Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with viral

Help me make a compilation of songs made popular via Youtube.

theButterFly — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:51:00 -0800

I am looking to make a compilation of music that consists of songs that owe their popularity to Youtube. What songs does the hive mind recommend? i want to put together a compilation of musical tracks that owe their popularity to youtube. They could be things of a viral nature like "Chocolate Rain" or songs that gained a following due to youtube like "Here is Goes Again" by OKGO. What songs would you suggest?

Name that book: Some guy wrote a book about something and then basically made himself a cause to promote the book

IzzeYum — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:56:36 -0800

Name that book: Some guy wrote a book about something and then basically made himself a cause to promote the book, including possibly having people take photos with the book. Any thoughts? Yes that is all I know. I was having a conversation with someone and that was pretty much all they told me. Basically the guy virally marketed the book by selling himself and creating a community around the book that specifically had something to do with photos of people with the book.

Any thoughts?

Antiviral software for PC's?

tangyraspberry — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:31:43 -0800

Can someone suggest a robust, antiviral program for a pc's? Preferably free. Both my wife's and my pc has slowed up and we suspect a virus. Help!

Referral tracking / Refer a friend for contest entry

letitrain — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:55:58 -0800

Refer a friend / referral tracking system? I'm running a contest and would like to try a referral system where an entrant can refer five friends and receive extra chances to win. Is there anything simple and web-based out there that can accomplish this?

Marmite? Gitarope?

Grrlscout — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:43:34 -0800

PossiblyBeenGoneTooLongFilter: What's up with all the videos of Americans trying Marmite on YouTube? Seriously, there are pages and pages of them. Before I moved over to the UK, Marmite was like Yorkie bars - something you had to buy online or from a local British food specialty shop. One local supermarket chain tried stocking it, but it quickly gathered dust and went on the Get It Out Of Here cheapie cart.

Is this a viral campaign of some sort? Where's the interest coming from? Is it suddenly easier to buy?

Best of the Web of Sound

Potomac Avenue — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:32:27 -0800

What are some amazing virally-disseminated music songs from the internet from 2008? I'm putting together a list of the best/weirdest/catchiest internet-disseminated and -popularized songs from this year. They don't necessarily have to have been recorded this year (so Sonseed is definitely on the list), nor do they have to have an amusing video or animation associated with them, though that certainly is a major bonus. I'm JIMP in anticipation of your fantastic answers!

Is this viral? I received a strange book...

fcummins — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:46:32 -0800

Is this viral? I got a strange book unexpectedly in the mail. I got a book in the mail yesterday. It came from Sweden, with sufficient postage. It was in a white envelope, with my name and work address written by hand in pen. On the envelope, there was also a note that said "Will tell you more when I return!" Inside was a white volume, hardback, called "Being or Nothingness", with the well known picture by Escher on the cover of two hands recursively drawing each other. The author is given as "Joe K". There is also a sticker that says "Warning! Please study the letter to Professor Hofstadter before you read the book. Good Luck!".

Inside the front cover is, indeed, a neatly typed letter to Doug Hofstadter, with the right Bloomington address etc. It is dated Nov 9, 2006. It relates to what is presumably a prior acquaintance between the letter writer and Hofstadter. The letter is signed "The Writer". I'd reproduce the whole letter, as this is getting interesting at this stage, but then I'd have to do the same for the whole book, because it is an interesting little text, quite incoherent in an artistic way, that mingles themes from Hofstadter's Strange Loop, Douglas Adams, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The text is vaguely related to some christian themes, but also to recursion and the meaning of life.

Now, I have no idea who sent this, nor can I imagine anyone I know in Sweden doing so (although this is the second time I have received mysterious mail from Sweden. The first time did turn out to be personal).

So I search on the internet and find only one clear reference to this book: http://ironwolf.dangerousgames.com/blog/archives/609

Clearly, he received something very similar, with the same message written by hand on the envelope.

If this is viral marketing, WTF? it is certainly elaborate, hugely planned, and quite expensive. Pic here.

Disclaimer: I actually know Doug Hofstadter slightly from my student days. I have expressed admiration for his writing occasionally on the internet, but not published anything big that mentioned him or anything.

What do you think?

