We have a new site. Check it out at memelabs.com.

Don’t worry — we’re still blogging. We’ve combined forces with our parent company Invoke Media and created what has been deemed the best blog on the Internet. (At least, the best blog on the Internet, according to my mom.) You can subscribe to receive our blog updates here.

What else can you find us? Well you can follow our Twitter updates, subscribe to our YouTube channel and like us on Facebook!

This week Google  released a new beta for Chrome, and created a video showing unconventional speed tests for the browser.  This is one of the coolest videos we’ve seen from Google, and they give great information regarding how it was made.  From the YouTube description:

Chrome Browser vs. Potato:
We used a version of the web page allrecipes.com that is accessible when logged in. About four hours into the Potato Gun shoot we decided to use a locally loaded version of the web page to enable more precise synchronization with the potato gun. We finally got the shot we were hoping for after 51 takes.

Chrome Browser vs. Sound:
We loaded an artist page from Pandora.com, a streaming internet radio service directly off the web on a 15Mbps internet connection.

Chrome Browser vs. Lightning:
We used a locally loaded version of weather.com that was legally approved for use in this video (and all the standard website permissions procedures that goes into making videos!)

While we had a super fast 15Mbps internet connection in the studio, any live internet connection introduces quite a bit of variability. To run speed tests on page rendering times, saving locally and loading from the local disk can help reduce this variability.

Super slow motion, combined with HD cameras makes this video one of our favourite viral videos.

We’ve been working hard with new clients, seen some great success with past contests and are currently running a couple of hot contests.  Here’s the 411:

Current contests:

1.  The YOUR PBS Video Contest

This video contest is currently closed for submissions, but is an open-range for voting.  After a bit of a slow start, we’re thrilled with number of video submissions, comments and votes the PBS Video contest has seen.  In total, there have been a total of 60 video entries, 240 comments, and 5977 votes to date. WOW.  The grand prize announcement is set for next week: One lucky winner will be heading to Austin for a behind-the-scenes view of insider-only previews of upcoming PBS programs. If thats not amazing enough, there is also a chance that the winning video will be airing on PBS.  Be sure to check out the current video leaders: “Jeramiah Mayhew – My PBS” and “Online To Explore.” Tell your friends and vote for your faves.

MINImemes:
A minimeme brings memelabs to the masses with turnkey-based competitions designed and administered by the company.

2. Victory Poker
Think you’re the next Victory Poker Pro?  The Grand Prize for this contest includes a fully furnished condo on the Las Vagas strip, $100K of tournament buy-in cash, a new car, new watch, and more. Maybe it’s beginners luck, but this recently launched minimeme contest already has 10 video entries and 215 votes. Submit your own video to win today!

3. Deb Yearbook Video Contest!
Whether you rock the street, the beat, or plan to rock this world, Deb Shops (www.debshops.com) want to see it!  For this video contest, show your best stuff in any or all of three categories pulled straight from your yearbook – Most Talented, Best Dressed, and Most Likely to Save the Earth! The prize for the “Most Talented” is a trip to NYC to see a Broadway show with Broadway Producer and Actor Ron Sharpe (includes airfare, one night hotel, 2 Broadway tickets, and $500 spending money).  The “Best Dressed” winner will win a wardrobe for every season!  Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter ($500 for each season), and a personal style consultation with Jay McCarroll.  If you win Most Likely to Save the Earth you’ll receive $1,500 to use in support of your own idea or project.  On now until June 28, 2010.

Closed:

Get Schooled

Ever wanted to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange?!  In this essay contest, one lucky winner did just that, on April 28 in celebration of Financial Literacy Week.  Submitters nominated a student or teacher who they believed had gone above and beyond in math education.  The contest was  hosted by Viacom and by The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Coming soon:

Memelabs & Facebook, together at last!

Facebook, you’ve heard of it right? The behemoth of a social networking site continues to grow and grow – and so does memelabs! Just imagine: running an entire video contest in Facebook!  Your users are already there, the ability to share with your current contacts is easy and advanced search results help target specific demographics.  The amazing memelabs dev team is working hard to make the marriage of memelabs and Facebook a successful one – allowing people to enter the contest through Facebook and easily sharing contending videos with their friends on their own Facebook pages. If you would like more information on this hot new feature, please contact us.

