8 Engaging and Innovative YouTube Campaigns for YouTube’s 8th Birthday
Happy Birthday, YouTube! In 2005, the video-sharing site launched its first video, and just eight years later, YouTube boasts over 1 billion monthly users.
Incorporating YouTube into a social strategy is not only recommended for most brands… it’s necessary. Videos, like photos, are more likely to go viral due to ease of consumption. They offer a quick, easy and fun way for consumers to interact with brands and retailers, and Google’s search engine algorithm favors websites that host videos, since they increase the perceived quality of a website.
And, as if it weren’t obvious already, Nielsen and Billboard’s decision to team up with the platform ensures that YouTube is here to stay. In addition, just recently, Google announced that YouTube U.S. video views are to be factored into Billboard “hot” list rankings.
In honor of YouTube’s 8th birthday, here are eight creative, memorable and innovative ways that brands have used the platform to launch campaigns, spread a message and go viral.
1. Red Bull – Stratos Space Jump
Felix Baumgartner’s jump from space became the most watched live stream ever when over 8 million people tuned into YouTube on October 14, 2012. The Red Bull-sponsored, 23-mile freefall was newsworthy and went viral, trending three topics on Twitter. Since then, over 33 million have watched the Red Bull highlight reel.
2. Blendtec – Blend Your Own Adventure
Blendtec used comedian vlogger Corey Vidal in its interactive video campaign. The campaign was engaging and amusing while effectively highlighting the product offering to Vidal’s already active subscriber base.
3. Hot Wheels – Custom Motors Cup Challenge
This interactive advertisement was visually stimulating and simple enough for even the youngest YouTube user — which just so happens to be Hot Wheels’ demographic. The video game-like quality and racing component are enough to bring out the competitive spirit in any user.
4. Volkswagen – Automatic Skip Ad
Volkswagen does things differently. This advertisement is no exception. To promote a new Beetle with DSG Tiptronic transmission that eliminates the need to shift gears, VW introduced this ad which automatically pressed the ‘Skip Ad’ button for users.
5. Red Bull – The Athlete Machine
This ad is can’t-look-away awesome, yet too long to be used for TV. Enter YouTube. The 6-minute video is smart, masterfully shot and completely in-line with the Red Bull brand. Plus, featuring a host of Red Bull-sponsored athletes doesn’t hurt!
6. Tipp-Ex – Hunter and Bear’s 2012 Birthday Party
We touched on this one a few months ago. Tipp-Ex’s YouTube video connected with viewers effectively and in a way that is original, silly, a little bit crass and very interactive. The dozens of scenarios involve a number of gamified features that get users involved. It’s racked up almost 10 million views.
7. Pepsi MAX – Test Drive
The beauty in YouTube advertising? Ease of virality. The video advertisement featuring Jeff Gordon turned out to be a hoax, but that didn’t stop it from going viral in hours. Had the marketers decided to use it as a traditional TV advertisement, it likely wouldn’t have been as effective.
8. IKEA – Catch the Swedish Light
Here’s a unique take on running a YouTube competition. During the generally slow mid-summer season, IKEA Belgium relied on a series of 48 stop motion videos highlighting IKEA products. Each video contained a different verification code that was only available for a specific moment. Fans were immediately engaged, and the video campaign went viral.
