Recently, in a bid to take a shot at the concept of viral marketing, one of the leading automotive firms, Volkswagen decided to conduct a viral video campaign, as part of its advertisement package. The theory behind this highly creative project was to test whether people would be willing to participate in activities for the environment, that they usually feel lazy about, if those tasks became more fun.

Well, the plan worked splendidly and the video series, that is comprised of three videos on YouTube is making headlines in the world of advertising and viral marketing. The entire project had been initiated and carried out by DDB, an advertising agency based in Stockholm.

According to Andreas Dahlqvist (Creative Director, DDB), “Volkswagen’s answer to the theory will be presented at a later stage on a separate website amongst other media. The site will display their whole range of environment technologies and cars—many, many fun ways to do something for the environment.”

Whether or not this immensely popular video series is able to boost the car maker’s sales, is anybody’s guess, but one thing is for sure, the online world is sure buzzing about Volkswagen and  its ingenuity.

Here are some of the videos from the campaign, to tickle your funny bone:

Piano Staircase

The World’s Deepest Bin

Bottle Bank Arcade Machine

Via Rolighetsteorin & Viral Blog.

One of the ways of creating good buzz is by doing something different or coming up with some offbeat concept for advertising campaign. Emirates Holidays has managed to do both in their new campaign which comes with a tag tine – Change Your View.  They actually changed the views from the windows of Dubai’s busy business center by putting huge landscape scene on window cleaner and let it move across various windows, surprising the office people inside. Nice way of telling people to take a break from same boring view and routine days!

The campaign may seem highly localized, targeting business people inside that particular Dubai’s business center. But that’s what viral marketing is all about. Create a buzz locally and let it spread through word-of-mouth, media and of course Internet and New Media. One need not have to put up huge screaming bill boards standing tall over city landscapes. Also local advertising may even bring down the cost of advertising in the times of recession.

It is a nice and creative ad concept by the agency Impact, BBDO, Dubai. During the times of recession business people inside those glass offices are most stressed and they do need a change of view!

Via Invisible Red/ Ads of the World

Social media is becoming an amazing tool for creating awareness and spreading messages. Nothing can be more viral than the Tweets one can spread across the globe through one’s mobile, networking site. Not only Twitter even Facebook and other social networking sites with its great number of applications can help spread the word.

Look at this campaign of Invisible Children to save child soldiers in Uganda. They just spread the message to spare $3 to bring home those tiny soldiers and got an over whelming response. All that one needs to do is have a website with YouTube film about the cause or any content regarding intention of the campaign uploaded and Tweet the site around or put it on Facebook. It is most cost effective way of spreading the word.

The current role of Twitter in post election protests in Iran shows that social media is not just a tool but almost a weapon of defiance and defense. It connects people within the troubled nation and also to the outside world. They just can’t block Tweets just like they cannot not block Swine Flu virus from spreading!

Kudos to the new social connectedness – it is no longer a divided world, it is one world!

Via Osocio

No Clowns, no happy meals option, no hunger slogans, no long menu combinations – Mc Donalds Japan has removed everything from their menu including their very own brand name! This is the best example of no-brand and viral marketing. Let the name of the product spread silently like a computer virus across homes. No need ride on brand name. But will it work?

New Mc Donalds joints in Japan are called Quarter Pound shops. These new red and black décor shops offer only twin options on their menu – Quarter Pounder with cheese and Double Quarter Pounder with cheese. Fries and coke are included with each meal set. Choices are limited and simple. Hope burger under the wrappings has the same brand taste.

Intentions behind this no-brand strategy are not clear. Either they want to cash on curiosity of customers and let hidden brand name spread through word -of-mouth or they want to re-invent themselves totally and try something new. Minimalist approach is a good deviation from their usual aggressive marketing. Also it’s an intelligent way to cut down costs without compromising on quality of the product.

Move over clowns, it’s time for serious business!

via Inventorspot/Neojaponisme