We've all seen the upload your face campaigns made popular by Trailer Crashers but I haven't seem one that seamlessly integrates your face into the product so well. Check out this online campaign for HP which puts you into their ads.

The best part (well for flash nerds like me) is it'll take any photo of a face, crop, rotate and size the photo to fit the required area. Then add lip syncing, and blinks without the users needing to do anything.

Here's one I did with Rob's baby photo. Which you can see was not exactly cropped and ready to go. The results are quite good. I was able to choose 5 different elements, some of which were further customized, and then create this video.

My only complaint is that if you want users to add the videos to their blog or webpage, don't load the entire video unless the user clicks to view it.

Posted by Ashley Ringrose at 8:25 PM | Link to this Article | Comments
Archived in: Interesting Promotions

After we had this "viral" campaign for the 40 hr Famine submitted to us I got me thinking about all the "Blingvertising" I've seen over the last few years. Ali-G, MR.T and every other rap artist worth their salt is draped in gold chains and diamonds so it’s no wonder advertisers don't use this aesthetic to sell their products.

MC Squared: This is a "viral campaign" for the 40 Hour Famine, although I cannot see any tie in. The customize my rap reaks of aveaword (which is nicely polished and sells the client's product well) and the talent is pretty ordinary. Even the "hoes" are ordinary. A quick google reveals the real MC Squared is a beat boxer. Sorry Sputnik, you guys do great work but this blows? Even the URL is APPTbusiness which just misleads you even more.

We're as guilty as any for dipping into the bling basket to style a project. We had a pimped out Pig for KKash and blatantly used the word for our Bling My Bomb site.

Other successful campaigns are the very funny 5 Cent from Host for Virgin.

There's also DJ Yuri with his In Da Cab site which promoted the film Taxi and Bling my Sid which had little kiddies dressing up Sid from Ice Age 2.

Sadly I realize now that using this aesthetic for kids in Australia Americanizes what’s “cool” to impressionable minds. There is very little in today’s advertising that is uniquely Australian. And what is is seen as backward or uncool.

Note: This is by all means not an exhaustive list but ones I've been sent, involved in or really enjoyed. I'll also claim to be the first to use the word Blingvertising. Please comment with any other bling campaigns I've missed.

Update: here's the link to the Swedish campaign mentioned in the comments.

Posted by Ashley Ringrose at 8:51 PM | Link to this Article | Comments
Archived in: Interesting Promotions

ahem. NSFW perhaps - DWYW (Depending Where You Work).

Flick-book erotica entertained Victorian era Ladies and Gentlemen, and now, via the interweb, Zootube.co.uk has brought us the Interactive bouncy castle.

With lots of different things bouncing. altogether. from different angles. in a bouncy castle. with no clothes on.

Posted by tobie at 12:13 AM | Link to this Article | Comments
Archived in: Viral

Yet another spot on IKEA site.

This one shows 5 different fits for 5 different types on 5 different floors. Great use of video and interaction for product.

Posted by tobie at 1:15 AM | Link to this Article | Comments
Archived in:

...(in 15 years). Just so we all know. you know.


1. eBay.com
2. wikipedia.com
3. napster.com
4. youtube.com
5. blogger.com
6. friendsreunited.com
7. drudgereport.com
8. myspace.com
9. amazon.com
10. slashdot.org
11. salon.com
12. craigslist.org
13. google.com
14. yahoo.com
15. easyjet.com


from - A Brief History of the Future: Origins of the Internet by John Naughton.


I would like to add persiankitty.com to that list (and no, I'm not linking to it).

Posted by tobie at 4:51 AM | Link to this Article | Comments
Archived in: Interesting Articles