Dear Webpreneurs,
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Thanks to Chris at rawstylus for the heads up!
Category: youtube
Perspective – internet boom 2.0 ?
There’s been a lot of talk lately about an ensuing second internet boom. With the billion dollar sales of many web 2.0 companies it’s easy to see why:
$15.1 billion
$2.6 billion
$100 million
$6 billion
$3.1 billion
$1.7 billion
$60 million
Among others…
To give a little perspective the Nasdaq composite index peaked in the year 2000 at 5132 points. Yesterday it closed at 2320, just under 8 years later.
If you invested $10,000 at the peak, today it would be worth $4521. Still a very bearish 55% capital loss.
Sure we’d have to question some of the valuations, but the market hasn’t started to value ‘ideas’ at over a billion – yet.
Start up lesson – your company is worth what someone is prepared to pay for it.
What start-ups can learn from terrorsits
Extending on one of my favourite strategy topics – terrorism, click on the little Al Qaeda dude below to read my latest Australian Anthill rant!
Enjoy!
Top 10 viral marketing campaigns ever
The factors we’ve considered:
There needs to be an actual business or brand behind it
Not just something funny
The idea or product was primarily spread by others.
Not ‘driven’ by paid media.
Based on effectiveness only, (ignores insensitivities / political / religious views)
A little explanation is next to each
In order.
- The story of Jesus Christ (before digital technology or even the printing press, this ‘story’ crossed borders and oceans)
- 911 ‘Al Queda’ launch (3 weeks free media coverage on every media channel in every country)
- Polaroid Instamatic Cameras (product usage = product demonstration)
- Hotmail (the first viral product of the internet age)
- In Rainbows album by Radiohead. (true brand handover to passionate users, fan chooses price – even free, resulting in massive free media & blogosphere coverage, then goes to number 1 on US charts on physical album release)
- Google (usability & effectiveness which led to absolute domination)
- Youtube (was the ultimate user experience and so won the game. There were 240 other video sharing sites when it launched!)
- OK Go – Ok Here it goes film clip. (first to leverage youtube commercially. 27 million views and counting. No 2 on the charts to boot)
- Blair Witch Project (set a new paradigm for movie promotion & brand hijacking)
- Mini Cooper S Campaign (first ‘real’ personalized campaign message)
Add to, agree, disagree, complain and disdain in comments below!
Passion – in action
How many people do you know who are prepared to die “literally” – in order to achieve their goals? Robbie Maddison is, would and just might.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOtpKQ-dAlg]
He was actually quoted as saying the following:
“There is no doubt in my mind if this next jump doesn’t work out it will be death.”
I’m not suggesting this level of sacrifice is required in your business, but extreme sportspeople do provide the best example of passion in action.
Also – kudos to Redbull for having the courage to sponsor an event in which the free PR could really have went either way.
Quirky Fact 7.0
In Australia 20 billion text (SMS) messages will be sent this year. In a population of 20 million people that’s 1000 texts each a year, or 3 per day. Amongst this of course are some text addicts.
The question is how can we use a text (SMS) message to improve a service?
My dentist sends me one the day before my appointment confirming the time in the message. It costs them very little, but it helps me a great deal. I’m happy to receive it given the appointment is booked so long in advance. But it’s not the same to receive an annoying unsolicited promotional message, just because someone has your mobile number.
Start up blog says: Use a text service if;
It improves your service to your audience.
They know about it and are happy to receive it.
Could it spread – Conclusion
You may remember the ‘rentoid rapper’ had some fun auctioning his breakdance mat on ebay. Did it spread?
It spread enough to get a bone fide $187.50 for a piece of cardboard with a bit of texta on it. Just through providing a bit of theatre – fun & money was invented.
The best result was the Q & A’s on the listing which all translate into the personality of rentoid.com You can check it all out by clicking here.
Start ups out there….Do something crazy!