Welcome to the Weekly Video Round-Up!

Every week we take a look at how companies are using video to communicate with customers, employees and investors.

Remember to Breathe

As part of the Remember to Breathe campaign, Travel Alberta unveiled a video highlighting shots from every corner of the province. The video focuses less on specific attractions and more on experience and emotion, inviting viewers right into the scene to experience every moment. This approach was well thought out from a marketing perspective, targeting a traveler that is more active, that values going out and seeing all that a destination has to offer.

Since the launch, the campaign has gained international recognition. Earlier this month, the video was awarded the Diamond Award as the best entry in the annual Golden City Gate international film and media competition at the International Tourism Fair (ITB) in Berlin. Travel Alberta’s entry also won a gold award in the “regions” category, beating out entries from Spain, Mexico, France, Finland, Switzerland and Germany. This award only solidifies the brand’s place as a major player in the travel industry and helps enhance Alberta as a sought after destination on an international level.

Guinness – Round Up Your Mates

This spot produced by Guinness, is a hilarious piece of content that is getting serious traction, with over a million views in the week leading up to St. Patrick’s day. The video shows a sheep dog rounding up a group of guys with all the normal obstacles they would face on a night out.

Method Clean Happy

This video was produced to promote cleaning brand Method and is well on it’s way to viral success. It provides the perfect balance between product placement and great production values to ensure millions of people end up seeing it.

Dollar Shave Club

This is a really clever video for DollarShaveClub.com. Never heard of them before? Neither had we, but after this video it’s unlikely we’ll forget the name.

Welcome to the Weekly Video Round-Up!

Every week we provide a look at how companies are using video to communicate more effectively with customers, employees and investors.

VIDEO PROFILE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Content Marketing

Research has shown that prior to making a purchase, many consumers go online for information on products before even stepping foot in a store. It’s not longer necessary to physically go from store to store, comparing stock and prices, it’s all available at our finger tips. To differentiate themselves from their competition, many companies are taking advantage of Content Marketing, a strategy that focuses on delivering relevant and useful information to customers as opposed to competing on price or even quality.

Sport Chek created a series of online tips on various sports and activities with the intent to educate consumers and enable them to evaluate their equipment options as they would in the store. Each video has a host detailing how the sport is played and gives suggestions on what equipment is needed based on technique and style. The Chek Advice series can be found on their website as well as their YouTube channel, giving consumers all the information they need to make the right purchase, without having to leave the house. Not only do these videos provide additional advertising for their products, but it also establishes the chain as experts in their industry and a valuable source of information for their customers.

SUCCESSFUL VIDEOS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

World of Warcraft

This ad appropriately targets the gaming community with one of the biggest internet icons out there; Chuck Norris. Chalk full of ‘Norrisisms’ it’s an instant hit with just over 7 million views in two weeks.

Fiat 500 Abarth

Fiat didn’t stray far from traditional advertising techniques with this one. Add a beautiful woman and suggestive imagery and you instantly get everyone’s attention, but it’s the unexpected ending that makes it memorable.

Old Spice Motorcycle

Another Old Spice commercial! We feel the brand’s description sums it up best: ‘Turning embarrassingly normal guys into face model champions who smell like adventure and fine cutlery’.

Welcome to the Weekly Video Round-Up!

Every week we provide a look at how companies are using video to communicate more effectively with customers, employees and investors.

VIDEO PROFILE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Training Videos

The GoForth Institute is one of Canada’s leading online education programs for entrepreneurs. Fueled by the entrepreneurial spirit, it is no surprise that GoForth took such an innovative approach to their instruction, by providing each lesson online, complete with instructor videos accompanied by PowerPoint slides. Each module is available to purchase online individually and students can access each lesson and review at their own pace, and on their own time. This is just one example of how video can be used for training purposes, and the concept can be used in all areas of business. Video can be used for site tours, employee orientations, corporate procedures and safety initiatives just to name a few. Regardless of how it’s used, training videos provide the perfect visual representation, showing your employees how it’s done, instead of describing it in a manual.

