Let's make a list!

The making of...a strong use of video.

Everyone makes to-do lists, I make quite a few every week, but Sasha Cagen is the world's first self-certified Todolistologist...and after many years of collecting thousands of lists, creating a To Do List magazine and a very popular blog, she has published a new book detailing 100's of lists, covering every topic imaginable.

Interestingly enough, there is a current posting on Blogger Buzz that has some info covering her new book, but the thing that I was happy to see was the inclusion of video to help promote her new project. Sasha decided that she needed a short trailer to help give viewers a look into the makings of her book, describing in detail some of the lists she featured and even submitting to a series of interviews to give viewers a very personal look at the overall project.

She selected the music, helped picked the lists to highlight in the piece and worked very closely with the producer who put the trailer together, to craft a short spot that tells a specific story.

Setting the stage.

Once the video was completed, it was launched on various free video-sharing sites, including YouTube, Google and Yahoo video, but that was just the beginning, Sasha posted links to the video trailer to retailers around the country who are carrying her book. She sent links to advertising people and her publishers (who really liked the spot) and made sure to post the spot on her blog and websites that she knew. She went out and truly marketed the video trailer as if it was a product of it's own and by doing so, that trailer (promoting her book) has been viewed over 18 thousand times (as of today, and still counting - even though it has only been up a few days), and there is no question that it will continue to travel throughout the web as a viral marketing spot and build on it's own momentum.

The Trailer.



Standing out from the crowd.


Sasha Cagen is the perfect example of marketing in the world of new media and I suspect that her book sales will increase exponentially, partly because of her witty and sure writing style, but also because she is willing to push the envelope and promote herself and her book through the use of the web and specifically marketing with viral video. Now it's up to you. Is there a way to promote your goods, services and overall business using the web? Can you find a way to use blogs and websites to tell a story that you can't do with a print ad alone? Are you interested in having thousands and perhaps millions of viewers see what your shop/store/business has to offer? I'm sure you do.


Once more, unto the breach.


So this blog is here to help you figure out ways to help you promote your business ventures, and in the case of the Todolistologist, I think you can see how the use of video really helped her strategy and enabled her to reach new readers and customers that she may have otherwise not reached.

Look at your own webspace, think about starting a blog and always look for new ways to promote yourself. And finally, remember to work with people that can help you reach your goals and support your ideas, because everyone needs a winning team on your side.

Until next time...

Sinohui Hinojosa
Producer/Editor
Trailer for Sasha Cagen's New Book "To-Do List"