Women Against Sarah Palin live webcast today 1-9 pm – http://tinyurl.com/62ew52 reading from 200,000 letters about how we feel about her

I’m sharing this because we just covered SproutBuilder in class.

Click the link and you’ll see that they used SproutBuilder to create the conduit (link) to get the embed code to share the conference in your own blog. Think viral.

Real Women Respond to Sarah Palin

Then, you get the embed code for their uStream.tv Webcast.

Again, viral!

But, we had to go through three sites.  Twitter to find the note from B.L.  Then, we went here Women Against Sarah Palin: Host Today’s Live Webathon on Your Website and here Embed | Real Women Respond to Palin Webathon.

My thought … why not just embed the Webcast code into the SproutBuilder and then you skip all those steps while getting immediate posting of the Webcast.  I’ll check SproutBuilder to see if you can, indeed, embed uStream code in a Sprout.  OK, now I know why … it seems that SproutBuilder supports Seesmic & YouTube, but doesn’t yet allow embedding of code.  Well, they’ll get to that, I’m sure.

Setting politics aside, and not offering critques of their style & layout, this is a pretty interesting use of multiple free resources to help spread a meme.

I will share this.  It is a slow, slow moving presentation.  You have to really want to see it to become involved.  Fewer long pauses in their transitions would make this a more compelling event.  Right now, I fear they are only preaching to the choir.  This won’t likely pull in new people.

Just thought I’d share.

Both are good examples of video used in creative and compelling ways.

The Johnny Bunko video isn’t unique, as we’ve seen comic book videos many times. But, watch it. They poke fun at old business books. They use their own content to create the video which is certainly more entertaining than the usual interview with the author, for example.  It does more to sell the book than anything else I can imagine.  Viral?  It has been watched more than 25,000 times.

The book has a Web site, Johnny Bunko. It also has its Amazon.com site and a rank of #3,200 in books overall, right now. Um. that’s impressive. Check out “The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You’ll Ever Need.”

Johnny Bunko trailer from DHP on Vimeo.

Another video Kevin shared is this rather entertaining lip sync from the people at Connected Ventures.

We did this video one night after work. We are a company called Connected Ventures, a group of friends who work for: Vimeo, CollegeHumor, Busted Tees, and Defunker.

The video is, of course, hosted at Vimeo and illustrates the staff really buying into their client’s product. Fun video and it works.  Kind of an “agency eats client’s dog food” thing?  I like it.

This one really went viral.  A year old, it has been viewed more than 1.7 million times.

Lip Dub – Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger from amandalynferri on Vimeo.

By the way, just as an observation, Vimeo has the cleanest and sleekest presentation and layout of any video sharing site. I’ve always liked their use of white space and clean design more than any other video site.

Examples? How about our interns at Camp ASCCA. Danika Kmetz, Kelli Hood and Zeb Ramey. These people are absolutely terrific and did such a wonderful job. Look at ASCCA Friends and the Camp ASCCA Journal to see all the great work they did this summer.

But, there is more. They did video, audio, photos, media pitching, releases, features, tours, marketing … the list goes on and on.

Here’s an example of a magazine article they had published about our annual Teen Week Prom. (See a larger version online.) Click on page 63 to see the article, by Kelli Hood.

This, by the way, has inspired me to have my classes this semester create their own magazine. Each will have responsibility for two pages. Look for that later. I hope to have it in three versions. PDF/Flash, HTML and video. But, we’ll see how that goes. Certainly we can do an example like the one above as it ties into another assignment they already do. We just have to set the focus a little tighter.

How about video? They created dozens and dozens of videos each this summer. Tal, a counselor that actually quit his job to come to camp, is a perfect example. These are the stories that parents, potential counselors for next year and everyone else need to see and hear. They add great value to ASCCA’s public relations activities.

Find more videos like this on ASCCA Friends

Photos? As the summer began, we had about 15,000 photos in our flickr account. Today? 21,649 items. Yep, they shot well over 5,000 photos this summer. Great photos, too. We had more comments from parents, campers and many others about the terrific quality. Tim, a professional photographer that has followed us from the very beginning, remarked about this potential magazine cover shot.

My Other Love?

Felicia Day. Yep. I’m a (cough)-year-old fanboy. I love what she has done online and in TV & film. Felicia is a very creative and talented lady. Again, respectful love. Her work just makes me smile and laugh.

The most recent examples are The Guild and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog. Oh, she’s done much more, to be sure.

I have this dream. No, not that kind of dream. This one is somewhat realistic and involves Felicia coming to Camp ASCCA and doing a web series about the campers and counselors. After all, Felicia’s from Alabama, ya’ know. Huntsville. Yep, wouldn’t make that up. Maybe she’s actually heard of Camp ASCCA. Who knows.