To view a GoForth training module, click here.

SUCCESSFUL VIDEOS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Contrex Mineral Water

In this ad, Nestle lined up a row of stationary bikes open to the public to try out. What curious passers-by soon find out is that the bikes are actually hooked up to a 3D display of a male stripper, and the more they peddle, the more he takes off. Not a bad way to motivate at the gym!

Kia Hampsters

Kia has certainly found a viral hit in their hampster ad series. Each video has the furry creatures cruising in their Kia Soul rocking out to some awesome beats. While it’s always fun to see their latest choreographed dance, the ads are becoming less and less about the car, and therefore, the brand. Pretty soon they’ll be known for their hampsters instead of their vehicles.

Volkswagon – The Force

This ad was first revealed way back during the Superbowl, but it’s still going strong almost a year later. Although it doesn’t do much to promote the vehicle, only making an appearance in the last few seconds, it’s still a very entertaining spot.

Welcome to the Weekly Video Round-Up!

Every week we provide a look at how companies are using video to communicate more effectively with customers, employees and investors.

VIDEO PROFILE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Marketing Videos

Alberta Oil magazine recently produced a video of the Syncrude’s Research Nerve center, reviewing how the facility has been used for Oilsands development and research. This video was then posted on YouTube and the Alberta Oil Magazine website. Additionally, a QR code on the cover of Alberta Oil links directly to the article and video online. This is a great way to integrate video into traditional marketing campaigns. Video can complement and enhance any written piece or article, by providing a visual experience to the story you’re telling. Or in some cases, eliminate the need for written material entirely. Why tell your audience, when you can show?

SUCCESSFUL VIDEOS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Carlsburg Beer

This video shows innocent and un-suspecting couples looking for a nice night at the movies, only to be met with a theatre full of tough-looking dudes. Cleverly placed cameras capture every horrified reaction. The reward for those who dare take a seat anyways? A beer, of course!

CTV Morning Live Outtakes

We’ve all seen those newsroom outtakes that were never meant to be aired, but ended up becoming viral hits once they hit the internet. Calgary’s own CTV Morning Crew had plenty of funny moments when shooting their latest promos, but decided to have a good sense of humour about it and post them on their YouTube page for everyone to enjoy.

Toyota Venza Social Network

A hilarious spot produced by Toyota, pointing out the obvious anti-social behaviour of today’s generation, and how life doesn’t seem to exist outside of our online social networks. Toyota made the clear argument that online profiles don’t count as living, go out and buy a car and that’s when the real fun begins.

Welcome to the Weekly Video Round-Up!

Every week we provide a look at how companies are using video to communicate more effectively with customers, employees and investors.

Virtual Tours

This virtual tour was produced for the community of Walden by Genstar, to show prospective buyers what the area would look like once fully developed. This video provided the perfect visual for owners and soon-to-be owners, giving a glimpse of the houses themselves, as well as surrounding amenities and details about the community. A virtual tour is very effective from a sales standpoint, as it gives your customers a first hand experience with your product or service.

SUCCESSFUL VIDEOS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Dove Evolution

This video provided an unique look into the inner workings of a fashion shoot, exposing all the make-up and editing tricks used to make models look better than normal. Very effective piece, bringing attention to Dove’s campaign for real beauty, as well as elevating the brand as a socially conscious company.

T Mobile Dance

T Mobile created this viral ad to demonstrate their message ‘Life is for Sharing.’ By capturing people’s reaction to the spontaneous dance, as well as their immediate need to call their friends to share the experience, the phone company was able to get their point across quite well.

DC Shoes Gymkhana

It’s apparent DC Shoes understands it’s target market with this video. Packed full of unbelievable stunts, this video is shot perfectly to give any adrenaline junkie’s heart pumping.