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Hilary Clinton and the YouTube Generation

I love YouTube, and so do millions of others around the world. The concept has been proven time and time again. It's a terrific marketing strategy, for the low price of producing a video. How much would someone pay to have a video potentially viewed by the entire world? But wait, its essentially free? When have we as individuals ever had that type of opportunity?

Mix in someone in Hilary's position, a US Senator running for President, and you've now got the power to make a difference in your campaign for less than it costs to have a meeting with your staff. Sen. Hilary Clinton has used YouTube and other such oportunities to talk to the voters. Be it searching for a campaign song or reviewing the song entries, videos give her a direct way to promote indirectly, while entertaining those who watch the video.

In her latest video, the Senator and President Bill Clinton are spoofing the last episode of the Sopranos. So not only are we talking about marketing to the fans of Soprano's, you've also got the curiosity factor. It doesn't matter if you support Sen. Clinton or not, human nature urges us to watch the video to see what all the fuss is about. It's a win-win situation for both parties!

Some have begun to criticize her choices for the video and the song, however this is just more free publicity for her campaign. While there's always a risk in what you do, you just need to evaluate the potential benefit vs. the risk. In this case, the risk is more exposure and more press. How is that ever been bad for a politician?

How can you use the power of online video sharing sites such as YouTube, Google Video, iTunes (for podcasts), and the dozens of other outlets to promote your product, idea, or service?

If you are not using these avenues, you may be passing up one of the biggest opportunities to generate buzz and interest for a very low cost.

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