Laughter is the Best Viral Marketing

by Yan

Time and again we hear the expression that when you “laugh and the whole world laughs with you”.

How true!

Today I came across the funniest viral marketing campaign ever created by Skype in a deliberate attempt to promote its free video calling.

It’s simply the best of its kind.

Laughter brings us closer together – it’s a language we all understand and everyone loves a good laugh.

In this viral marketing campaign, the Skype Laughter Chain is simply a chain of videos of Skype users laughing out loud one after the other.

Based on the premise that laughter is as contagious as a yawn, it aims to create the world’s longest contagious laugh and Skype has really done it remarkably well in this department.

And you can also become part of the chain by adding your own laughter clip. Just play, record and laugh along.

Go ahead. Have fun. I dare you not to LOL yourself.

Happy Valentine!

Related posts

{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }

work at home blog February 14, 2009 at 8:45 am

It’s contagious all right. I couldn’t help laughing along too when I played the video. Thanks for sharing the laughter.

Peter Lee

work at home blog´s lastest post..Here’s A Smarter Link Building Strategy To Get Top Search Engine Ranking

Reply

Yan February 17, 2009 at 4:05 pm

I would be surprised if you didn’t laugh along. It’s contagious, eh? Very innovate indeed!

Reply

Rahul Jadhav February 20, 2009 at 2:08 am

I have to admit, its a great idea. And as they say, Laughter is the best medicine. The video was awesome. I couldnt stop laughing after seeing the baby laugh

Rahul Jadhav´s lastest post..About Me

Reply

ZK@Internet Marketing Blog February 20, 2009 at 4:54 pm

But I think one more reason behind their success is their brand names. Such kind of videos are there in you tube in thousands numbers.

But as Skype is promoting this so … that’s make the difference.

ZK@Internet Marketing Blog´s lastest post..Twitter Giveaway Contest – Win 5 Blog Blazers Books

Reply

Ajith Edassery | DollarShower February 14, 2009 at 10:13 am

Ha..haa that’s an innovative concept (or was it already in practice before?) Though I don’t use skype I am joining your laughter chain here with this comment…

:lol: haa ha ho hooo…

Ajith Edassery | DollarShower´s lastest post..SEO – Link Building Series: The role of Keywords in Links & on page

Reply

Yan February 17, 2009 at 4:08 pm

or was it already in practice before?

I’m not too sure but according to Alex (see below), YouTube has one of the ‘funniest’ laughter chains. Though I’m yet to see it myself.

Reply

Alex | Blogussion.com February 14, 2009 at 10:41 am

Haha, I have seen a YouTube video of the “funniest” laughs in the whole campaign.

It’s stuff like this that works so well. It’s innovative and fun to do. A great marketing tactic too, would love to see more companies/websites do something like this.

Alex | Blogussion.com´s lastest post..100 Lists To Help You Become a Better Blogger

Reply

Yan February 17, 2009 at 4:13 pm

You bet it’s a superb and creative marketing campaign that works well in any situation. By the way, Alex, do you have the YouTube link you mentioned above?

Reply

Ari Lestariono February 14, 2009 at 1:10 pm

Cool topics, I’ve got mine “laughter is the best medicine”…lol

Ari Lestariono´s lastest post..How to Stay Cool during Global Financial Crisis

Reply

Make Money Online Tips February 14, 2009 at 2:25 pm

Wooooow a very light post today, Happy Valentines day.

Make Money Online Tips´s lastest post..How To Get Top Ranking In Google

Reply

Suite J February 14, 2009 at 2:45 pm

I wasn’t sure what to think of that but I clicked anyway, and glad I did. Pretty tough not to laugh! lol

Cheers man! Thanks for the chuckle. I didn’t know about it
Jay

Suite J´s lastest post..Got The Free Theme Blues? What To Do Without Revolution Two

Reply

Yan February 17, 2009 at 4:25 pm

Yeah, I’m glad I could share some laughter here. Thanks for dropping by, Jay.

Reply

Elijah February 14, 2009 at 2:52 pm

Dude, I couldn’t agree more. Why do you think I’m always leaving messed up comments on peoples blogs? Because I know that even the stuffiest of them will crack a smile (I’ve been known to write stuff that makes people fall off of their chairs) and when their smiling they will be thinking about what I wrote and how good it made them feel..

And they will return for that same feeling!

Elijah´s lastest post..NicheOnDemand Update

Reply

Yan February 17, 2009 at 4:46 pm

Hey E

What’s up? Looks like you’ve got yourself a new project, eh? Awesome idea really.

Thanks for showing up anyway. I almost fell off my chair seeing you here – as usual.. ;)

Yan

Reply

Web Talk February 14, 2009 at 11:33 pm

Very cool video and very smartly made. It is funny to notice how in a world overflooded by any kind of ads, companies manage to find always something new to promote themselves. In this case Skype has done something unique. At last a decent ads which doesnt involve sex, money, expensive and useless things and all the other “bad values” we are accustomed to see.
Well done Skype!