In 2006 Heineken released a short commercial video with Jenifer Aniston that was banned, yet still received over 2 million views online.  On March 25th of this year, a video was released portraying the all too familiar and awkward situation of being attracted to your boss’s daughter, although the video has not yet received significant views.

Heineken’s latest game show parody video was released on April 25th and in 4 days has earned this week’s pick as memelab’s viral video of the week.  Here are the stats:

519, 835 views
60 blog posts
955 tweets
17,767 facebook shares
164 comments

So you tell us, what is your favourite Heineken viral video?  Or, in your opinion, which beer company is doing the best online marketing these days?

This isn’t Muscle Milk’s first creative approach to an advertising video. The Sexy Pilgrim hit the scene in 2009 with a certain “Weird Al” feel that attracted 904,976 views.

Muscle Milk has had greater success with their recent video launched to coincide with College students’ spring break. The frightening accuracy and comedy depicted in this video, coupled with the number of views, has earned Muscle Milk’s “Spring Break it down” video the coveted position as our favourite viral video of the week.
Here are the stats:

Posted: March 12, 2010
1,127,814 views
2,379 facebook shares
293 comments
21 blog posts

http://www.springbreakitdown.com/

“The author of this post, Julien Emery, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.   He does not work for Muscle Milk but has admitted to drinking it.  He prefers it much more than the lesser known badger milk”

They expect the unexpected. One of the key elements in making people laugh is surprise, and this is especially true in Web videos. When people click play on your funny video, they are expecting you to shock them in some way. If you don’t, they’re going to be disappointed.

They expect you to get to the joke quickly. When people watch a funny video, they want to laugh and want to laugh quickly. They don’t want to watch 30 seconds of credits roll by, and they don’t want to watch four minutes of buildup to a single punchline. In some ways, Web comedy videos are like standup comedy: If you can grab the viewer with a quick laugh in the first 10 seconds, the chances are they’ll stick around to watch the rest of your act.

They expect it to deliver on the promise of its title.Video titles not only entice people to watch your video, but they also frame the viewer’s expectations. If you title a video “Funniest Karaoke Performance Ever,” you’d better be sure that the video you’re posting can live up to that hype. Otherwise, you’re just asking for people to trash your video because it didn’t live up to the bar you set yourself. The expectations of a video titled “Funny Karaoke Performance” will be much lower — and therefore the viewer’s more likely to enjoy it in that context.

They expect it to make a point. With the exception of “viral” videos where somebody happened to shoot some footage of a guy falling off a skateboard or a drunk girl wiping out on a stripper pole, most funny videos that work are making some larger observation about the world. It’s become increasingly difficult for random sketch videos to gain much traction online, at least partly because audiences expect comedy creators to have something to say in their videos.

If you’re setting out to make a funny video, you should think about who or what target you’re going after: politicians, Justin Bieber fans, Myspace, “the man,” whatever. It doesn’t really matter what the target is, but people will be more likely to rally behind your video (and its humor) if they feel  it’s about something other than just making them laugh.
They expect to share it with their friends. There’s a reason that funny videos tend to go “viral” more than any other genre of video. It’s because laughing is a naturally communal experience; as soon as people see something funny, their instinct is to share it with their friends. When somebody presses play on a comedy video, they want to love it enough to send it to all their friends and share the laughs. It’s up to you to give them something worth sharing.

by Josh Spector – Video Insider

Memelabs contests of past and present have produced a wide range of “WTF” and “LOL” videos.  We have a soft spot for Josh’s last comment – if you have something or see something that is funny – share it. Laughter is infectious, that’s why they’re called viral videos. So, if you’ve submitted a video to a memelabs contest or are thinking about it, make sure to spread the sickness where ever you can.

Uploaded on April 07, 2010, memelabs favourite viral video of the week features Brett Domino and Steven Peavis performing a medley of Justin Timberlake hits (Sexyback, Like I Love You, and Lovestoned) using assorted miniature instruments and lap tray travel bags.  Just one of many listed on their  YouTube playlist, this remixed “geeky guy” version of JT’s music, together with a British accent and stellar instruments has quickly gone viral and earned this week’s staff pick.

