How to Become a Part of Microsoft's New Ad Campaign

In a previous post I talked about the bizarre Gates/Seinfeld Microsoft TV ads as well as the boring "I'm a PC" follow-ups.
I even provided links to a few home-brewed, pro-Microsoft commercials that Steve Balmer might want to emulate.

Instead of taking my advise, Microsoft is trying to pump new life into the program by soliciting user-generated video it can use in its new campaign.  So send in your videos. Microsoft guarantees it's going to use every clip it gets. 

How can Microsoft Guarantee that Your Video is going to be used in its New Campaign?

Please note, I am not saying that Microsoft is promising to air everyone's video as part of one of its new national TV spots.
More than 20 thousand people have already submitted clips into the program.  You would need to air all-Microsoft-all-the-time to use up that much video.  Ain't going to happen!

Your 5 Seconds of Fame.

So how's Microsoft going to use all of that footage?  Some wag at Microsoft figured they could churn through a lot of it by projecting it on the big Microsoft screen high over NY. Given how many minutes there are in a day, chances are good that your video is going to get its moment over Times Square.  Sorry - if your Mother misses it, you can't ask them to play it again.  Instead  direct her to Microsoft's panoramic wall of video where she can see your video whenever she has a spare moment.

The Microsoft Wall of Video

Check out Microsoft's massive wall of video on the Internet. Every face on the wall represents a video submitted as part of the program. Click on any moniker you fancy and up pops the clip behind the face.  Great for fans of Where's Waldo, but does anyone else have hours to spend sifting through crowd shots looking for a familiar face?  That's why Microsoft is generating and e:mailing out a unique locator ID to everyone who submits to the site. More about that in a bit.

Of Course you have to Play by Microsoft's Rules

Submitted videos should be about 5 seconds in length. Make the talking head in your video say "I am a PC, and I (insert a clever phrase about what you like to do)". Of course, the more interesting your snippet the better the chance it's going to be used prominently. My favorite snippet from the first TV commercial is the PC girl who likes to chase zebras. 

You will also need to provide Microsoft with a tag line/name that can be attached to your video. Feel free to use your name if that's what you want. Better yet, use a descriptive name like "zebra chaser" to maintain your anonymity and to make your video easier for search engines to deal with. Some other rules: NTSC (4:3), MPEG2 or MPEG4, 260Kbps video bitrate, no nudity, profane language, or disparaging remarks.  More details and access to the upload page at Life Without Walls.com.
 

Interactive Nature of the Program

Soon after you submit your clip it will be added to the wall of video. The video wall is great for browsing (lets look for videos produced by cute girls with red hair), but not very practical as a search tool. (Shades of Where's Waldo.)  That's why Microsoft is providing lots of other browsing tools.

When Microsoft accepts your video it emails you back a confirmation letter that includes your own unique locator ID.
You use the ID to get instant access to your video on the wall. If you want Microsoft can also embed your video into any I'm a PC ads you view on your PC. Microsoft also provides you with emebed code making it easy to include your video on any page of most webpages and social media sites.  

Social Networking Tools

Feel free to share your wall ID with friends and family. It gives them quick access to your video. If you chose, you can also link your wall ID to the wall ID of your friends.  That way the whole groups videos can be included in the I'm a PC ads you all run on your computers.  The idea is create a chain, filling your PC with content provided or suggested by friends and family.  A little lame perhaps, but no lamer than the social media tools provided as part of Microsoft's Zune player. 

Now that you Are a Part of Microsoft's Advertising Campaign, Will You be Paid Like a Celebrity?                   

Sadly, no.  No money is going to exchange hands. On the other hand, if you hate what Microsoft does with your spot you are always free to unsubscribe and remove yourself from the program and from Microsoft's wall of video.