Social Media

Woot.com, always a reliable outfit for clever videos, announces their acquisition by Amazon.com with a video of their signature plush monkey rapping.

Tech investor Fred Wilson breaks down and explains how to create a successful web application. The top ten:
1. Speed
2. Instant Utility
3. Software is Media
4. Less is More
5. Make it Programmable
6. Make it Personal
7. RESTful
8. Discoverability
9. Clean
10. Playful

Much better though to hear him tell it:

Get the full transcript here

Alec Brownstein bought Google AdWord ads targeting top NYC creative directors with whom he sought a job interview, essentially purchasing their names so when they search themselves on google, his ad would be at the top of the page. Total cost: $6. He made a video of his results:

Brilliance.

See more about it here.

In the “be careful what you ask for” department, the Portland Mercury ran a poll asking readers what they’d like to see on the cover. What they got: Betty White as a burning chainsaw wielding Princess Leia, riding man-horse John Ritter. Obviously.

Of course, we’re talking about the Portland Mercury … so maybe their readers on on to something.

Link: http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/IssueArchives?issue=2443959

According to Google Zeitgeist, the top entertainment searches for 2009 were:

TV SHOWS

1. Glee
2. Bones
3. Fringe
4. NCIS
5. Castle
6. House
7. Wipeout
8. Medium
9. Leverage
10. Kings

This weekend, ABC will launch ABC Social: Episode Commentary… which allows viewers to comment on the show while they watch with a Facebook login.

For shows like Lost, Desperate Housewives and The Bachelor, passionate fans suddenly have a reason to revisit their favorite shows. CNN did this with great success for the Michael Jackson funeral, but now ABC ups the stakes. And even more brilliant, ABC will bring in celebrity commenters to begin the conversation … watch for it this weekend when V executive producers Scott Peters and Steve Pearlman give added value to their much hyped new series.  What Lost fan wouldn’t logon if one of the show’s producers promised to reveal secrets behind an episode?!?!

Part of the brilliance of this is that it mimics a live viewing experience with other fans, without having to watch at the same time.  Kudos to ABC.

Now here’s another idea, free of charge: allow viewers to create an original audio commentary track.  It would take courage, because most of the tracks would be of the “Mystery Science Theater” variety or be NSFW, but for shows with a rabid following like Lost, Flash Forward or even Grey’s Anatomy, it would allow fans to create their own subshows for their fandom communities … encouraging repeat views of the same material.  Suddenly, ABC is getting more ad revenue on the same content!

John Palacio is the director and producer of And Now Media, a production company that specializes in online video and animation.

See a Mediaweek article on the announcement here

Rhett and Link are a talented traveling video duo who stopped in Alabama and convinced a Mobile Home dealer to shoot this attention getting ad. A great example of how to get attention for a local business:

Here’s a behind the scenes video:

When it’s all lumped together … with rhythmic music … the current stats regarding social media are mind numbing!