That Interweb

This Week's Favorite YouTube.

Clever kids with a camera make funny video. Enjoy.

Favorite YouTube: Power vs Petite

Why Google Kicks Yahoo's Ass. Pt. 2

Google is giving the homeless in San Francisco permanent phone numbers and voicemail thus making it easier for them to get a job. Just one more reason I love the internet.

I Have A Great Idea! Or Do I?

One of the biggest challenges to creating good/effective interactive marketing is that so many of us have no experience with which to judge our ideas against. We know, within reason, what makes a good TV spot or print ad. But what makes a good interactive idea?

The biggest thing to remember is not to judge interactive the same way you judge anything else. In TV and Print, a single simple idea clearly communicated is all you want. And to an extent, online should be the same. But there must be a consideration for the interactive nature of the internet. What is the user going to get out of the idea? How will they engage with it?

A good friend of mine sums up the requirements for a good interactive idea with three questions:

1) Why would the user interact with your idea?
2) Would they send it to their friends?
3) Will they return to experience it again?

Answer honestly and you'll help ensure your interactive ideas are as strong as possible. Answer with a bunch of bullshit and you'll have a really expensive glory piece that does nothing for your client and hurts your and your agency's rep.

PS About the image accompanying this post. It's amazing what you find by doing an image google search of "bad idea."

Favorite YouTube: Metaphor for the Internet Age

Watching the trailer for Logan's Run makes me think of today's struggles between old marketing and new marketing. No matter how hard the old try, they simply cannot escape their fate at the hands of the young. But then, the young learn in the end that their pollyanna world isn't so wonderful after all. Deep man, deep.

What a bunch of bull. I just love this movie and wanted to follow up Flash with something just as fun. Enjoy.

South Park Kills YouTube Stars.

You know you've made it when South Park decides you need to be taken down a few pegs. Watch the clip and try not to laugh as you remember the first time you saw the "YouTube Celebrities" they lay waste to. Then try not to waste your day watching the original YouTube videos. I dare you.

Brilliant Before Its Time.

In February 2005, Everquest II and Pizza Hut announced a brilliant game innovation. Everquest players would be able to type “/pizza” in their chat window and order a pie without ever leaving their adventures.

What I love about this idea is that it takes into account the gamer experience. MMOG players (Everquest, World of Warcraft, etc.) spend hours and hours in game. There are times when they work on a single “quest” with 20 people for 6 to 8 hours. There are “bio” breaks along the way but there’s no time to cook a meal. “/pizza” gives gamers a way to stay in game and get a hot meal at the same time. Pizza Hut becomes the gamer’s partner in fun. Simply brilliant.

Now here’s the crazy thing. The promotion has since ended but back in February 2005, only about 330,000 people were playing Everquest II. Over 9 million people are playing World of Warcraft. That’s 9 million starving gamers wanting a hot meal. Who’s going to give it to them. Pizza Hut? Dominos? Chili’s? You?