2010 Viral Video Challenge - Thinking Outside the Box

2009 was a huge year for viral videos, and viral video advertising. Many companies used video sharing sites like YouTube to create viral video advertising campaigns, and ConnectingDirectors.com doesn?t want the funeral industry to miss out on all the fun.

First, you might be asking, ?What does viral? mean: Viral, when used as a computer term, refers to a reoccurring practice or pattern of Internet use that moves from person to person. Example: we have all had a link to a YouTube video emailed to us; this is a form of making a video ?viral?. So how is ConnectingDirectors.com getting into the action?

There are two ways to be apart of the challenge:

1. Work in or own a funeral home

2. Work for or own a funeral industry company

We will be awarding two winners:

1. Winner of the funeral home challenge

2. Winner of the funeral industry supplier challenge

What?s the Challenge?

Funeral Homes:

The challenge is to create an industry related ?viral video?. A video that is something people in the industry will want to share. It can be funny, emotional, serious, silent, advertisement for your firm, whatever you want it to be. There is no time limit, but generally viral videos are not very long (keep in mind, YouTube will not allow videos over 10 minutes in length to be uploaded).

Videos must be submitted to ConnectingDirectors.com by March 1, 2010 so you have plenty of time to come up with something creative. We don?t expect the videos to be professional quality; a small handycam video is just fine.

You can submit your videos to us by uploading them to Youtube and emailing the link to Ryan Thogmartin.

Winner Receives:

– CD.com Mouse Pad

– CD.com Money Clip

– Book: When We Remember: Compassion and Inspiration in a Time of Sorrow

– Book: Inspiration and Integrity for a Meaningful Funeral

We are in the process of lining up a few other cool items being donated by Industry suppliers.

Industry Suppliers:

The challenge is to create an industry related ?viral video?. A video that is something people in the industry will want to share. The goal is to get you to think outside the box of traditional marketing. ConnectingDirectors.com has opened the door for industry online advertising, now we are providing a way for you to do video advertising as well.

This would be a great way to feature your product in a non-traditional way, get funeral directors to think of your company as innovative.

You can submit your videos to us by uploading them to Youtube and emailing the link to Ryan Thogmartin.

Winning Company Receives:

– CD.com Mouse Pads

– CD.com Money Clip

– 6 Months free advertising on CDTV

After the March 1, 2010 deadline for submission the top 3 videos from each challenge (chosen by CD.com) will be posted on the site. Members of CD.com will vote to determine the winner of each challenge.

This is a huge opportunity to pull your team of employees together and be creative. Create a fun relaxed environment and watch the creativity blossom. I look forward to what you guys send me. I can?t wait!!!

Below are a few examples of the top viral videos of 2009 that were also used as advertisements (via Mashable.com):

2009?s crop of top viral video advertisements show us that people are willing to embrace a host of creative approaches on the social video Web, from beguiling mini-films, to user-generated advocacy, to YouTube (YouTube) celebrity endorsers, to elaborate commercial-grade productions. That?s good news for creators.

Regardless of the approach, the key for marketers is a solid understanding of what a brand is, who is the brand?s audience, and what moves them. Strangely enough, this formula sounds like traditional advertising. This year?s Top 10 is certainly a glimpse of how the viral video ad business is evolving, and as marketers, what we can learn from that evolution.

Video: Piano Stairs

Advertiser: Volkswagen

Ad Agency: DDB Stockholm

Why it works: ?Take the stairs instead of the escalator and feel better? is something we hear but didn?t often see until this sly video from Volkswagen appeared on the Web. It?s part of an inspiring campaign, The Fun Theory, that encourages people to come up with fun ways to ?do good.? The video itself did well indeed, imbuing Volkswagen with a fun new ethos and racking up millions of views in the process.

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Video: JK Wedding Dance

Advertiser: Jill Peterson and Kevin Heinz

Ad Agency: N/A

Why it works: A couple?s wedding entourage dances down the aisle to Chris Brown?s (chris brown) song ?Forever,? springboarding this video into viral history (at least for ?09). Instead of stripping the video of its music ? something copyright owners are permitted to do on YouTube ? Sony used its popularity to sell more Chris Brown albums.