It’s a Small World and We’re All Connected
August 31st, 2007 Categories: In The News Calabasas
What do Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, Viral Marketing and John Gerard all have in common? A lot in my book. The Kevin Bacon game is based on the concept that it’s a small world, and we’re all connected. What you try to do is link any actor to Kevin Bacon in as little links as possible. For example, Jack Nicholson was in A Few Good Men with Kevin Bacon. Michelle Pfeiffer was in The Witches of Eastwick with Jack Nicholson, who was in A Few Good Men with Kevin Bacon. So Kevin is linked to Jack in only two degrees.
Viral marketing isn’t so different, it too is based on the concept that it’s a small world, and we’re all connected. Viral marketing is a technique that uses pre-existing social networks or relationships to increase brand awareness through self replicating viral processes. People pass along a marketing message voluntarily, for example, a funny video clip, an interesting article or a blog via email, text messages or even by word-of-mouth.
Who the heck is John Gerardand what does he have to do with any of this?
John is an amazingly passionate guy from Syracuse NY who quit his job, cancelled the contract on a house that he was buying and is driving across the country while conducting a unique social experiment. He wants to find out if a person can get famous in 31 days with just buzz. Its been a about a week since he started his trip and based on what I’ve seen, I think he is going to do it.
First let me give you my Six Degrees of separation on how I even know who John Gerard is. I’m a member of Active Rain a real estate bloggers website. Colleen Kulikowski posted a blog called the Laurie Manny Challenge, 3 Posts I think you should read. This was a contest asking Active Rain members to write about their three favorite blogs. John Novak listed Problogger as one of his three favorite bloggers in his contest post. After reading John’s post, I subscribed to Problogger. A few weeks later Problogger interviewed John Gerard and wrote a blog post about his story. From that article I clicked on the Famous in 31 Days link and that’s why you’re reading this now.
This is the perfect example of viral marketing and the concept that it’s a small world and we’re all connected.
But wait…..there is more to this story and this gets good, so stay with me here. After checking out John Gerard’s Famous in 31 days website and watching his videos I immediately become sucked in to his project (this is exactly what viral marketing is supposed to do). His story and project appeal to me on both a personal and professional level. Personally, this man is risking his career, his life savings and his reputation to follow his dream. He ultimately wants as much media attention as possible in the next few weeks to become famous (virally).
He is documenting his trip with a video camera as he goes. He posts video clips (video blogs/VLOGS) on the web as his trip progresses and plans to make a documentary at the end of his journey. John’s goal is to end up in Los Angeles on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
I called John yesterday to interview him for this post. He is warm, articulate, full of energy, has a great sense of humor and is very passionate. After chatting with John for awhile and getting all the background information I asked him what I could do to help him reach his goal. We talked about this for awhile.
What John really needs is publicity and viral buzz. As I see it, he needs the same thing that bloggers need. What I’m asking you my reader, is to take a peek inside your little black book, Rolodex, Blackberry and see who you know that connects to fame. Can you connect fame and John Gerard with your contacts? Maybe you know a news reporter, a TV personality, a producer, a film maker or even a movie star? Perhaps you can write about John in your blog?
I bet you’re asking yourself why you’d get involved with this project? This has nothing to do with real estate. Well I’ll tell you why, this is all about viral and so is blogging. This is an important social buzz challenge and as a blogger its a great demonstration of what a dream and a few typewriter keys can do. In John’s case, a dream and a video camera.
Check out John’s Famous in 31 Days website, and watch a a few of his videos. His email address and phone number are right there on the site. He answers his email and phone personally. If you do decide to post a story about John on your blog, be sure to email him a link so he can post it on his website.
Its a small world and we’re all connected.
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Joe, Good luck with your blog strike and feel free to post a follow up here.
Thanks Tracey. Just finished it.
ON STRIKE FOR JOHN GERARD!
And my brother went to Johnson & Wales. It is a small world!
Great post! And where the heck is pumpkin city? I met John in Syracuse while teaching a class there, and was in one of his first videos. I’m the guy whose drawing is on his site.
Hope he makes it on the Tonight Show!
Tracy – what a great post – LOVE it – I too am a member of Active Rain and a new Tomato Blog member
– still under construction. If you ever get a chance you might really enjoy the book The Tipping Point which talks about how the 6 degrees of separation experiment started. Enjoyed your blog – see you again soon.
Cyndee, I have read the Tipping Point and thought it was a great book. I’ll be sure to check out your new blog with the Tomato guys.
Tracey, I relished this story. I can SO get into articles of this type. Love the whole ‘connection’ thing. Nice blog too! On Active Rain I would see your name around and think, that girl’s name means Pumpkin in Spanish, never knowing it was your city. Poor, pitiful me. lol I’m off to visit John Gerard!
Thank you for sharing!
What in interesting concept. Too bad he didn’t get on the Tonight Show! The marketing certainly is a fascinating topic. Who knows where we will end up once we start down the path.
Nice Pumpkins!
kk
Tracey- your blog is gorgeous!! Funny story about viral marketing- it does work!
Maggie, It’s so funny that you thought I was the pumpkin. You know I call everyone pumpkin and not many people understand why.
Hey Kristal, He didn’t make it to the tonight show, but he is in the process of editing his documentary now so I guess we’ll have to wait and see how that all turns out.
Ginger – Thank You, I love viral marketing. I love pumpkins, this is my month!
Um, Kevin Bacon was in A Few Good Men with Jack Nicholson.
Very good site. Thanks!
http://usephen.blog.ca deaajdgo
Kristal Marshall…
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read….