Looking for Tools to Develop YouTube-style application

jurczyk — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:34:33 -0800

What application/platform should I use to create a YouTube type portal (focusing on user-generated content) that allows site users to search for content (videos as well as other file types) and upload their own content? The service would provide users with a topical catalog of materials, including YouTube videos as well as FLVs, SWFs, PPTs, docs, and other file types. Users would also be able to upload their own files.

Brainstorm ideas for viral marketing video

adriana — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:48:11 -0800

I need help to come up with an idea (or a few) for a viral marketing video for my online backyard store. I have a 2 months old online store selling backyard items (furniture, play sets, garden decor, etc.), and I need to bring more traffic to the site. With the popularity of videos, I think this may be a good way to bring traffic to my site, and get other people to link to it.

But I don't know what will make people go crazy over, and spread the news about my site. I'd love to hear some ideas form others. My only thought was to create a video of sad looking backyards, with broken furniture, overgrown trees, etc, and at the end show a great backyard and add my site's URL.

I am not sure that's the best, so I am looking for any and all suggestions. What do yout think will be a great video to bring a backyard loving crowd to my site?

Best/Worst Viral Ad Campaigns

Prevailing Southwest — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:49:36 -0800

I'm researching viral marketing campaigns, and I'm looking for some of the best and worst examples out there. I'm not having any trouble finding examples, and yes, I agree that the term and the medium are both getting a little played out. (There are spoofs of ads and even spoofs of spoofs at this point elbowing each other for some room in the "viral" landscape.)

To clarify, I'm NOT looking for a list of YouTube videos that "went viral" (Diet Coke & Mentos, water skiing squirrel, monkey smelling finger), and I'm NOT looking for funny TV commercials that happened to get passed around the web (Bud Light ads).

I'm looking for the best and worst examples of non-traditional, internet based marketing campaigns - advertising beyond the 30 second spot. Some of the best/biggest examples I have are:

Dove Evolution
Subservient Chicken
BMW's "The Hire" short film series

I'd also really appreciate help identifying some of the worst viral campaigns ever to crash and burn their way across your screens, as the failures tend to fade away pretty fast.

How to effectively organize a Flash Mob?

jkl345 — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 16:43:46 -0800

Some friends and I are organizing a flash mob (specifically a bubble-blowing flash mob). We've done some research online and seen a bunch of clips from around the world but were wondering if anyone out there in MetaFilter land could offer some advice for organizing an event like this -- a flash mob, viral marketing/'street team' campaign or anything you think that may help out! Specifically:
- Advice for promoting / recruiting people? (We're targeting younger, artsy, college folks mainly through myspace, facebook, email campaigns and friends of friends) - Advice for locations? (We're aiming at doing it at a local open-air mall/market, which we kinda see they'll probably kick us out for trespassing after the fact, but it'll have happened by then)
- Advice for keeping the cops from shutting us down / arresting us? (IANAL, any out there? Any legal advice? It's a crazy post-911 world and I'd prefer not to get arrested or tasered for blowing bubbles)
- Any advice on how to signal / synchronize everyone on the day/time of the event?
- Anything we may not be thinking of? (This is our first time, so any and all advice is welcome!)

it's such a cute wittle viwus

bingo — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 17:39:51 -0800

What are some examples of small or mid-sized brands that succeeded in significantly increasing awareness of their brand through viral advertising?

What is this creepy site advertising? - Round Two

danman_d — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 00:44:16 -0800

What is nomoreparents-dot-com? Probably something viralesque, like the last time a site like this showed up on Ask MeFi? I know this will seem suspicious since I've never posted a question, but I found this site through Asher Sarlin's new blog, No More Parents (unrelated). I have nothing to do with the site, but suspect this may be viral advertising. The optimist in me hopes it may be an ARG rabbit hole, or something?

Notes:
The domain is registered through DomainsByProxy

A full listing of the random(?) images that flash on the main page can be found in the /flares directory.

The source reveals strange text about solar flares, and links to sites about killing children/infanticide?

Why steroids for a viral inner-ear infection?

blue_wardrobe — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:24:03 -0800

My doc thinks I may have a viral inner ear infection. He has prescribed prednisone. How does this help? I had a cholesteatoma removed in Feb 2006 in a wall-up procedure. Subsequently I underwent surgery in Oct 2006 to take a second look and reconstruct the ossicular chain, with considerable success.

