Outline

The idea is to raise the brand awareness of Ubuntu by using the power of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketing viral marketing]. Given the success of the [http://www.firefoxflicks.com Firefox Flicks] campaign it may be wise to learn from Mozilla and use Firefox Flicks as a template for our project.

The structure of this idea will follow a similar line to Firefox Flicks. Contributors will be able to submit short films advertising Ubuntu where they will then be voted upon by site visitors.

So, what is a viral video? As it happens, The Times has a pretty good article called 'The top ten viral ad campaigns'. [http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article2138718.ece Check it out], and watch some of the videos. As it says in the writeup "The ideal campaign is edgy, surprising, original, erotic and emotional – and taps into popular culture."

Planning/Ideas

Liaising with Mozilla

Given that Mozilla have already done this, and replicating work is often daft, it'd be a good idea to get in touch with them to see if any code is available that may be helpful to us. It'd also be great to draw upon Mozilla's experience of this type of project to see how successful it is.

Figure out hosting options

How are we going to host this. Private hosting is available if needed, but could Canonical help?

How to populate website pre-launch?

How are we going to get some videos up on the site before we launch it to the public?

How are we going to promote the website?

There are a few channels, but how are we going to promote the website?

One idea would be to address the community of people who are likely to be able to help create a good video. I'm guessing that this means places like youtube, operator11, google vids etc. Getting interest from the video community will probably be easier if we create a video ourselves asking for help. When in Rome.... ChrisRowson

Tasks

Ideas for videos

Although this wiki page is ideally for discussing the creation of a website which allows users to contribute their own videos about Ubuntu, comments on creating videos can go here for now.

Capitalize on the Push for Vista

Show an IT guy at a corporate office noting that 80% of all workstations will need to be upgraded for the Vista deployment. Show the machines getting removed, sent away, ending up somewhere else, getting reloaded, and redeployed to a low income urban family or to a school child in Africa or something and they smile as they get the well known Ubuntu login sound. Their computer works great with Ubuntu and they are happy to have it. - [:Viridari:Magnus Hedemark]

Tie All Ads Together Somehow

I think the Ubuntu login sound ought to figure in to each of these videos, maybe at the end of each one with a nicely rendered Ubuntu name and logo. Some people are going to remember the name, others will remember the logo, but some people are more attuned to sounds and that is the most universally known sound to a Ubuntu user. - [:Viridari:Magnus Hedemark]

An idea seen, too good to miss

A bit in advance, apologies, but I saw this page reporting viral video activity http://johnc4510.wordpress.com/2007/08/12/ubuntu-viral-videos/ and it links to a brilliant example for ubuntu vs MAC. I would love to see this simple idea developed! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V2oF_BNO5U