You like the Youtube?

Afternoon!

So today I am going to discuss Youtube.

I think that it is one of the key online PR and Communications tools.

Take for example, from a Public Relations point of view, the recent Tesco burger meat scandal. When the news that over 10 billion supposed 'Beef' burgers containing horse DNA had been pulled from the shelves of a handful of stores in Ireland, the public went wild. The race (forgive me this pun) began to see who would be the first to report it. People were making horse related puns on Facebook, ranting about the disgrace on Twitter and posting videos of concern on Youtube. The publication of this scandal happened so quickly via all the online media sites, as well as going to the Print and Broadcast media, that it was going to take a lot of damage control to make this issue go away. A lot of damage was done to the companies involved.

"The ABP Food Group, owned by Larry Goodman, has lost contracts worth an estimated €45m with Tesco, Aldi, the Co-Operative and Burger King, over the fiasco." - IrishExaminer.com

Apart from the seriousness of the situation, you have to credit the Irish sense of humour. Facebook was jumping (that's my second attempt at a pun, poor I'll admit...I'll stop now) with horsey puns. Then some students took it to the next level, posting a video of a very sad pony looking for his Mam and Dad in Tesco's frozen aisles on Youtube. (Click here. to view him on his quest.)

That's the thing about Youtube though, isn't it? The minor catch. The fact that anything, and I mean ANYTHING can be uploaded with the touch of a button. From Presidential debates to boys in a horse suit running around super markets causing a scene. Be it serious, wild, weird, creepy and more often than not, outrageous, there is always a video doing the rounds that every one must see. Some things on Youtube really should not be there, there has been a recent craze in outlandish video's being posted just for what appears to be, shock value. The fact that it is so easy to upload a video has opened up Youtube to a whole load of crazy.

Not that all of Youtube is just crazy videos, it also can be the grounds of your career. A lot of people are now starting off their music careers, comedy careers and other careers in areas such as design and video making on Youtube. Singers like Justin Bieber, Conor Maynard and Esmee Denters were all discovered on Youtube. Comedians such as Jenna Marbles, Bo Burnham and Ray William Johnson were all first discovered on Youtube and now have sponsorship packages, they get paid to make videos!

I think Bo Burnham (a singer/songwriter/ comedian who found his fame via Youtube) pretty much sum's up the perks and set backs of Youtube right here :)

Youtube is also a place where you can be linked in to event happening all the way across the world. The London Riots were filmed from Mobile devices and posted online so you could see what was happening. The same could be said for the Syrian Riots. I watched the American Presidential Debates on Youtube because they are not broadcast over here.There are so many ways you can use this site.

Advertising is now a big thing on the videos. There tends to be a 20sec clip of a advertisement now before you can watch your desired video. This is what pays to keep the site running free. Youtube can be used to a PR advantage because you can make a brief advertisement, post it on Youtube, forward to Facebook and Twitter and maybe have your advert circulating the world in a few days if its good enough.

The power rests in one little button. Upload.