Viral Advertising

Viral advertisements is a marketing technique using the internet and mobile networks on websites such as social networking (which is popular now because of the rapid growth in active users, Facebook has over 1 billion) to increase the popularity/viewing or sales figures of your product. There are several ways in which you can do this. examples are;

• Video clips or trailers
• Interactive games
• Images
• Text messaging
• E-mail
• Web pages

This could be important when using marketing strategies for our own short film. Based on our target audience and the increase of internet use, viral advertisements may be a key aspect in the promotion of our short film. 

Example
http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/06/07/super-8-best-viral-marketing-movies/
When researching viral advertising, I discovered this website which presents the best 8 film examples of viral advertising in which I chose to use Toy Story 3.

Toy story 3 example from the website above

This video was created purely to advertise beforehand the upcoming release of Toy Story 3. By doing this, it makes it more unique and is a fun way to promote a film that will grasp audience interest more as oppose to just the younger children.

The video is based around a computer messaging conversation between the main two character which the audience will be familiar with, Buzz lightyear and Woody, making up screen names for them. By doing this it is relating to technology that many people will now use in day to day life.

They add a humourous element to it by presenting small clips from the other of their supposed relatives, joking about what kind of toy they are for example, cowboy, as shown in the print screen. By doing this, it shows the characters playing on aspects in the film in a funny video therefore will attract the audiences because they assume that because this entertained them then so will the film.

With the humour however, the video is made for promotion of the film therefore has to include elements that relate to the film. The print screen conversation hints at the narrative to the film showing the tension between the characters as to who Andy is going to take to college, leaving the audience wanting to find out to end result. It also includes a slight bit of actual film footage relating to the theme.

Also, in 3 quick shots at the end it shows all the information needed to know about release date and where to watch it. By doing this it leaves he audience wanting to watch the film because they've enjoyed the viral advertisement. As  result of it being a major film, this ensures them they will more than likely be able to see it at their local cinema in different formats for example, 3D.