Ahead of an event in London this evening for CIMTIG on viral marketing, here is a run-down of some of the best travel-related videos of the past few years.
Some were indeed created by companies but, as is often the case purely because of the random nature of how clips spread virally in the web ecosystem, most are simply wonderful efforts put together by individuals... or bands.
1) United Breaks Guitars - 8.5 million views and counting.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo
2) Where the Hell is Matt - the latest version is currently clocking 28 million views (the original has 15 million views). There are apparent "hoax" confessions and countless copies, including one from Cheapflights.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY
3) Sandy Balls - supposedly unintentional, still managed to secure thousands of views mostly as a result of the infantile (although mostly funny) humour of FAIL blog. [Background]
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEyKFkkcHAc
4) Moonwalking Bear - surreal yet hilarious, with a serious message.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4
5) The Longest Way - wonderful editing from a solo traveller, not quite the hit-rate of others but 1.6 million from YouTube and Vimeo isn't bad.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ky6vgQfU24
6) X-Travel.nl - slightly unnerving but eventually rather amusing effort from Dutch travel site.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXA5rBQVtQE
7) Shatner and Nimoy on Priceline - when Kirk was unseated by Spock, has clocked up thousands of views as others, but not Priceline, upload it across the web.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTqrFrEwee8
UPDATED:
8 ) Where in Heaven is Mozart - from the Soultravelers3 [Background]
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn9rDTZj-m4
Disclosure: Author is moderating the CIMTIG event.