PUPPIES GONE VIRAL
Posted: May 16th, 2010 | Author: Sarah Siewert | Filed under: PR and Event Planning | No Comments »Videos that become viral are usually funny, heartwarming, shocking or cute. Nothing is cuter than watching puppies nap, pounce, nip and tumble. So it is no surprise that a litter of six Shiba Inu (sounds like She-buh E-new) puppies have become the viral flavor of the month. These five-week-old balls of fur are live 24/7 thanks to a webcam and the interactive video site UStream. As I type, there are 26,428 viewers watching the pups sleeping in a pile of crossed paws and noses. According to the TODAY show, there have been more than four million views in the last week.
With millions of fans tuning in from around the world, it seems like there should be a push or campaign driving people to the site. But in true viral-fashion, as described in a recent presentation I attended by Leah Jones, this video’s popularity is an outcome not a strategy. A San Francisco couple wanted a way to keep an eye on the litter while away at work. They installed the puppycam with a public live feed and it was quickly discovered by others on the UStream Web site. The precious teddy bear faces, and adorable high-pitched squeaks entice viewers to check-in as an escape from their daily routines. Each new “awwww” led to the sharing of the video link through e-mails, twitter, facebook, blogs and eventually news media.
These puppies are one example that demonstrates the exponential power of information gone viral. In this age of evolving communication, I find it important to understand and embrace how news of the good, bad, ugly and irresistibly cute travels instantly.
Even though these puppies are to die for, some of my other favorite viral videos include the Evolution of Dance and 3-year-old vs. Monsters. What are some of your faves?
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