Archive for Conversations
Viral Video – 3 Steps to Success by YouTube Trend Manager Kevin Allocca
Posted by: | CommentsI do have an obsession with the moniker “Let’s make it go viral” but not in a good sense. I hate those five words “Let’s make it go viral” – the leading word that spurns the hate for this moniker is “make”. I don’t think you can make anything go viral much less a viral video – see my last post on viral video and the research that supports this. Yes there some exceptions but how much did you pay to “make” a video go viral?
Enter the Expert from YouTube on Viral Video:
Kevin Allocca is YouTube’s trends manager. He watches video – that’s his job (sounds like my son’s job since he seems to live on YouTube). Kevin has identified the 3 steps for a viral video:
- Tastemakers
- Communities of participation
- Unexpectedness
This Ted Talk by Kevin is an excellent way to understand the inner workings and case studies of why videos go viral. From an analysis of the “Double Rainbow” to the song “Friday” Kevin walks you through the anatomy of a viral video.
The Ted Talk Viral Video Analysis by Kevin Allocca:
SXSW Interactive 2011 Worth it or Not?
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SXSW Interactive 2011 Worth it or Not? I’m still trying to figure that out. As it sits right now I’m nonplussed and mildly amused at the “short on content/long on parties” atmosphere. Check this comic out from the Oatmeal – sums it up perfectly – http://theoatmeal.com/comics/sxsw
I’m not sure what I expected but it sure wasn’t what I experienced. Knowing that some of the best and brightest minds from the interactive world would all be in one place sharing information, case-studies, new tools and beer was the build up but I really only experienced the beer. And I didn’t really even go to many parties and that sure wasn’t my intention but I thought it would be worth a try since some of the sessions were so bad and rudimentary I had to walk out.
I do want to give credit to the major brands that were there. Pepsi, Sony, CNN, Chevy etc. had massive presences at SXSW interactive from massive displays to full building takeovers. It was a contest of who could have the bigger display. CNN took over a Bar & Grill and created their own CNN Bar and Grill sign about 8 foot in diameter and replete with neon and beautiful graphics. Pepsi took over what seemed like almost a quarter of a block of space for “Pepsi Max Lot” which they shared with the cool peeps from Foursquare. The best part about the brands is they didn’t take advantage of a captive audience and charge Disneyland prices for food, drinks and swag. Everything was free and fun – they rocked it.
So should I go next year? Right now I say, No Way. I’ve gotten more info & made more contacts at a small event of 200 people locally than I did at SXSW Interactive 2011. Or should I go to get my party on next year and just forget about learning anything worthwhile. What do you think?
Innovation and Why Your Thinking is Key
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It’s been busy, but a great busy. I find myself feeling antsy if I’m not “connected” in some way to the strategies that are driving creative value on a daily basis. Hopefully everyone gets to experience a point in their life where work is not work and play becomes the puzzle, challenge or game that others might call work.
Being at TEDx today and speaking to Rooly Eliezerov about the Innovation Summit tomorrow was a the type of stimulation and conversation that I love to engage in. Pushing yourself & expanding your thoughts and thinking are key to the the innovative process. It reminds me of the quote “Your BEST thinking has gotten you to where you are today – therefore you are going to need better or different thinking to go further”.
Iron sharpens iron and I look forward to the panel at the Innovation Summit tomorrow in Healdsburg to open up the possibilities of learning more and engaging with some great thinkers. 2011 is almost upon us and the social landscape is changing rapidly with new technologies and a solid foothold in corporate/entrepreneurial engagement strategies. Are you evolving, changing and growing as rapidly as the innovation occurring in the space you are working in? If not, get engaged in meetups, events, conferences and others within your industry. The good news is people all over the world are exposed to more information, tools and resources than they ever have been at any time in history.
We are in a era of innovation, thinking and doing – get engaged, get motivated and go out and get it done while loving every minute of it!
Clay Shirky is a Tim Lincecum – to me anyway
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My 13 year old son wanted to know why I was going to San Francisco last night. I told to him I was going to see the author and social anthropologist Clay Shirky. Typically he doesn’t want to know much more after that type of answer but he was curious and asked – “Why?”
My son is an avid San Francisco Giants fan and loves Pablo Sandoval and Tim Lincecum. So I told him that Clay Shirky to me is like Tim Lincecum to him. He immediately got it, smiled and went back to playing Call of Duty satisfied that I was getting to do something that is coveted, comforting and entertaining.
Clay was all of that last night and more. He extolled the detriments of HR googling potential new hires and trimming the talent pool to getting us to understand that developing countries are developers and are cranking out useful tools for the world (it’s not just silicon valley anymore – so don’t be surprised).
I picked up his latest book – Cognitive Surplus I highly recommend it – the guy is a genius when it comes to relating the social aspects of media today to how we can live and thrive in this three ring circus.
His latest twitter Bio give some insight into what Cognitive Surplus is all about:
Twitter Bio: Bald. Unreliable. Easily distracte
Enjoy!
