM
1 comments
Thursday, August 07, 2008
ruby tuesday attempts 'viral'.
Ruby Tuesday has a new online campaign. We're supposed to believe that they've blown up the wrong restaurant, in a publicity stunt gone awry.
Instead, it feels like a 'viral' attempt gone wrong. All of the right ingredients: explosions, humor, video and microsites. But those are just tools. Former Plaid intern Katie says it's lame. I agree.
Here's where they went wrong:
+ The content doesn't seem aimed at a specific audience. Tweens? Twenty somethings? Families? This doesn't seem to speak to any of them directly.
+ What's the message? Anything about the food? Or the dining experience? Is "change" enough to bring me into your restaurant?
+ It's not believable. Or "hilarious" as the YouTube poster suggests. It could have been produced in a manner that left the viewer thinking "is this for real?" (Think of the Burger King campaigns.) Or it could have left the viewers understanding that it wasn't anywhere near real, but actually hilarious. (Think Paris Hilton for prez)
I'm curious to know what Ruby Tuesday has paid for the (currently) 13K views on YouTube. And how this differentiates them from Applebees, TGI Fridays, and BENNIGANS.
Labels: ads, hospitality, viral, yummyfood
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:15 AM
2 comments
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
so clean, you can lick it.
Apparently this is a real campaign. I have a hard time watching this. But maybe that's because I'm off a recent tour where we stay in places that I wouldn't even remove socks for fear of the disease-ridden creatures that live on the floor.
But if you enjoy watching girls licking things, and you need a hotel room clean enough to lick - then this campaign is for you.
Labels: ads, hospitality, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:17 AM
2 comments
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
incredible idea just waiting for you
AdFreak points to a really sweet idea just waiting for an opportunity.
A choose your own adventure series on YouTube. Watch this one, and you'll get the idea on how this could work. AdFreak is right. This is soooo ripe for a really cool promotion or branding campaign. Let's do it.
Labels: creativeinspiration, video, viral, youtube
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:21 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
where are they now??
Ever wonder what happened to those people that the internet made famous? Here you go.
Labels: pop culture, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:11 AM
0 comments
Monday, July 14, 2008
it all starts with a girl.
A super inspiring piece, all about a girl.
Think you don't have a strong enough production budget? Think only irreverent productions go viral? Here's a wonderous example of the most simple production, masterful copy writing and an emotional message coming together to make something beautiful.
From Shari, via Twitter.
Labels: copywriting, nonprofit, video, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:35 AM
2 comments
Friday, July 11, 2008
what it's like to be struck by lightning
I can't help but play this clip over and over, and laugh at someone who decided to stand on top of a mountain during a thunderstorm. With a video camera. Coworker Sara (who has survived a lightning strike) likely won't find it as comical.
Labels: photography, viral
posted by darryl ohrt @ 6:33 AM
0 comments
Monday, July 07, 2008
a better candidate for creatives
No matter how many ways you wrap it, these custom videos "to fool your friends" never get tired. This one promotes PalTalk. And the new position I'm seeking. Found at ToddAnd.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:43 AM
0 comments
Friday, June 27, 2008
church on wheels
Here's a really cute piece on the moving of a church. It's a few months old, but is getting picked up and buzzed about. John Deere should be all over this. What a spectacular positioning of their brand.
Labels: architecture, automotive, video, viral, youtube
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:08 AM
4 comments
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
this would never work with skinny jeans
The latest Levis internet production is out, and it rocks. Gotta love that Levis is letting lose and having fun. It's working.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 7:16 AM
0 comments
Monday, June 23, 2008
it's 12:00. let's dance.
Uniqlo's most recent production UNIQLOCK has just snagged some sweet interactive awards. Yes, like any wonderful apparel piece, it promotes t-shirts. But it also tells time. With rhythm. And dance. It's an incredible production.
Creativity interviews Koichiro Tanaka, the mastermind behind the production about the client, the process and the who what and why.
posted by darryl ohrt @ 8:02 AM
0 comments
