RKPR Inc. » YouTube

Volkswagen’s Fun Theory

emily — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:48:47 +0000

Recently, I stumbled across a video (thanks to Facebook) that tested “the fun theory.” The video shows the everyday use of an escalator compared to the use of a stagnate staircase located right next to the escalator. It’s very apparent that more people chose to use the escalator in their daily paths. However, the idea was to test the theory that if an ordinary staircase was turned into something more fun people just might choose to take the stairs over the escalator.

Overnight, workers gathered materials and morphed the normal staircase into a piano staircase that, not only looked like a piano, but actually played music. The result was 66% more people than normal chose the fun piano stairs over the escalator.

The video is from a contest that Volkswagen is currently running to test the theory “that fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better.” In this case by using the staircase, 66% more people than normal are getting added exercise.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JJu4l8h_nU

This contest is the perfect example of a PR stunt. Volkswagen is getting their name out to the public solely through viral buzz. The contest deadline is November 15 and contestants must come up with their own ideas that will change people’s behavior for the better whether that’s through themselves, the environment or some other entity…all in the name of promoting Volkswagen. Now that is great PR!

Texting while driving PSA…too harsh?

emily — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:13:33 +0000

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across this CNN newscast regarding a British PSA about texting while driving. I watched this video and then sent it out to all of my friends and family knowing how hard it would hit all of them.

This PSA is graphic to say the least and frighteningly realistic. The big question is, did they go too far with this video and is this a message that we should send out to, not only teen drivers, but all drivers?

Did you know that if you put a 20-year-old in the car with a cell phone their reaction time is the same as a 70-year-olds reaction time?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0ukd7xTQ9g

I Get Paid to do This?

kristen — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:39:03 +0000

My husband always says there’s a reason why so many people want to be in public relations and marketing: because it’s fun. And that’s true if you wind up working on clients that you enjoy. Just today I got to research restaurants and summer activities at ski resorts – the former for planning a media visit and the latter for pitching a writer. I listen to music and surf YouTube so I can enrich blog posts and understand what I’m writing about in event releases. This week I’m even heading to Reno eNVy to film their t-shirt making process for a client so we can post it to the blog. How cool is that?

Don’t get me wrong there are days when it’s really tough. We can put in long hours nitpicking every last detail of a 25-person, 5-day tour of Reno-Tahoe. We wake up at the crack of dawn to drive artists to a TV station for interviews. We get back press releases that we’ve slaved over with so many edits a re-write is often the only option. And yes, the media do ignore us sometimes. But if you weigh all of these things against all of the fun things we also get to do, they’re really not that bad. Secretly, I even like those early morning TV interviews!

Becoming a YouTube Star

ronele — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:22:18 +0000

We all receive them. You know, those chain emails with jokes, something attached or a video to download. Most I don’t open because of personal e-mail overload. But every once in awhile there’s one that stands out. Jeff Dunham, a ventriloquist, has reinvented himself to a new audience through a viral campaign with, what I’m guessing, were unexpected results.

Dunham’s “Achmed the Dead Terrorist” has been viewed by more than 72 million ranking it among the top five YouTube videos and making it a great social networking (and public relations) success story.

Here are some other stats. One of the largest DVD comedy special videos ever sold, “Spark of Insanity.” In fact, sales did so well that Jeff and his star “Achmed the Dead Terrorist” made an exclusive video for Amazon.com thanking viewers for purchasing the DVD. And last month I attended his show in Reno to a sold out crowd of 7,200+. In talking with the attendees most hadn’t heard of Dunham until seeing him on YouTube, where like me, they wanted nothing more to see him and his puppets in person. He even eluded this fact to the crowd thanking them for the views and support on YouTube.

From a communications standpoint, this is one comedian that understands the influence of his YouTube stature and more importantly how to continue to use it to market and attract new audiences through viral communications. If you haven’t see any of his bits, just go to YouTube and type “Jeff Dunham” and get ready to laugh. You know he is.