If I were a millionaire, I’d pay Felicia whatever it takes to do this. I can just see the attention it would draw to the camp; plus, the looks on the campers’ faces as they get to meet the star from The Guild, Dr. Horrible, Monk and Buffy … to name just a few of her accomplishments.

But, alas, I’m poor. So, I’ll keep that dream alive and continue to watch her many accomplishments from afar. Although, if I ever find a way to make contact with her, I’ll be asking at the very least for a live phone interview with my class(es) so they can learn about her online video exploits.

Here’s a recent interview with Felicia and Kim Evey, another really cool person, by the way. See her film, TV, theatre and improv/comedy. I’d love to chat with Kim, too, in our classes. Hey, a guy can dream.

Noel is on a trip around the world:

on 07 july 2007, noneck noel (aka noel a. hidalgo) will depart new york city for a journey around the world to learn from you. affably named “on the luck of seven” or “luck of seven.” this is an open-source journey documenting free culture, social innovators and global change.

for seven months, i will stand on the seven contents, dive into the seven oceans, and contemplate seven topics of freedom. while on the way, i will document the journey through stories, photos and videos. this is not my story, this is our story. though your hospitably, donations, projects, connections and friends, our stories will merge into one. (Source)

Noel isn’t the only one being deported. The protesters were also deported, after a 10-hour interrogation.

The action came a day after three Americans from the group were detained while displaying Tibetan flags near the entrance to National Stadium, which hosted the opening ceremony for the games Friday night. They were deported Saturday on flights to New York, the group said. On Wednesday, four other members hung pro-Tibet banners from two light poles outside the stadium, also known as the Bird’s Nest. They were led away by police and later deported to Europe and the United States.

The video has been viewed 32,567 times, so far.

Jim Long, NewMediaJim on Twitter, posted a link to the video. He, too, was taking video of the event. But, Jim works for NBC (see his blog), and had his “permission slips” in hand.

Something tells me that phone calls to qik.com will now be blocked from China. We discussed in class this semester how qik.com is a perfect tool for spot news coverage. This is one great example. Reported live as it unfolded in Tiananmen Square, this incident will, I believe, bring more attention to qik.com. Hope their servers can handle the new traffic.

Barack Obama should in no way be upset about the cartoon that depicts him as a Muslim extremist, because you know who gets upset about cartoons? Muslim extremists.

Don’t we all wish we could do a rant like this one? The joke about the bears is really enough to tell the whole story, alone. Yet, the closing line says it all. 

Danika Kmetz, a great PR intern from Illinois State University (and President of her PRSSA chapter), has created two very fun videos with the best kind of testimonials possible. The first is from Hope, a camper at ASCCA’s Teen Week taking place this week on Lake Martin. The second is a mashup of clips from last week’s Adult Mentally Disabled camp.

There are many ideas at work behind these sites. The most important is to provide a look inside camp that will reach out to our campers, their parents and anyone that has yet to consider a therapeutic recreation opportunity.

You might be surprised that engaging people in comments and conversations isn’t as important here. Our clientele isn’t as ‘into’ the social media scene as those that read my blog, for instance. But, with the launch of our social network, ASCCA Friends, we’ve begun to see interaction that never took place in our blogs. ASCCA Friends is built upon the Ning platform.

Now, we are seeing parents and campers engaging in conversations. Just today, for instance, this comment was left by the mother of a camper:

Even though I don’t get to stay at camp with you guys, it’s my favorite place to visit. The 3 and 1/2 hour drive is totally worth it just to be greeted by all of the smiling faces of the staff and campers. Camp ASCCA must be the happiest place on earth. – Denise Brock, Fort Payne, AL

And then there is this one from today, by parent Terri Shaw:

My child is attending Camp ASCCA for the first time this week , July 14th thru July 18th. I have encouraged the camp because he needs time away from parents to make new friendships and to see other children with disabilities.

Now, I ask you. Can you beat this for engaging with your stakeholders?

You may notice, we do not take the ‘poor pitiful crippled child’ approach that so many nonprofits choose to follow. We have fun. We try to show you the reality of working with these children and adults. Again, we have fun. This is real life, folks.

I dare to say, the overall presentation on the sites is something that has not been done before, regarding people with disabilities. If you can show me some site that has done it, please point me to it. The only other ‘real life’ approach I know of is the BBC’s Ouch! Podcast. And, we were online before them. Realistically, in our environment, we couldn’t get away with their ‘very real’ approach, either.

Hey, if these two videos don’t make you smile … I fear there’s no hope for ya’.

Hope is one excited camper

Find more videos like this on ASCCA Friends

Why We Love Camp ASCCA!

Find more videos like this on ASCCA Friends

I can feel Jen O’Meara’s pain. We likely all can. She has a project she loves and it isn’t going anywhere. Frustration. We’ve all felt it, right?

