Robert Willis

Host

The Impact Of The Viral Video

Aug 21, 2014·12 visitors

Anthony Alberts

Cohost

Stage· 56 messages

Aug 21, 2014

Haters can say what they want but the #ALS #IceBucketChallenge has raised unprecedented money and awareness about this crippling disease. Join Robert and Tony as they tawk about the positive effects that a viral video can have on society and how it helps to bring people together.

Robert Willis · 4:00 PM

Good afternoon Tony!

Anthony Alberts · 4:00 PM

Hello Bob, how are you today?

Robert Willis · 4:00 PM

I'll tell you the truth, I'm a little cold.

Anthony Alberts · 4:00 PM

How can you be cold on a hot and humid day like today?

Robert Willis · 4:01 PM

Because I finally took part in the #ALS #IceBucketChallenge.

Anthony Alberts · 4:01 PM

A-Ha! Who nominated you?

Robert Willis · 4:01 PM

I actually had two different friends nominate me, which I think is the first point we should tawk about when it comes to viral videos.

Anthony Alberts · 4:02 PM

Did the two friends know each other?

Robert Willis · 4:02 PM

No, and that's part of what makes a viral video so popular, if it can reach people from more than one direction.

Anthony Alberts · 4:03 PM

That's true. When it comes to a "normal" video-"Here, watch this guy fall off his skateboard!" sort of thing-I might not watch it ifjust one person recommends it. But if a few more people do, then I usually watch it.

Robert Willis · 4:04 PM

Do you get a lot of people sending you skateboarding videos?

Anthony Alberts · 4:04 PM

I'd appreciate those a lot more than the stupid cat videos.

Robert Willis · 4:04 PM

HA! Well, your response is typical. I'm the same way, as are most people. Once a few different people recommend something, you start to feel left out.

Anthony Alberts · 4:05 PM

Of course. Who doesn't want to take part in the popular thing?

Robert Willis · 4:05 PM

Of course, the #ALS #IceBucketChallenge is more than just one video making the rounds, but thousands and thousands of people making their own video.

Anthony Alberts · 4:06 PM

That is probably step 2 in making a viral sensation: have some way to get people involved. If watching a video makes you feel like you are part of something, then making one of your own that is connected will make you feel like you are that much more

Anthony Alberts · 4:07 PM

a part of it.

Robert Willis · 4:07 PM

Look at the popularity last year of the Harlem Shake. Everyone got to do their own version of it. It allowed people to belong and to show off their creativity.

Anthony Alberts · 4:08 PM

I think what really helped that catch on was the number of celebrities who made their own version.

Robert Willis · 4:08 PM

Are you kidding? When LeBron James and the Miami Heat did their video, it became an international sensation.

Anthony Alberts · 4:09 PM

Yup.

Robert Willis · 4:09 PM

Which brings us to step 3 of making your video a viral sensation: get the famous people involved.

Anthony Alberts · 4:10 PM

That's the trickiest part of the equation. Very few people have that direct connectionto someone who can bring it, not just to the next level, but to several higher levels.

Robert Willis · 4:11 PM

Well, yes and no. Very few people have Dave Grohl's phone number or can walk up to Bill Gates's house and ask them to help, but thanks to social media, there is a greater level of interconnectedness.

Anthony Alberts · 4:11 PM

Did you see the Foo Fighter's version? genius!

Robert Willis · 4:11 PM

I think my favorite was Kermit the Frog's. For starters he was challenged by Vince McMahon.

Anthony Alberts · 4:12 PM

The guy from the WWE?

Robert Willis · 4:12 PM

Yup. And he also pointed out that, as an amphibian, the shock of cold water could kill him.

Anthony Alberts · 4:12 PM

Did it?

Robert Willis · 4:12 PM

No, but he didn't look too good. He was a little green around the gills!

Anthony Alberts · 4:13 PM

SMH. How long have you been waiting to use that joke?

Robert Willis · 4:13 PM

Ever since I saw the video!

Anthony Alberts · 4:14 PM

I saw Stephen King's and it was kind of boring, especially since the guy who gave him the #ALS #IceBucketChallenge was so involved.

Robert Willis · 4:14 PM

Who was that?

Anthony Alberts · 4:15 PM

Did you already forget? Dave Grohl!

Robert Willis · 4:15 PM

Oh right! I was so blown away by the creativity that by the end I had forgotten that he challenged anybody.

Anthony Alberts · 4:15 PM

So we know what it takes to make a viral sensation. the trick withanything like this, though, is how do you track the success?

Robert Willis · 4:16 PM

That's exactly right. With a single video, you can simply count up the number of hits that it gets on various social media platforms. But the #ALS #IceBucketChallenge is different.

Anthony Alberts · 4:17 PM

Because of all of the new videos being made. The effect they're looking for isn't views, however, but money raised.

Robert Willis · 4:17 PM

That's what a lot of the "haters" have been saying: what good does dumping ice on your head do, instead of donating money?

Anthony Alberts · 4:17 PM

That would be true if people weren't donating money as well, but they are and in record numbers.

Robert Willis · 4:18 PM

Between July 29th and yesterday they raised over $31 million, which is 16 times the amount they raised during the same time last year.

Anthony Alberts · 4:19 PM

That's an incredible amount, especially when you consider that last year there was only $80 million spent on research into ALS.

Robert Willis · 4:19 PM

And let's not forget that those figures are just one place. There are several smaller ALS based charities that are reporting similar increases in funding.

Anthony Alberts · 4:20 PM

Which is important because ALS only (and I hate to use that word, "only") affects 30,000 people in The United States, so many companies won't put the resources required into fighting what is considered a small disease.

Robert Willis · 4:21 PM

Sad but true. This way, a lot more research can be done.

Anthony Alberts · 4:21 PM

Do you think this spike in donations comes at the expense of other charities though, that people would have given to someone else instead?

Robert Willis · 4:22 PM

A little, but I don't think it's a zero sum game.

Anthony Alberts · 4:22 PM

Meaning?

Robert Willis · 4:23 PM

Meaning I don't think that only "X" number of dollars gets donated, and the money that the #ALS #IceBucketChallenge raised took all of its money from something else. I think because of social media and the nature of the viral video, many peopel donat

Robert Willis · 4:23 PM

ed who otherwise wouldn't have.

Anthony Alberts · 4:24 PM

It's certainly been a rousing success, and a template for how other charities can raise their profile.

Robert Willis · 4:24 PM

Indeed. Tony always a pleasure to tawk to you and before we leave, let me say one more thing.

Anthony Alberts · 4:24 PM

What's that?

Robert Willis · 4:24 PM

I challenge you to do the #ALS #IceBucketChallenge!!

Anthony Alberts · 4:24 PM

How did I not see that coming?