Now suddenly, in the same ear, I am losing hearing that seems to be inner-ear related. No vertigo or anything.

After explaining three or four possibilities, the doc suspects a viral inner ear infection, since I have also had a bad viral upper respiratory infection.

He's prescribed prednisone. What will that be trying to do in these circumstances?

While there are lots of mentions of prednisone in these circumstances, there doesn't seem to be much clarity for the lay-person as to what it's actually doing.

It's not anti-viral (or is it)? If it's suppressing immune response, why do that if I might have a viral infection?

I'm just curious, and will be following up with him in a week, but would love more elucidation.

How can I cause the largest anti-war rally in the Southeast? In 10 days...

gbinal — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 23:49:00 -0800

Literally. We have started a rally/day-long protest/24 hours of fun to take place at my college in Clinton, SC (population 10k). The idea is to make it viral. Not just invite everyone we know, but really work everyone to invite everyone they know. Right now, there are 100+ confirmed coming via an effort on Facebook. And I'm about to Digg the blog for the event. I have a number of friends with blogs and will be asking them to consider giving a shout out. On the 12th, we'll have some wifi-enabled laptops out for people to IM/email/call/text their friends back at home or at college telling them to get in the car and come.

But what all can I do to make this go viral and turn into something truly huge and amazing. (p.s. if you are within a state or two and want to be a part of something gigantic... :)

Thanks for all that you are as a part of MetaFilter. It really is amazing being a part of you all. Peace,

Can vaccination increase virulence?

freebird — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 18:07:28 -0800

Why can't vaccination encourage the evolution of viral potency?

What Is This Creepy Site Advertising?

sportbucket — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:20:16 -0800

What the heck is "the purification dot org" all about? (I'm not linking to it directly because I have a hunch it's just a particularly enigmatic viral marketing ploy.) (This came to me via a friend via IM. I haven't been able to ask him where he got it.)

The page is just a single flash movie with a countdown. I didn't work out the math exactly, but I think it's a countdown to November 15, 2006. There's five sub-countdowns that appear if you mouse over them. Going clockwise from the lower left-hand side, they appear to be pointing to Nov.9, Oct.19, Nov.6, Oct.23 and Oct.31.

The domain's registered to a guy named Wayne in Arkansas, using an AOL email address. Looks to be legit -- the address checks out in Google's phone listings, and an AOL user with his screenname posted a review of a restaurant in the town listed in the whois info. So if it's faked, someone's done their homework.

Just wondering if anyone knows anything about this. A game? A movie? Hopi prophecy? If it turns out to be some doomsday religious cult I'll be a little creeped out.

Viral PCR test for HIV

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 08:38:27 -0800

Is it a good idea at the moment to have a viral PCR test for HIV 10 days after being exposed to risk? I've done something stupid and risky and need to get checked out. A local clinic is offering a viral PCR test 10 days after exposure. I feel that it would be good to get a negative result soon, although I will confirm with standard tests at 3 and 6 months.

This site seems to approve of the test and says it's accurate, but suggests 48-72 hours.

This site doesn't recommend it (search for pcr in the page).

Do you think I should get it, and if so any ideas on how long I should wait?

My email is uabd6mz02@sneakemail.com if you'd rather stay anon.

US dollar bill with a URL for a hotel in Domincan Republic?

o2b — Tue, 28 Dec 2004 10:57:24 -0800

Dollar bill spam? I just got a US dollar bill with a URL on it. Going to said URL brings up the web site of a hotel in the dominican republic. Is this an actual thing? Or is this just someone having some fun? For the record, the URL: http://hetkasteeltje.net/

A Day Without Mexicans

thebwit — Tue, 26 Oct 2004 08:53:25 -0800

About two weeks ago I was in Chicago and saw a billboard stating something along the lines of "A Day Without Mexicans..." and gave a url of adaywithoutmexicans.com as well as a date for last month (Sept) that this was supposed to happen. I was kinda shocked by this and went to the website but all I get is a godaddy default page. Anyone from Chi-town know what this was about?