Cameos Important to Promoting Content September 1, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : Killer Video, Viral Video, YouTube , 64comments
Someone once said that a new blogger stays on his/her own blog, while a seasoned one comments and reads others. The same is true for video — appearing on other people’s videos is as important as making your own. Especially if that creator is more popular, more talented (which is mostly the case for me), or gets featured.
I was poking around via TubeMogul and was pleased to see the episode of “Retarded Policeman” in which I appeared has a 4.79 rating (out of 5), making this YouTube’s top-rated comedy of the week (and among the top of the month). It was also featured in YouTube’s comedy section (thanks YouTube).
This rating is surprisingly higher than The Retarded Policeman’s debut episode, according to TubeMogul, and tied with the recent episode with Michael Buckley (WhatTheBuck). See full honors below in “more.”
I think this tells us that the initial 24-hour period is most vital because it’s when the majority of the comments come in- and mostly from loyalists so they’re positive. Over time, other people find the content and rate the video down (although comment/rate far less frequently). I saw this with Mall Pranks, which has a fairly low rating now that it’s been paraded around on other sites. I’ve often wondered if it would help to turn off comments after the first several hours, although I suspect that would be penalized since the honor/rating is probably a function of views x rating (with an emphasis on the latter).
So what’s this mean? The power of collaborations and cameoss can grow your audience. In the past few days I’ve gone from 96 on the “most subscribed” to 90th, and added several thousand new subscribers (up to nearly 52K). This is due in part to MediocreFilms, part to MrSafety for his cheesy boob shout out. And the appearance in Matt Koval’s YouTube-homepage-featured video (YouTube in 1985) helped too.
I just shot two clips for collabs last evening. Me laughing and pointing for Spricket24 (I have no idea) and another short clip for Brett the Intern. Hey- forget my own videos. I just want to be like ShayCarl and pop up in everyone else’s like Michael Caine in 1970s movies.
Parenthetically, ratings don’t always translate to views. My recent video impersonating Sarah Palin is the top rated comedy of the day (TubeMogul says it’s a 4.62 rating), but received <20K views (I kinda thought the pro Obama folks would viralinate this one). Comments were mostly kind — except for those that assumed I’m a flaming liberal just because I wanted an excuse to dress up in drag.
Oh now I’m getting obsessed with stats again. I think I’ll go immerse myself back in Gustav coverage.
Nalts on the Retarded Policeman August 29, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : Nalts, Online Video, Video, Viral Video, YouTube , 25commentsYey! I’m on the Retarded Policeman today! 
Viral Video Villain Got $1 Million as 750 Industries August 5, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : Viral Video, YouTube, advertising , 20comments
The Viral Video Villain (www.viralvideovillain.com) just got a $1 million investment. Dan Ackerman Greenberg, who caused quite a stir with his “Secret Strategies Behind Viral Videos,” is now 750 Industries. Or as TechCrunch put it, “The Viral Video Guy Gets $1 Million.”
Greenberg explained 750 Industries to TechCrunch’s Michael Arington as, “a startup providing viral media distribution solutions that gives content owners and advertisers quick and effective access to millions of consumers.” And they say the company is already “very profitable.”
Then, with David Blaine agility, Greenberg took Arington’s watch off and pocked it. But not before hypnotizing him to write another promotional post for him. But if you don’t believe he’s profitable than click this thumbnail for a hot naked woman.
While I may not agree with Greenberg’s boasting of manipulative approaches to get video views, you have to give him three props:
- Greenberg has a killer logo. It’s modern, but very James Bond. It makes me want a martini.
- He snagged a million dollars. My guess is he’s already half way to Mexico with that money. And investor Ron Conway (Maples Investments and Baseline Ventures) is going to soon find some moldy boxes packed with counterfitted bail bonds in the empty office that was formerly Yelp’s. But he did it.
- He’s a pioneer in a burgeoning industry that could be likened to the early days of search-engine optimization. Just like firms approach Google placement with paid ads and organic strategies to rank high, companies will promote videos with a “paid” and “earned” approach. Eventually the market will transform from black hat to white hat tactics (or dare I say “from Wicked Witch to Glenda‘), and will be as reputable as the industry that focus on organic website optimization.
The original search-engine marketing (SEM) firms would promise top placements and use link farms and mirror sites to trick Google. But now many of them work ethically and responsibly to ensure that websites are built so Google search spiders can index the site appropriately, and that titles, metatags, copy and image tags are carefully chosen for relevance. The companies that try to trick Google and web searchers (like illegitimate online pharmacies and porn sites) are eventually pushed down on rankings or eliminated from Google’s results.
