Qoof.com - Usermercials and Other Fun Neologisms

You´ve seen those infomercials for over-mystified, kitchen products-- all purpose blenders, stainless steel super knives, puree machines, etc.; most all these commercials are made to look like regular people, i.e. not professional actors, are having one devil of a good time with the product in question. It´s supposed to look real, right? Well, with TV time being hugely usurped by internet TV time, marketers are losing their audiences. Enter Qoof. While the name is an interesting choice, the concept is even more novel. Qoof is all about the usermercial, which is at its core is an extension of those old infomercials on TV, except these aren´t mock-ups; usermercials are really made by real people. It´s the type of thing you see on YouTube, except by partnering with an affiliate market you´ll get to earn money with your video. How it works: you make a short commercial, or usermercial featuring a product you likeâ€"say a book, or toothpaste; next, upload the video to Qoof, attach an affiliate code, and send it to friends, add it to your blog or MySpace page for maximum coverage, and watch the dollars roll in. Some tips before submitting your video, proffered by Qoof´s admin, include, watch your hygiene (don´t forget to brush your hair!), be honest, and get creative. All uploaded do videos become property of Qoof, and you may only post 10 usermercials.

“Unlike social networks, which are focused on entertainment, Qoof is solely focused on maximizing our clients´ sales revenue and harnessing the power of their message through video.

Qoof taps into the all powerful outlet of TV on the internet and the momentum of 2.0. With users generating their own commercials, affiliate marketers spend less on their own ads while still gaining revenue. Usermercial makers meanwhile enjoy some tidy profits themselves, along with internet fame. It could have a viral effect.

If you do look at some of those usermercials, you´ll find them almost painfully DIY; they tend to be low-fi, with bad lighting and poor sound. Will people really want to watch them? Will companies want these ads attached to their products?