Youtube Marketing

This week I am going to comment on three youtube marketing attempts that I found amusing, intriguing and successful. No, they aren't all commercials and marketing attempts on the beaten path. I am going for more of a set of commercials that meet one thing in marketing above all else I enjoy: reaching out to your audience.

Potter Puppet Pals
This marketing attempt is for a youtube channel for a series of web shorts called "Potter Pupper Pals". The web channel is focused on a puppet show that is a spoof on the very popular book and movie series Harry Potter. What is charming about this video is that it seems rather random, which is just exactly what the web shorts are all about. The comical assumed exchange between the viewer and the puppet where he assumes the viewer is asking him on a date is very effective at getting the viewer's attention. Also the change from the serious and subtle tone at the beginning to the upbeat music at the end keeps the attention of the viewer. Yes the commercial has a very specific audience, but it reaches it's audience well. Another of their commercials is equally amusing, and the controlled repetitive mention of their youtube channel is successful usage of repetition without becoming overly repetitive.

David Blaine Street Magic Episode 3
This was a marketing attempt for an upcoming youtube video installment to a series of spoofs on David Blaine Street Magic. In this commercial it shows clips from previous videos and then a teaser for the next episode. What makes it successful? The first thing that grabs the viewers attention are the screens of nothing but text engaging with the viewer. The clips themselves are also useful for already established viewers while interesting new viewers. The choice of theme music also reaches out to their target audience.

Now I will go mainstream...

Darth Vader Volkswagen Commercial
Maybe it is the Star Wars Geek in me... but I think this commercial reaches out to everyone who is in the age range to buy a vehicle. It engages the viewer without words, and without questions, just the nostalgia of childhood dreams. In this video the kid is trying to use the "Dark Side of the Force" while playing in his Darth Vader costume. Each attempt the kid is let down as he is apparently unable to force grip even a defenseless baby doll... that is until the parent gives the kid a little bit of an esteem boost when he remote starts the car as the kid attempts to use the force on it. Very cute and reaches out to nostalgic childhood and parent moments alike.