That’s where online video is going. Google’s technology and the wisdom of crowds will eventually render tricks (like fake headlines and autobots commenting) ineffective. And that’s when it gets interesting.
But want to know a little secret? The first companies to figure this out for clients won’t be the advertising agencies, and probably won’t even be digital agencies. It will be nimble firms that have an understanding of online video, technology and marketing. So while 750’s exit strategy may be selling to a digital agency, Greenberg does have a first-mover advantage.
It’s Kevin Appreciation Day! Hurray! August 1, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : Google, Making Videos, Nalts, Video, Viral Video, YouTube, apple , 37comments
Thanks Kevin for being such a charming and righteous guy!
You are truly one of the nicest and funniest people on the net and we or rather I don’t show enough appreciation for all you do to keep us entertained, out of trouble and off hard drugs, but you do! And most of all you are a stand up guy and it’s not said often enough, I don’t think. So thanks again for everything and I promises I will never hack into your blog again.
So Nation of Nalts pass the beer and give a cheer,
dig deep down to the bottom of your silly human hearts,
say something genuine, not too queer and not to smear
and please, oh, please be smart,
hold back the venom
hold back the onions
that gives you the urge to… beg for a mint.
Verizon Wireless Botches “Candid” Viral Video Attempt July 19, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : Online Video, Video Advertising, Viral Video , 13comments
Time to test out your “is it real or fake” instincts. Watch this video where a random Verizon caller is surprised when that Verizon Wireless “Can You Hear Me Now” guy shows up with an army of Verizon people personifying the Verizon network.
Is it truly candid, or is our “victim” an actor?
- Shaky camera
- Genuine surprise and laughter from victim
- Natural crowd reactions
Mercy, this looks like an amateur prank. This guy’s been punked by a big corporation with the world’s worst logo. Yey.
- So, um, how’d they get a lavaliere microphone on the victim?
- Isn’t Verizon lucky that one of the first things out of the victim’s mouth is, “it’s the network”? Yeah- That’s probably what I’d say to a friend, if a bunch of people in construction hats started following me. “It’s the network,” I’d say. I’d probably then work up a gag about reduced call drops and virtual tributaries that allow for ad/drop multiplexing of subrate traffic.
Lesson learned? This would have been a clever bit, but don’t dupe the viewer. Either the joke’s on the victim (the call recipient) or the joke’s on the bystanders (which would have been funny on its own). But this one makes me feel like the joke’s on me.
People are often trying to encourage me to mock a “candid” video, and even if you have a great actor like this guy (who laughs convincingly, which is extremely hard)… you can’t get away with the crunch because the crunch always gives you away.
Verizon Wireless Surprises Customer - Watch more free videos
Viral Video 3-Day Cruise? July 11, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : Viral Video, advertising , 24comments
Would people be interested in an “Viral Video Cruise”? My sister-in-law is a travel agent, and found a decent rate for a 3-day cruise. I’m not yet sure if it should be a social event (like a YouTube gathering), or an educational/networking event with some conference-like sessions that help people justify expensing it. Thoughts?
Here are the initial details. I’m posting this to see if it makes initial sense. Click here for more (it’s my sister-in-law’s travel website).
December 5, 2008 (3 Day Cruise)
Leaves from Ft. Lauderdale
via Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas
Visits Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s Private Island and Nassau
Inside cabins - $313.85
Outside Cabins - $348.85
$100 per person deposit due August 20th
Final payment due September 20th
(Traveling Amy is her website).
Cruises include room and food, and all activities and shows…. tips and drinks are extra, as is anything else you buy onboard or in port.
On NBC Today Show… this morning. maybe. July 9, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : Blogs on Video, Diet Coke, Future of Online Video, Killer Video, Making Money, Mentos, Nalts, Profit, Search, Video, Viral Video, apple, iheartviacom, marketing, poopie head, stopickingyournose, viocom , 5comments
Greetings boys, girls and willvideoforfooders!
I’m your substitute, I mean “GuestOfNalts (.)” today
As you know this self proclamied viral video genius, Kevin ‘Nalts’ Nalty, started talking to himself early on, as we see in several of his more delightful films: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, AND here!
WHEEW!
Kevin has developed a number of personalities, alter egos and of course clones over the years. This is me here in my pre-natal state along with my other clone brothers and sisters. And here is the first generation of a Nalts’ Clone. As you might have guessed he didn’t quite make it. Unfortunately, he was unable to grasp the finer points and magic of editing and fell into a very tragic incident involving a can, the local trash collector and the very large trash collector’s truck. Since, much progress has been made and as you can rightly read I am one of the current generation ‘CloneofNatls’. However, we do prefer being called ‘Spawnsof Nalts’. We have advanced far more than the initial copy, even though we still titter on lame.
