The Story of Stuff – Great Social Marketing Through Social Media

My buddies at Free Range Studios created this fantastic viral video that was featured at Bioneers last October. While lambasted in the mainstream media, the Story of Stuff has been a fave of left-leaning environmental activists and educators.

Why? Because it makes you think about where our stuff comes from and where it is going, and the part we all play in this consumption oriented system.

What makes the Story of Stuff successful?

In a similar style to CommonCraft’s In Plain English video series, the Story of Stuff uses simple animations to illustrate complex concepts. Video animation is a great medium to tell a complex story in a simple, yet compelling way. The message is easily digestible by kids as well as adults.

Imagine trying to explain the Story of Stuff in text, with, maybe a few diagrams. The message would probably be lost. The relationships between consumers, government, and corporations a little too complex to grok in words. The text version of the Story of Stuff would never go viral.

The Story of Stuff is a must see for anyone wanting to create an education campaign using social media, in order to raise awareness of sustainability issues.

Related posts:

1. These Come From Trees – Saving Trees through Social Media Marketing
2. Justmeans Social Media for Sustainability Conference Oct 19, 2009
3. Buzz Marketing Through Social Media – What this Means for Search Engine Marketers
4. 6 Steps for Creating a Social Media Marketing Roadmap & Plan
5. What Is a Social Media News Release?

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