Video

Who doesn’t love a good Google Doodle? Any day that one of those creative illustrations shows up during a Google search, they generate inquiries (What is that? Who’s it for?) and even media coverage. A Doodle in June honoring Les Paul had some calling it the best one yet and was trending on Twitter.

To promote its student contest, Doodle for Google, the artists behind Google Doodle have made a video offering insight, tips for artists, and a look back at last year’s winner. The contest is open to kids in grades K-12 and the national winner gets a $30,000 scholarship with a $50,000 to the winning school. Submissions are being accepted through March 23.

[via Mashable]

Brands classified as YouTube advertisers have the opportunity to add customized bells and whistles to the video side of their branding campaigns. Special URLs and layouts are just a couple of the ways that companies and their PR firms can maximize on their slice of the billions of video views taking place each day worldwide.

In Mediabistro’s latest “PR, Perfected” feature, we talk with experts from YouTube, American Apparel, and other companies for tips on how to make a video clip stand out in a very crowded space. For example, “Build a brand page with the look and feel of your company’s personality. Don’t leave all the glitz to Facebook and Twitter.” And, “Create videos that are useful and interesting to your audience. Remember that practical is as important as flashy.”

Get more tips in “PR, Perfected: Making YouTube Work for Your Brand” [Sub req'd. For more info on becoming an Avant Guild member, click here.]

Oh New York Fall 2012 Fashion Week! You were over before we even got to know you. Click these links for a wrap up of trends, sightings, and various potpourri from CNN, Styleite, the Los Angeles Times, and WWD. And click here for Ad Age’s coverage of some of the publicists who were working behind the scenes to make the week work.

But the fashion industry doesn’t dwell on yesterday. We’re already primping and jet setting across the ocean for the London shows. Huzzah! And the fashion industry is staying on trend with its efforts to incorporate digital technology into their shows and other promotions.

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OK Go has become more famous for their videos than their actual music. Which is part of the explanation of why the band and its music label EMI parted ways in 2010.

Fast forward to 2012 and the band continues to put out some of the most innovative clips, music videos and otherwise. The latest is for their song “Needing/Getting,” which was teased (above) in a Chevy Sonic commercial, part of the company’s “Let’s Do This” campaign, that aired during the Super Bowl.

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While the rest of the nation was going on about all the celebrities in the Super Bowl ads they were watching, viewers in Nebraska (and seemingly only those in North Platte) got a special low-budget Will Ferrell ad for Old Milwaukee beer.

The clip is nothing like the multi-million-dollar ads from last night. It certainly didn’t make it to any lists of top brands for the evening. (Networked Insights says Doritos, Budweiser, and Coke were tops by share of voice.) In fact, Ferrell doesn’t even get to say anything before the ad cuts off.

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Here it is folks. And we’ll ask the question everyone else is (including some of the characters in the ad): Is this one better than “The Force”?

More importantly, will it generate the kind of publicity and have the staying power of last year’s spot? Vote in the PRNewser Poll after the jump by EOD Friday.

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Mercedes has teamed up with fashion label Calvin Klein and supermodel Lara Stone for the video above — Stone gets out of a fancy car wearing a black designer outfit in a tornado and then gets swept up into the sky. The end.

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February 5 isn’t just Super Bowl Sunday. It’s also the day that Target makes the Jason Wu for Target capsule collection available. Set your alarm clocks for midnight and let the mayhem begin?

Announced back in October, the date is finally upon us. Every fashion magazine that we’ve picked up this month has a blurb about the release date, so it’s definitely getting the media coverage.

But we wonder if the coverage is because of the excitement surrounding a new Target collection, or anticipation for Jason Wu.

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According to MSNBC’s First Thoughts column, Rick Santorum (a.k.a. That Guy) is still in the running in that wacky GOP presidential race. We thought That Guy was long gone! But he’s in the mix going into next week’s Iowa caucus. Could it be his colorful fashion sense? Perhaps it’s his new ad, which is light on the talking but heavy on the thought bubbles?

We love a good episode of Pop-Up Video, but what do you think of this for political messaging? Or any messaging for that matter?

[via New York]

Louis CK has been the talk of the town for the past week or so. The comedian used his own money to produce a special, “Louis CK: Live from the Beacon Theater” in the hopes of finally making some money off the sales of his stand-up routines. He announced last night on the Late Night with Jimmy Fallon that he’s had $1 million in sales.

First, the move makes him look like some kind of Internet genius. With no muss, no fuss, he simply posted the routine online, asked fans nicely not to steal it, and BAM! Success.

Second, he announced that he’s only keeping $220,000, with the rest going to charity. So even though the man can talk ad nauseam about farts, he’s also a generous soul.

Third, he’s made his name as a “working-class loser” but now we know he has cash. Rather than stick with the tried and true, which would no longer be true, he’s evolved in this stand-up routine in order to stay relevant. The New York Times charts the many changes to his comedy over recent years.

So Louis CK shows that great results can come from keeping things simple, giving back, and being honest. Nice.