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Funny Videos for Video Marketing

by Steve Robertson
9 replies
Hello Warriors,

We have been doing some brainstorming on what makes a video really effective for video marketing. By "video marketing," I'm talking about using videos uploaded to sharing sites to generate traffic to your web page.

You can't really set out to make a "viral" video. That's determined entirely by your viewers. But you CAN set out to make a video that's more likely to go viral.

One type of viral video is the funny video. It's not very common for internet marketers to think in terms of making funny videos for their marketing campaigns. But, if they go viral, a funny video just might get you a LOT more traffic. Can you think of a way to use funny videos in your marketing?

Please share any examples you have made or seen.

Steve Robertson
R.A.M. Video
#funny #marketing #video #videos
  • Profile picture of the author mikestenger
    What I've seen some marketers do is make funny yet interesting videos using a pattern interrupt. They then have a banner below them that says "Tweet this video" or something along those lines.

    I personally know that Mike Filsaime of Butterfly Marketing fame, used this tactic and got hundreds of Retweets on Twitter just because of this little tactic. If you use it in combination with a great offer, preferably some sort of free giveaway, you could see potentially thousands of people flocking to your site and a lot more optins.
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    -Mike

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    • Profile picture of the author Andy Jenkins
      In my limited experience with video, the very best way to cause a buzz or whisper campaign that results in viral distribution is to go "Counter Culture".

      Max and Gabe's Internet Thing on You Tube is a perfect example of a Counter Culture production.

      Take commonly accepted wisdom, or commonly accepted belief systems and parody them, or take a VERY INTELLIGENT counter position - Meaning, it's easy to zig when other people zag, especially if your rude and ignorant about it - but that usually flashes in the pan and is never heard from again. The thing is, people want hope and goodness in their lives - and mostly they're desperate to know that someone noteworthy thinks the same thing they do.

      So when you take a reasoned and intelligent position that's opposite of what the prevailing stereotype is, you'll earns tons of respect.

      The trick with parody is to not make AUTHORS (of other content on whatever topic you're poking fun at) look like idiots. It's about creating a commentary on the SUBJECT - usually the kind of commentary that everyone at one time or another has thought, but never spent much time addressing.

      And not everything has to be "The Shocking Truth" or the "Never before revealed Secret".

      And a little self-effacing humor goes a long way.

      My 2 cents.
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      "Shakespeare didn't have a word-processor. When we got word-processors, we didn't get Shakespeare"
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      • Profile picture of the author Marty S
        I completely agree with you about the difference between someone saying they are making a viral video, and a video that is actually viral. I posted it previously here.

        Originally Posted by Marty S View Post

        Sure I suppose it's possible, but really when hear (read) someone say I am going to make a viral video, like you can pull one out of your top drawer, then everyone would be doing it.

        To me there is a mystique about viral videos. I have made about 200 videos, most of which are on youtube and have been for a few years now, and it is still almost impossible to guess which one I release will be most popular.

        I have some videos which I made when I first started that I truly think are horrible but STILL get me the most views and comments. Then I have others which I really put a lot of thought into them, thinking they will fly out of the gate, and no, it just doesn't happen.

        From my experience, someone with the claim of making a viral video will be disappointed, and rotating pictures just sounds like a bust.

        The creator of a video does not decide if a video goes viral, viewers who watch it decide that by taking time out of their personal lives to forward it to someone they know - because the just HAVE TO, since the video is so good, funny, entertaining, informative, wacky, daring etc.
        Now here is a video I posted, for marketing purposes, with the intent of hoping it went viral.

        LANGUAGE WARNING - This has been posted here before.

        This video has 43,000+ views, 242 comments, and 255 star ratings, so I think it qualifies as a viral video, at least in my scale. This video also got tweeted by some major professional players including Chris Moneymaker and David "DevilFish" Elliot, and has been posted many times in all the top poker forums online.

        Of course, it IS supposed to be funny, so it actually isn't a hard sell by any means, but channel views and subscriptions are important too, and I believe, videos like these can increase your audience.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Robertson
    Great video, Marty. Looks like it took lots of work.

    Also some outstanding ideas from the video master. Thanks, Andy.

    We have been thinking about all the unusual social situations that come about on the Web. Look at any large, popular website and you can see some funny situations arising.

    You could say that Frank Kern's funny videos are based on social situations arising on the Warrior Forum. If you were marketing a product for use with Twitter, you could create some very funny videos based on Twitter interaction.

    I think the key is in the script. To make this type of video, you probably need to start by hiring a sketch comedy writer.

    Syeve R.
    R.A.M. Video
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  • Profile picture of the author TPFLegionaire
    This below is a great example of using fun to promote your
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Robertson
    Yeah, that JibJab video makes use of another approach - new lyrics for an old song. Either that or an entirely new song works well. But JibJab's fancy animation costs a bundle. Very few marketers could afford to have a custom video produced in that style.

    A "music video" approach is much less expensive. But you really need to use at least three cameras. Or make it look like you are using multiple cameras

    That's a video production trick that's really worth its cost.

    Steve R.
    R.A.M. Video
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  • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
    This is one of my favorite comedy/marketing videos:


    He's actually a comedian, I'm sure the 2million viral views to this video helped his career quite a bit...
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