As an online pc gamer for over 10 years I am no stranger to voice-communications (VoiP) programs such as Roger Wilco (showing my age), TeamSpeak and, in my opinion, the daddy of them all: Ventrilo. I am also aware of how annoying users can be on these programs, more so nowaday's, since I now realise how annoying a 14 year-old's squeaky voice can be to an old man like me (I'm 27, so I am a dinosaur in most gamer's eyes - lol ).
The beauty of such voice communication's programs is that you can not only use it to talk with other users in a tactical manner, you can also have alot of fun using them. It's been known for users to play music down their microphones so other users can hear it - the equivalent of playing your Hi-Fi down the phone to your friend. However, one particular site has actually gone to the effort of finding random unsecured (not passworded) Ventrilo servers and abusing the users on there with a variety of SoundBoard's, recording the users reactions and then creating videos and releasing them through YouTube and their own website VentriloHarassment.org.
NB: The video's contain an insane amount of expletives and are not censored. Do not visit if easily offended
>> Read more about Ventrilo Harassment gains a huge following
Sensationalism has been apparent in the press for quite some time, and it has slowly crossed over to the internet marketing arena in the form of link baiting, viral marketing and just down right dirty old spam. Quadzilla even brought it up in his post entitled Want more Readers? Go to the Airport.
As an hourly reader of current affairs and sport it has become apparent to me that a trend used heavily by the “gutter press” has crossed over into the established and respected news outlets. That trend is something I like to call Sensational Mood Photographs.
The one trend however that seems to be catching on with bloggers and marketers is combining the sensationalist headlines (linkbait) with the very same emotive photographs. It prompt’s the brain to automatically sense the mood of the story. It’s used heavily in celebrity reporting. I’ll give you a few examples.
>> Read more about Sensational Mood Photographs
Hey guys & gals. Apologies for the lack of post's the past few weeks. Work has been keeping me busy and I've been taking some time out to relax.
Just a quick update to let you know that I have updated I Wanna Show You My a little bit.
Go on, have a laugh ;)
>> Read more about I Wanna Show You My
It's true, and I can't quite believe it! News has come out that bloggers all over the world are committing suicide en mass and there seems to be only one connection - a video which has just been posted on quieroverunfantasma.com. I've just watched it and I feel a bit uneasy. Go have a watch and you will understand why :(
>> Read more about Blogger Suicides
Been a while since I have posted, and there is a very good reason for that! I have been slaving away on a new project in my spare time (what spare time I hear you ask!). Have you ever looked at something and that little immature voice in your head has come up with a totally perverted and puerile description of it ala Carry On "What a cracking set of melons you got on ya!" style? Well, so have I. I'm as immature as they come, yet I somehow maintain just enough professionalism to get by :s
You may be asking yourself what the hell am I dribbling on about?! Well my friends, I will simply reply with: I Wanna Show You My....
>> Read more about I Wanna Show You My latest project
They drive me nuts! They are everywhere. You've seen them on the internet, the papers and even heard them on the radio in music charts. They were introduced to help give the audience a simple breakdown or summary of the best of the best but now they are out of control. There are so many things I dislike about them, so I decided to do the (un)obvious thing and create a Top 5 list.
>> Read more about Top 5 annoying things about Top 10 lists
People love participating! It's a known fact. But what people love to see more is participation where their actions are acted upon or reacted to. This is why this site has caught my eye. Imagine right.... You and your friend share a flat with a rude, unclean, obnoxious 3rd flatmate and you want to get your own back on him for being what he is - a slob! Well the guys are pranvote.com seem to have combined getting their revenge with audience participation. It's like Big Brother meets Jackass!
They basically put up a prank location every week and you submit the ideas for the prank. Then the pranks are put to vote by you, yes you, the public and then carried out on the 3rd roommate Ernie the following week, recorded and put on the prankvote.com!
Now then, this is viral right, as it seems to have been staged? Well, if it's viral then there is not alot of marketing benefit behind the site at all.
>> Read more about Has prankvote missed the mark
Recently a video has hit the mainstream news after becoming the most viewed video of the week on You Tube.
The video portray's a 'Modern Day Robin Hood' giving away cash in New York.
A lot of my friends have been ranting and raving about it saying it's quite possibly the best Viral Marketing out there today. But my question is this: Is It Beyond Viral?
>> Read more about Taking Viral to the next level