Info on the video:
The music is performed on: Stylophone Beatbox, iPod Touch (using DigiDrummer Lite), Kazoo, Thumb Piano, Shaker, Stylophone, Cowbell, Recorder, Ukulele, Theremin, Spoons, and Roland AX-Synth.

Video Stats:
Total Views: 93,390
Comments: 314
Favorites: 1,922
Ratings: 1,584
Average Rating: 4.96

http://www.brettdomino.com

Need more remixes?!  Check out the fantastic Pomplamoose, an indy rock duo who create crafty remixes from their living room/kitchen studio.  Their videos have spread through the internet like wildfire. Previous hits such as MJ’s Beat It and September by Earth Wind and Fire have received over 1 million views. Their latest Lady Gaga remix has become their biggest hit to date with 2,337,416 views.

Any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments.

The meme team loves finding and sharing different variations of viral videos – from impressive viral video marketing campaigns to random dancing baby videos.  Last month we featured another impressive viral video from the band OK Go. The video had some very well planned production, and wasn’t the fist viral video produced by the band, so their existing fan base was waiting for their next hit.

But what about the videos the come from nowhere with no pre-existing followers? How do those videos gain the significant title  ‘Viral Video’. Before watching this week’s pick for viral video of the week, here are some stats:

Posted for 5 Months

819,146 Views
6,864 New Shares
147 blog posts
1,083 tweets
13,963 Facebook shares
3 duplicate videos
1,120 comments

The numbers say this is undoubtedly a viral video, but why? What is it about this video that makes us want to share it and watch it over and over again? In your opinion what makes a viral video? What is it about this week’s Viral Video of the Week that is so catchy? Is it just because its cute? Or is it the music that makes the video clip?

You tell us while we watch it again.

PBS engaged memelabs to challenge filmmakers across the United States to be creative, showcase their talent and explain in 30 seconds what surprised them the most about discovering PBS online?

Check out the PBS website for inspiration and the information below to get started!

What Do I Win?

The Grand Prize winner will win a trip to Austin, TX to see insider-only previews of upcoming PBS programs and hear behind-the-scenes plans from PBS executives.

They’ll also receive a limited edition PBS-Designed flip camera and a PBS Gift Package.

The trip to Austin includes:

– 1 day attendance at the PBS annual meeting;

– coffee with a PBS programming executive;

– a tour of PBS station KLRU and the Austin City Limits set;

– round-trip airfare (within the United States);

– transportation to and from the airport to a hotel;

– two (2) nights in a hotel; and

– meals and pocket money to cover incidentals.

(Estimated prize value $3,000.00)

Top 10 Tips for Making Your Video

1. Your video must show something surprising about PBS on the web.

2. Be innovative, clever, engaging or cheeky.

3. Your video must be 30 seconds in length, including a 5-second PBS video logo resolve. Click the link to view the video resolve, or right click to save the file to your computer: (Right click to download the PBS video logo)

4. Your video must be under 32MB in size.

5. Video must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. EST April 18th. Register, login and click UPLOAD MEDIA from the menu bar to submit your video.

6. You can submit up to three entries.

7. You must live in the United States to be eligible.

8. You must be at least 18 to participate.

9. Check out the HOME short video for ideas and guidance before you get started.

10. Have Fun!

Whether you attended SXSW this year and LOVED IT, or are ridiculously jealous of those who did go – now’s your chance to giddy up.

From the internet meme vault, “Leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama” is sure to be just the right kick-off to your St. Patties festivities.  A staff favourite,  @d1337 (as well as others in the @memelabs office) perform the impersonation very well.  In fact, “Where da gold at?” was our unofficial slogan during the Vancouver, Olympics.

Viral Video stats (from YouTube):
- 13,224,500 views
- 19,644 ratings
- Adding comments has been disabled for this video
- First referral from – youshouldhaveseenthis.com
- Uploaded by: botmib
- Date: March 17, 2006
- Description: Leprechaun in Crichton.

A monument to the viral nature of this video is the “I want the gold” remix, which can be seen here.