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.
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Coolio! A few of those are awesome!
I’m surprised that you missed ours as we have had several viral travel videos on Youtube. Our very first one went viral and has had over 1.2 million views!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn9rDTZj-m4
I’d love for you to add it!
It was a great shock to us and has been fantastic for our brand!
We have had a ton that had over 50K views and we are one of the very few in travel who have been asked by Youtube to be a Partner ( one has to be asked I believe or that was true when we were asked). Most travel videos seem to get under 100 views even from top bloggers and companies.
We have found what works best for us is to make “little movies” but it is often hard to predict what will go viral although there are a few keys.
Thank you for posting this. Great. Would love a regular feature (weekly?) of latest hot online travel videos
The Longest Way is one of my favorite videos out there.
Great list, but you missed my video on your list. In 2003, I did a timelapse of a cruise ship going through the Panama Canal that’s sitting at about 1,326,000 views right now. When I passed 1,000,000 views, I re-released it in HD, and that video has another 142,000 views (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA-pnN54uPw). The canal has changed a bit since then, but it’s still a fun ride!
Maybe you like this as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b179zOceZxI&feature=plcp
gr, r.