As a copy and a real live SpawnofNalts it is my position to make sure that anything Nalts does or thinks when indisposed makes its way to the beautiful eyes of his darling readers, fans, lurkers and all the rest of you, ASAP!
Tomorrow (July 9), on NBC’s Today show in a segment called “Frustrated Fliers.” The interview was shot in NYC yesterday and prompted by “USAIR Sucks” and not “Crawling Through Airport.” See if you can spot the original Nalts at the airport. If not, enjoy these little vignettes to make up for the possibility of a brown out we predicted in NYC. If you missed it because you just couldn’t drag your lazy ass out of bed before 11am, you know who you are, and barring some possible genetic or technical malfunction, me and all the other SpawnsofNalts will try our best to accommodate Today the day after yesterday or sooner right here!
Oh, and bring a clothes pin!
Be glad smell-a-vision never took off!
END TRANSMISSION
Kevin is a poopie head July 5, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : AOL, BlipTV, Blogs on Video, Contest, Diet Coke, Future of Online Video, GooTube, Google, Making Money, Making Videos, Mentos, Nalts, Online Video, Profit, Revver, Search, TechCrunch, Uncategorized, Video, Video Advertising, Video Business, Video Contests, Video Gear, Video Online Tools, Video Sites, Video Software, Videocameras, Viral Video, Web 2.0, Yahoo Video, YouTube, advertising, apple, copyright, google video, marketing, metacafe, poopie head, popular videos, video cameras, viral videologist, vlogging, xlntads , 33comments!
discuss!
Cell Phone Parody Videos: iPhone, oPhone, Blackberry and Android July 3, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : Viral Video , 19commentsIt’s July 3, which is annual “bitch about your stupid cell phone day.” Don’t verify that on Wikipedia yet.
So let’s step back, but not rate or compare the Microsoft oPhone, iPhone, Android and Blackberry for a moment. But let’s not debate Mac versus Microsoft versus Google versus Blackberry. It just divides humanity, and that’s what politics are for.
So instead let’s debate not the cell phones but the quality of the video parodies they spawn. Given that I did three of these four, I’ll offer up some unbiased thoughts: And before you bitch about me using this post as “self promotion” read my damned tagline above. It’s my mission in life.
The Microsoft Mobile oPhone video (not mine) was Filet Mignon in a blender. Although it was a bit drawn out, there were a few great gags (the circular message text and the notion of programming for a circle). Nathan Weinberg, who runs the InsideMicrosoft and InsideGoogle blogs, is behind it (see him on YouTube).
The iPhone was, as all Nalts videos, was too long. But for a guy with no budget and in a hurry to get to work, that Nalts gets a B plus.
The Android video was a collaboration with Slater. I thought it would viralinate more, but in hindsight I think it was a bit too “inside Madison Avenue.” It didn’t help that my good camera was in repair so my part looked and sounded like ass. Slater and his wife cracked me up, though.
Finally there’s Blackberry/Crackberry. In retrospect I think most of these gags were too obvious. But it did garner a lot of media attention (a bunch of national networks ripped it… maybe I’ll have a judge audit that) because I released it just before a study confirmed that Blackberry’s are evil.
You know as I look back at Crackberry Blackberry, it got a lot more media attention that views. Counter that with this crappy video I posted last week (”Scary Maze“) which has been viewed 180K times — while Crackberry (now 2 years old) has only about 100K views.
Hey! Nalts is just like a cell-phone provider. Providing crappier quality but getting more business!
Potty Training Izzy the Chihuahua July 2, 2008
Posted by Nalts in : Viral Video , 9comments
If you posses the powers to feature a video somewhere, it’s your obligation to honor Izzy. In “Potty Training Izzy,” the Chihuahua dog circles what looks like a giant piece of cheese. She (or he) is nervously holding her morning espresso, hoping to pee in the spot that most pleases her master, Zack Scott.
Zack, who is no doubt dressed as a giant bird while taping this, calmly cleans up Izzy’s spilled pee with a piece of American cheese. Oh- and if that’s not enough, Izzy’s circular motions are echoed by some delightfully repetitive Mexican-hat-like music.
That’s all there is. But that’s all we need. Maybe it’s all we ever needed.
I woke up my wife to make her watch this with my commentary. She hates it when I do that.
Naturally this is part of the cheese playlist. Here’s the embed code for it:
<object width=”480″ height=”385″><param name=”movie” value=”http://www.youtube.com/p/2F13FD79795117BC”></param><embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/p/2F13FD79795117BC” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” width=”480″ height=”385″></embed></object>