David Meerman Scott shares A viral marketing story suitable for bedtime. It is a story of disappointment and sadness. But, at least the author, YOBI CIO Jen O’Meara, tries to tell it with a tongue-in-cheek spin.

Jen’s no dummy – you’d think. A Ph.D. under her belt, no less, she’s struggling to get her startup Yobi.tv site off the ground. Yobi.tv claims to be a “unique blend of social networking, reality show contests, and user-generated content (that) will revolutionize the world of online entertainment.” Well, it’s good to have a dream.

I know Jen’s video below reveals that she’s been panned by many. So, a critique of the site may seem like a pile on. Looking at the site and watching the first six bits of random content featured on the front page (it rotates each time you reload the page), it seems to tell (at least part of) the story of Jen’s problems.

First, let’s examine what content greeted me (Warning: Signup required to view):

• Terror of Frankenstein Yobitv Trailer – Hey, it’s the kid’s first effort at video, so cut him a break. Pretty good for a first try.
• Pretty photo “Taken from 5000 feet in a hot air balloon over San Diego.” – Um, can’t I go to flickr for this?
• A photo of a sunflower posted as a video – that won’t play … um, because it is a photo!
• Interesting photo a pretty old house and its front door & windows – Again, hello flickr?
• Interesting photo, but not too remarkable, of the Golden Gate Bridge in fog. – Again, hello flickr?
• A truly ridiculous (read that as lame) video of “My husband was threatening to throw me into the lake. Instead of helping me, my cousin ran up with the camera and took this video. They both bug me.” – This one gives meaningless a bad name.

So, the reality is … Jen’s reality TV ain’t that hot. In fact, it is like 99.999% of that on YouTube and many other video sites. It sucks. It is boring. It is mostly mindless dribble.

There are two blaring, glaring omissions in her site’s setup and philosophy for gaining viewers. I can’t believe she hasn’t spotted them, yet. In fact, it seems she’s so confident in her contests and content … she actually doesn’t want to offer them.

So, what are they? There is no sharing function for embedding the content and sharing it on other sites. Then, and perhaps the goofiest of all, there is a forced registration process. Yep, you can’t see any of the videos unless you sign up! To me, after signing up and looking at the content … well, anyone can see why her site is failing.

You know, Jen, I wouldn’t necessarily blame all the various forms of emerging digital media – or social marketing – for the failure of Yobi.tv to gain traction. Certainly, online marketing doesn’t always work. In Yobi.tv’s case, though, I’d blame a rather un-inviting Web design, a very unattractive logo (what are you, a nuclear reactor?), no clear information upfront about Yobi.tv contests (what Jen declares as her big draw), bland copy and graphics, along with a rather boring overall presentation.

Jen’s YouTube rant about her fate is below. Then, you’ll see her e-book … well, actually just 14 slides in – again – a very bland presentation trying to recite her video in Powerpoint form … yikes! She’s kidding again, of course (I hope). But, now even the joke has grown old and I’ve only known about this for what … 15 minutes?

Jen continually compares her site’s woes to the splendid success of Blendtec’s wildly fun and (here’s a good word for ya’, Jen) relevant content at Will It Blend?

Jen, I’d suggest you (a) take a clue from the Google ad on your site (right) and (b) decide just what it is you’re trying to sell. No, as you suggested in your video, you aren’t giving something away. You’re selling contests, Jen. Face it and work with it.

You’re trying to draw in viewers. But, to what? Sure, you’re giving away up to $10,000 in your contests, but where is the description and snappy copy to lure folks into your contests? Jen, you seem to believe that an offer of money – alone – will do it. Nope, I don’t see it. And, why is your site more relevant (more fun) than the dozens of other video sharing sites? Ooops! Sorry, I forgot. You don’t share! First rule learned in kindergarten (and social media), Jen. Share!

In fact, the best copy on your site is that found in the Google ad for the french fry contest. That’s kinda sad. It is especially sad when you realize what the ad is for, and what it is doing. “Predicto Mobile gives you access to unlimited surveys, votes, and news alerts for $9.99 billed monthly to your mobile phone bill.” Jen, they are charging people $9.99 to participate in mobile phone contests that likely offer a one in a gazillion chance of paying off. I’m willing to bet that Predicto is likely making money, Jen.

Here’s the bottling of the egg on this one. There are dozens of video sharing sites. Most of them are slick and clean in their presentation. They tend to truly feature interesting videos on their front pages. They have easy to understand and follow navigation. And, Jen, here’s the big kicker … on those sites you can actually take the videos/photos and embed them elsewhere. You don’t offer that option, Jen. This was the most glaring omission of all when I first arrived on the site. I can’t believe you actually launched a video sharing site where the only place they can share … is with you! Are you serious?

Jen! Hello? Ya’ can’t go viral if people can’t share your videos and photos. No brainer, Jen. Sorry. You may be your own worst enemy. I’m sorry you’re not having success, but don’t blame it on anyone but your site, your product and your team. You guys are causing your own problems.

