I am a a fan of this campaign from Microsoft. The idea is that while you might have discounted Microsoft’s web browser Internet Explorer in recent years, it’s really time to take another look. The center of the campaign is a website called “The Browser You Loved to Hate.”
When the University of California announced their new logo they did it with quite some fanfare—including this video. It’s a beautiful video with paper cutouts and other nice animations. It’s soft and human and engaging. BUT… look how it did not aid (but actually hurt) the UC communications cause.
OK. This video is no great shakes — it’s very matter of fact and doesn’t offer up a lot of excitement. But the digital experience it promotes is very clever: super thin “grocery stores” on train platforms.
Union Bank is promoting the fact that customers can have flexibility when they bank with them. They’re pitching the idea that “The people who let you design your own bank are letting you design your own commercial.” I like the direct link between the idea and the bank’s product. It’s very clear. Plus it’s a fun commercial … and really fun that you can easily mix and match video objects and make your own.
Death and stupidity have always been classic web spreaders. What’s rare is when, as in this case, depicting death and stupidity serve a purpose—preventing death and stupidity.
This very funny video might not seem like a product video at first — I mean does YouTube really need to advertise itself? But there are many people YouTube must make happy, including advertisers. And humor, done well, is always a happy maker.
This video “trailer” for Tim Ferris’ new book could have done a better job explaining this genre bender. But perhaps the mystery is powerful. It got me to head to Amazon and explore further. And since there will be about 2,19,999 books published this year that I won’t do that for, that’s quite a feat!
Oh well… this awesome bit of digital media didn’t work out. But it’s no less awesome for having been tried. This looks like a standard political campaign website — except for the “donate nothing” button.
I want one. Need I say more? Well since this is a “YouTube Tuesday Plus” post in which I promise mini marketing/branding/messaging critiques I guess I do need to say more. OK.. here goes: