Three Minds On Digital Marketing @ Organic

Flip Video has recently become synonymous with social video. The ease and cost of flip cameras have enabled bloggers to become vloggers, companies to turn events into social content without blowing their budget, and community managers to more easily create engaging conversations between members and brands. People have even done side by side tests with HD cameras versus flip cameras on YouTube to see which is better at storytelling through video.

To bring it full circle and just for some popcorn Friday fun, here is a viral video from Circuit City promoting the social nature of a flip camera on YouTube. I got the chance to chat with Bill Rattner, from Circuit City, about the motivations behind the video:

"Circuit City would never run something like this on a broadcast medium but for YouTube, it's perfect! We don't want to be just another clueless company that posts their commercial on YouTube. Somewhere between Ridley Scott and the Star Wars Kid lies the great opportunity for storytellers. It's kind of the philosophy that ad agencies used to have back in the day. You know, entertain and inform. Those two seem to have gotten separated somewhere along the way."

With the accessibility of simple camera equipment, intuitive editing software, and a hugely popular broadcast medium, the power for entertainment lies in the hands of the consumer. The smart brands know that they need to play in that space or get out of the game.

Thanks to Adam Turinas for submitting the video.

Marta Strickland