JibJab Founder Offers Advice to Viral Marketers

MarketingVOX interviewed JibJab Founder Gregg Spiridellis about the success of the company's "This Land" viral and queried Spiridellis about transparency, importance of email lists and working for marketers.

Britain Gets 42 Below Vodka Treatment

New Zealand's 42 Below Vodka goes for cultural humor again in a new video clip that pokes fun at Britain with lines like "We particularly like the way Prince Phillip says whatever he wants and doesn't give a toss, he's like the grandfather us Kiwis never had because all ours were shot at Gallipoli". While we'd have to brush up on our international history to firmly grasp the full, inner meaning of that, we're sure it's supposed to be funny. As always, 42 Below likes to push the envelope> Remember, it was 42Below that poked fun at gays a while back.

Brain Freeze: 7-11 Slurpee Promotion Or Brand Fan Project?

Adrants reader Brandon Leigh sent us this site, created May 16 by Tim Schwartz according to Whois, which contains a video of people getting "brain freezes" from drinking 7-11 Slurpees. Leigh called 7-11 and claims the company wouldn't confirm or deny they were involved with the site. We've contacted Tim to see whether this is just a pet project or whether 7-11 is behind it. We'll let you know as soon as we do.

UPDATE: Site creator Tim Schwartz responded to our query with a very insightful, "I cannot confirm or deny that 7-11 was involved." Which, as we all know, means 7-11 is not (see below) involved.

UPDATE II: It seems we've forgotten to realize there's that Contagious Media viral contest going on right now and as Adland, correctly, points out, this, and, likely, many other virals swirling about right now were created simply to win the $2,000 prize. In hindsight, we agree with Adland, who always brings a sense of calm logic to our, sometimes, over eager gullibility.

Paris Hilton Promotes Jeff Bridges Hunger Organization

Famous-for-nothing heiress Paris Hilton has been put to use again, this time, for a worthy cause, EndHunger, the Jeff Bridges, Hollywood celebrity cause whose mission is "to create and support media projects, programs and events to raise awareness and generate action to end childhood hunger." Because of the statement, "This site has been neither viewed nor approved by any parties mentioned or implicated herein," we assume this is an ad hoc, un-official viral effort created, simply, as a good will effort to raise awareness of the issue...or, to win the Contagious Media competition. We wonder, though, how excited Jeff Bridges would be knowing images of panty-challenged Paris were being used to promote his cause. See the promotion here.

Burger King Hires Darth Vader For Viral

We've been viraled! Received directly from the source, comes this Crispin Porter + Bogusky-created viral, called Sith Sense, for Burger King which invites visitors to pick an object then pose 20 questions to Darth Vader who will then guess what you are holding. It's always right, too. We were even welcomed personally with Darth uttering "Adrants." Quite cool. Thanks, CP + B.

UPDATE: In comments, Rick Bruner points out we're not so special. It speaks everyone's name that is entered into the send a friend feature. Oh well. For a moment there we thought we were special.

'Store Wars' Video Supports Organic Food

Capitalizing on the release of Star Wars III, The Organic Trade Association, with help from Free Range Studios, has produced a video, set in a grocery store and following the plot lines from Star Wars, that compels viewers to become more aware of the many chemicals and genetic enhancements added to supposedly fresh food.

In the video, Obi won Canoli tells young Cuc how, for thousands of years, organic food live in harmony with the way of the farm until an army of pesticide ruthlessly conquered the market. It goes on quite engagingly to telling the story of how food has changed and why people should do something about it. The video can be viewed here.

may the farm be with you

Audi Promotes A4 With Unknown Element

To support the launch of it's overpriced Volkswagen Jetta...uh...we mean Audi A4, the car manufacturer has dumped 40 percent of its online marketing budget into a viral clip that involves the rare, fictitious element, VdT, and how it is the secret element inside every Audi. We're always reassured when we have no idea how are cars are made. Unfortunately, the virus hasn't made it to Adrants headquarters.

Buzz Marketing Myths Cloud Practice

Writing in MarketingProfs, Author Emanuel Rosen offers insightful, experiential buzz marketing tips and five common misconceptions. Rosnen debunks the myths that buzz automatically spreads, that good products create their own buzz, that additional marketing is not needed, that evangelists are the only key to proliferation of buzz and that buzz only works online.

Buzz marketing. Viral marketing, Word of mouth. Call it what you will, it's not the panacea of marketing. It's one element and it's not new. It's just wearing fancy, new clothes.

Cars Really Do Make The man

Proving once more that the kind of car a man drives can exert great influence over the women with whom he is able to fraternize, this Mazda viral, seeded by London's DMC and created by Quiet Storm, shows Mazda wielding great power over Aston Martin and Porsche. Well, until you realize what the woman was actually looking for.

The film clip was written and directed by Cat and Jo at Quiet Storm - which just signed Lee and Dan, the controversial creative duo of VW Suicide Bomber fame. The clip's music was created through Quiet Storm in conjunction with music producer Pete Diggens, using lyrics written by the directors Cat and Jo.

Virtual Command-A-Hottie Sites Jump Shark

Spreading like eBay ads for human advertising, the type-to-a-hottie, Subservient Chicken imitators continue to proliferate. Tian points us to San Diego radio station Rock 105.3, which has created Virtual Stripper. Just like Subservient Chicken and Virtual Bartender, you can enter commands and watch the stripper do her thing. That said, it's really time to move on to the next gimmick.