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Paull Young, of Young PR and Converseon emailed me the other day with news. He reminded me of the two people at Converseon that found their way to the firm through social media, and PROpenMic, in particular. 

Maria Garcia De la Ossa (right) and Lindsey George (left, and her digital resume) are both working with Converseon today. Maria is a new hire and Lindsey is doing her internship. She’s from Auburn, too.

Maria’s story revolves around her involvement in a student competition that Shel Holtz discusses … actually, raves about – in his blog. It is the National Student Advertising Competition sponsored by AOL.com. Maria is participating as a member on the Emerson College team.

Each of these students joined PROpenMic in its earliest days. They were active in creating contacts with people within the network. That’s how you get where you want to go, folks. And, they did it.

So, here’s the video from both Maria and Lindsey. Thanks, Paull!

Find more videos like this on PROpenMic

Ya’ know, there’s another Auburn alum at Converseon, too. The wonderful Christi Eubanks began working with Converseon last year, actually. ) And, let’s not forget a shout out to the great Constantin Basturea, too! ) Hey, Constantin! Thanks for taking care of the students/alums and helping them grow and learn.

The YouTube video below started me thinking about a lot of things. My head was spinning. So, I’m just thinking out loud here. My mind is still running over possible lesson plans that may help those academics yet to explore emerging digital media an avenue to embrace it.

This video I’m referring to, you’re going to like it, made me think how interesting it would be to adapt this Comparison and Rhetorical Analysis class assignment to the video below.

What might we add to that assignment? Perhaps a discussion about the growth of internet usage, particularly internet video viewing habits, among tweens, teens and college students would fit – or extend the exploration. Is online video their new venue for activism?

Discuss how broad the use of video has spread in just a short time. From February 2005 until today, YouTube has been followed by numerous other video sharing sites and networks.

With all those video sites, and their enormous traffic, McLuhan’s hammer is now a sledge [medium (video) as an extension (the hammer) of ourselves]. Think of it. With the advent of TubeMogul.com, for instance, the reach of these messages extends to so many sites, so easily. I know, we’re just talking about the time it takes to upload videos. But, that time requirement/constraint is a barrier to entry. One upload via TubeMogul now means you’re posting to over a dozen video sharing sites at once.

Looking at this post from June 2006, Video sharing sites – Alexa rankings « Video on the Web, I began wondering where their rankings are now. A cursory look already shows that more are in the top traffic slots. I’ll investigate those sites (and the new ones) and post it later. (And yes, I know we have to look further than the traffic rankings of Alexa.)

Like I said, my mind is spinning and racing. The Comparison and Rhetorical Analysis is one more way to engage in emerging digital media discussions in class. Compare the reach of video online today to the reach of say movies in their earliest years and TV in its Golden Age? That’s another. After all, the numbers are staggering.

And all of this rather random thinking comes about due to this truly powerful video that involves the juxtaposition of images from the 3rd world and developed countries. Me? I imagine that most people are generally oblivious to the devastation taking place all around us. Sure, we know it is happening. We just don’t think about it. Videos like this one need to keep pinging us upside the head as a reminder that all is not well with our world.

Again, just thinking out loud. Gotta get my head around this. Watch the video. What do you think?

By the way, if one kookaid drunk new media (ack!) guru makes any comment about the term medium, I’ll pound you.

She, along with Danika Kmetz of Illinois State University and Zeb Ramey from the University of South Alabama, are already writing (and getting published) for a magazine and preparing stories for local newspapers as well as their online offerings. Below, you’ll find three videos – one from each of them.

It is online video that seems to attract the most attention from potential campers, their parents and volunteers for Easter Seals Camp ASCCA. The interns post these to two different sites Camp ASCCA Journal and ASCCA Friends, ASCCA’s own niche social network. The students then share the videos with the world via TubeMogul. That site allows you to post one video to numerous video sharing sites around the world. Traffic from these videos greatly enhances Camp ASCCA’s visibility. Awareness is being developed each day.

They are also using Utterz to easily post audio podcasts throughout the day. I got an inexpensive $30 prepaid cellphone (with 300 minutes already on it) and gave each intern one to play with creating audio interviews. Hey, we’re experimenting. Here are three examples. What do you think?

Danika Interviews Auburn Alum Ashley Dickerson at High Ropes

Zeb Interviews a Camper at the High Ropes Course

Kelli Interviews a Counselor and Camper at Cargo Net

Now, the videos…

Kelli at the Cargo Net

Find more videos like this on ASCCA Friends

Danika at the Splash Pad Water Park

Find more videos like this on ASCCA Friends

Zeb interviews a student from Lee-Scott’s Philanthropy class visiting ASCCA to consider the camp for donations.

Find more videos like this on ASCCA Friends