When you have a small business and are struggling to get some attention, a creative use of the Internet can be essential. With a properly designed online marketing plan you can start to make some noise to finally get the customers you’re looking for. Of course, you’ll have to make something unique to catch the eye of the fast-browsing masses. You’ll certainly have to develop an interesting content marketing strategy that includes the most powerful tool in the web today: videos.
People love to watch videos, especially if they’re funny, weird or emotional. That’s why brands are always looking to launch the perfect viral video campaign, the one that will let them get millions of views and a great deal of publicity. Naturally, this is easier said than done. You can have the money and the resources but sometimes well-planed videos don’t work. Why? Because they lack the most important thing of all: being innovative.
To prove you that you don’t need the big bucks to come up with a viral video campaign, here are 5 videos from small businesses that made an impact their clever ideas. Watch them to see what can you learn from their examples!
Chuck Testa – Ojai Valley Taxidermy
The Internet sure loves its bizarre videos. And Chuck Testa’s video for his Ojai Valley Taxidermy business surely is weird – and hilarious in its weirdness. Advertising for a taxidermy company really is a challenge but apparently you don’t have to have a big budget to create a viral ad – just some sense of humor and no shame whatsoever. A whooping 15 million views on YouTube and the great reach that came along with them to Testa surely should serve as evidence.
First Kiss – Wren
Want further proof that you don’t need much money to rock the video ad world? Wren’s Fall ‘14 collection ad is what you are looking for. The video cost only $1,300 to produce and it was based in a simple yet powerful premise: people that haven’t meet before kiss for the first time. The video aimed for an emotional touch which racked up more than 98 million views on YouTube.
Casino’s Law 2014 – Jamie Casino
When Jamie’s Casino 2-minute spot aired in the first commercial break of last year’s Super Bowl, the audience of the biggest sports event in America were blown away. The ad portrayed him as some sort of avenger of his brother’s death in a tone that was more likely to be adopted by an action movie or a TV show than by a lawyer. However, this bold move turned the video into a smash hit that capitalized every costly second of its airtime. When you’re putting down the kind of money needed to advertise in the Super Bowl, either you go all in or go home.
Our Blades Are F***ing Great – Dollar Shave Club
Here’s another example of a great idea produced with a really tight budget – a mere $4,500. Its impact was so huge that you probably have seen it a couple of times. But doesn’t make it any more interesting, especially when you take into account that the company was competing with giants like Gillete – company that’s hilariously mocked in the Dollar Shave Club’s ad. The video doesn’t just boast of more than 18 million views – it also serves as the evidence that you have to build on top of your competitors’ flaws.
World’s Best Skateboarding Cat – Robert Dollwet
Finally, a video that doesn’t seem like it’s advertising anything – but totally is. In it, we see cat riding a skateboard and doing some neat tricks. It’s funny and it takes advantage of the Internet’s most beloved animal to get some attention for the cat’s owner, Robert Dollwet, an Australian that trains dogs (and cats, apparently) for a living. The home-made video actually worked and got more than 5 million views and a big exposure for Robert’s business.
As you can see, you only need a good idea and a camera. Naturally, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll have a viral video on your hands but doing so will certainly get you closer.
