I recently used Slideshare software to embed Guy Kawasaki’s Twitter Power Point presentation in my article (Twitter As A Tool For Social Media) last week. Similar to the concept video monetization, you upload and share your presentations and documents on SlideShare, and in turn, you can embed those presentations on your own website. You think Slideshare would be happy with the branding and occasional traffic from your site, but they go a step further…

Slideshare’s Smart Thinking

I got 2 e-mails from them last week. The first was titled “Congratulations! Your presentation is being featured on the SlideShare homepage”. At the end of the e-mail, after signing their names, I found a PS note that read the following: “p.s. Why not blog/twitter this and let the world know about this awesome masterpiece you have created? ” — Ingenious! Make me feel awesome about making the home-page and have me blog about Slideshare. Well as you can see, it worked! But I didn’t give in that easily…

I got a 2nd e-mail last week “Congratulations! Your presentation is currently being showcased on the ‘Technology’ page on SlideShare” and to make sure I got the point they added “It’s likely to remain there for the next 16-20 hours… “. Now this got me thinking “Maybe I should blog about that?”…and before I got in another thought I noticed a new and improved PS at the bottom: “p.s. Why not blog/twitter this and let the world know about your awesome creation? This might just get you some new readers (or additional pageviews) while the spotlight is on .” Now the pressure is really on! And to make things better, they even threw in the “T” word (Twitter).

Well, I’ve finally gotten around to blogging about my success and wouldn’t you know, I’m no longer on the homepage. But I somehow remain on the Technology page with a healthy 425 views and a few embeds. Not bad!

The Moral of This Story…

So what did we learn today? Think outside of the box. Don’t just settle. I give Slideshare credit for feeding my ego by giving me “home-page” status. In return for that value, I gave them a few additional hits and a good review. (At least, I hope it comes off that way.) I’m not going to come up with an equation…just follow Slideshare’s example and find a way to make it work for you. Oh…and don’t forget to link to this blog post!

Posted under SEO/SEM

As part of this blogs timely Friday Tradition, I usually post one “Viral Video of The Week“, but this video tops the one I posted earlier today (Funniest Twitter Satire…EVER!). Special thanks to my friends at Thanks to my friends at ViralVideoChart and CONDOMunity.

Durex – Get It On!

Spreading faster than STD’s, Durex recently released a clever (and hilarious) viral ad called Get it On, a video suggesting that you use condoms in all kind of situations. “Perhaps it would be best to call this an anti-viral.” (Condomunity) With well over 6 million views across all video networks, this video takes the #1 spot for viral video of the week. Check it out:

Posted under Online Video, Viral Marketing

As part of this blogs timely Friday Tradition, it’s time for “Viral Video of The Week”. Before presenting this weeks video, take a look at last weeks Viral Video: “Extreme Sheep“.

Today’s pick: Twouble with Twitters

Brought to us by Emmy award-winning Current TV. This aired on “SuperNews!” An animated sketch comedy series airing on Current TV, every Friday night at 10pm. I just found this too hilarious to pass up.

Posted under Online Video, Viral Marketing

“The answer is no, I don’t think that [is] a good strategy.”

Following up on my previous article Obama Town Hall: What’s Really On People’s Minds?…MARIJUANA, President Barack Obama pledged to open up the White House to the American people...well, sort of!

Of the 3.5 million people that voted, “There was one question that was voted on that ranked fairly high and that was whether legalizing marijuana would improve the economy and job creation, and I don’t know what this says about the online audience,” he laughed.

Some people didn’t find this funny? The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) prepared their own heated response titled  “What Is So Funny About Taxing And Regulating Marijuana?” The audience didn’t have to laugh, and NORML shared their 2 cents on the matter. Their article ends on a witty note: “Sorry Obama, this time the joke’s on you.“

It seems major publishes have picked up on this topic as well:

1. Huffington Post: Obama Takes Pot Legalization Question During Townhall (VIDEO).
2. Christian Science Monitor: For Obama, an online do-over of Tuesday’s press conference
3. Fast Company: The Banality of Obama’s “Cutting-Edge” Web Event
4. The Associated Press: AP Top News at 3:29 p.m. EDT
5. US-News: Obama: Marijuana Legalization Not Good For The Economy

Overall I think this online Town Hall approach to getting the people involved is pure genius. This is a small example of how it is a bit controversial, but now adays, what isn’t? I have a feeling this is an issue that won’t go away and I predict that NORML and marijuana supporters will be a bit more prepared for the next Town Hall. I imagine President Obama will have something more to say as well.

Posted under Events, Online Marketing, Online Video, Viral Marketing

As found on the White House Website, “The White House is open for questions”.

In yet another tech-savvy move by President Obama, WhiteHouse.gov is once again asking the public to pose questions directly to President Obama via its ‘Open For Questions‘ service. The topic of this week’s forum is the national economy. 61,671 people have submitted 64,654 questions and cast 2,456,511 votes, and  the most popular questions for 3 of the 11 categories are all about the Legalization and Taxation of Marijuana. Here are a few examples:

Green Jobs & Energy: “Will you consider decriminalizing the recreational/medical use of marijuana(hemp) so that the government can regulate it, tax it, put age limits on it, and create millions of new jobs and a multi-billion dollar industry right here in the U.S.?”

Financial Stability: “Would you support the bill currently going through the California legislation to legalize and tax marijuana, boosting the economy and reducing drug cartel related violence?”

Jobs: “What are your plans for the failing, “War on Drugs”, thats sucking money from tax payers and putting non-violent people in prison longer than the violent criminals?”

Budget: “With over 1 out of 30 Americans controlled by the penal system, why not legalize, control, and tax marijuana to change the failed war on drugs into a money making, money saving boost to the economy? Do we really need that many victimless criminals?”

The National Organization For The Reform Of Marijuana Laws (NORML) posted an article titled: Obama ‘Open For Questions’ About The Economy — Ask Him To Support Taxing And Regulating Marijuana. They are rallying as much support as possible because “according to website, President Obama will “answer some of the most popular submissions live at WhiteHouse.gov” on Thursday morning. That means that we only have a few more hours left to contact the White House”.

I’m interested to see if this goes through. Even if it’s not weed-related, please take a moment right now to log on the WhiteHouse.gov/OpenForQuestions and vote for the questions above, as well as other topics. NORML wants you to “let the President know that millions of American voters believe that the time has come to tax and regulate marijuana.”

To check out President Obama’s reactions, tune into the online town hall will be at 11:30 AM Eastern, the voting will close at 9:30 AM.

Posted under Events, Online Video