Web Talk´s lastest post..Lumix FX40 camera

Reply

Yan February 17, 2009 at 4:50 pm

Well, with billions of dollars in its coffer, anything is possible and yeah, Skype did it remarkably well here.

Oh, glad to have you here, Francesco. Stick around, will ya?

Reply

Dennis Edell February 15, 2009 at 7:01 am

Sure looked like there was extra chemical stimulation involved in some of them. LOL

Dennis Edell´s lastest post..Twitter Gone!

Reply

Yan February 17, 2009 at 4:16 pm

You did notice that, eh? I wonder if the grand daddy actually did it on purpose….. You heard it, right?

Reply

Anraiki February 15, 2009 at 5:35 pm

I must have a sick mind because I ain’t laughing with these people.

Well, honestly, I don’t think video can deliver the contagious laugh. When I am with my friends, when they are laughing, I laugh with them because it’s contagious but this video failed me.

IT FAILED ME!

I think something more humorous will do.

Reply

Yan February 17, 2009 at 4:15 pm

Then you must be the special one. It’s hard for me not to ‘laugh’ and so is for everyone else.

Reply

Ari Lestariono February 15, 2009 at 5:47 pm

Laughter is contageous and will make the environment around us in postive moods, it’ll be more easier for us to communicate in that atmosphere.

Ari Lestariono´s lastest post..7 Forbidden Habits for A Healthy Diet and Weight Loss Naturally

Reply

Wenningstedt auf Sylt February 18, 2009 at 12:19 pm

yes, very true. I can prove this because I am a good at it. I tend to convince people to buy this to buy that, not to do this not to do that, by mere telling of jokes.

Reply

tom February 18, 2009 at 7:10 pm

laughting is good for you, the best part of laughting is when you know you shouldent, but you just cant hold it in any longer and then…. uncontrolable laughter hits you. LOL

Reply

Ari Lestariono February 19, 2009 at 5:33 pm

LOL is healthy indeed

Ari Lestariono´s lastest post..Splendid Effect of Green Tea as Home Remedies

Reply

ZK@Internet Marketing Blog February 20, 2009 at 5:00 pm

Yeah this one also open the heart to accept everything which comes to your way. People just need a laugh and they will start building a bond with you.

Hence from there you can capitalise it without hampering the trust.

ZK@Internet Marketing Blog´s lastest post..Twitter Giveaway Contest – Win 5 Blog Blazers Books

Reply

Ari Lestariono February 20, 2009 at 5:58 pm

Skype is having around 15 millions per day using it, can you imagine how much leads can generate that to it’s potentials market, and they are laughing about it …lol

Ari Lestariono´s lastest post..Splendid Effect of Green Tea as Home Remedies

Reply

Shanavas | Make Money Online India February 24, 2009 at 6:29 pm

That is a great concept and easy to do. Keep laughing .

ha ha ha

Shanavas | Make Money Online India´s lastest post..Moneybookers – Paypal Alternative

Reply

Natural February 24, 2009 at 7:17 pm

so true. i’m more likely to remember an ad if it’s funny. i may not always be influenced to by, but it does stay embedded in my brain for the duration and the hey you never know factor.

laughing is contagious and fun – i don’t have a clip though.

Reply

Promotional Products February 26, 2009 at 6:39 am

Interesting idea, I’ve never really thought about laughter as a marketing tool. Although it is the best medicine.

Reply

soma February 27, 2009 at 4:39 pm

Well, laughter is the best medicine and also the best in marketing business strategy.

Reply

Ari Lestariono February 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

Laughter is all we need nowadays, especially global crisis.

Ari Lestariono´s lastest post..Healthy Heart: Quick Recipes in 30 Min

Reply

clickktdotcom March 3, 2009 at 12:37 pm

Laughter is the best in marketing business. Thanks for this post.

clickktdotcom´s lastest post..What is Blogger professional?

Reply

Frank March 4, 2009 at 9:37 pm

I have always loved laughter. And of course, there’s the medical fact that laughter has its own healing power as it releases certain hormones which then seek to restore the body’s natural health.

Frank

Reply

Matt @ Selling Gold Scrap March 10, 2009 at 9:22 am

I’m so glad that laughter was a topic on this blog or any blog for that matter. It’s good to have a hearty laugh.

Reply

Rick @ Small Business PBX System March 20, 2009 at 5:26 am

Yan, do you remember this movie that came out several years ago about the origin of this bawdy joke called “The Aristocrats”? If not, catch it. It’s interesting to see how one joke is interpreted by 100 different comedians. They breakdown how jokes should be told. Sort of reminds of the laughter chain. What an interesting documentary it would be to dissect the elements and origins of laughter. Marketers should buy the DVD and study the movie, too. It does reveal some clues about viral marketing.

Reply

Leave a Comment

You can use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Previous post: My First Valentine Love Letter

Next post: Are You Making This Mistake In Building Trust?