Attention-grabbers used in LG15 - Revision history

Shiori: /* Usage of a Central Account */ I'm renaming this section; it was a little weird

2009-04-04T17:44:20Z

‎Usage of a Central Account: I'm renaming this section; it was a little weird

Shiori: Okay, I think that's done.

2009-04-02T21:41:10Z

Okay, I think that's done.

Shiori: Creating page; not complete by any means.

2009-04-02T21:04:15Z

Creating page; not complete by any means.

New page

Over the years, many techniques have been utilized in an attempt to draw attention to [[LG15]] shows, as well as increase views for singular videos.

==The Thumbnail Trick==
[[Image:Breeunthinkable.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Still from [[My Difficult Decision]] that was inserted into [[The Unthinkable Happened]].]]
The "thumbnail trick" is used to draw more attention to videos posted on [[YouTube]]. Videos on this site are represented by their title and an accompanying thumbnail picture, which is drawn from the midpoint of the video. [[The Creators]] realized that having interesting thumbnail pictures helped their videos get more views, so they began to insert a picture into the middle of each video, in this way getting control of the thumbnail that represented it. The thumbnail picture chosen often has the LG15 logo on it, and occasionally is a picture from a different video altogether.

The first instance of the thumbnail trick was in "[[The Unthinkable Happened]]", which included a still from the early video "[[My Difficult Decision]]". This "test run" was part of new efforts by the Creators to devise new ways of attracting viewers. This trick is used only for videos posted first on YouTube. It has also not been utilized in any series other than [[lonelygirl15]].

The thumbnail trick does not come without its drawbacks. Since the trick requires the insertion of a still picture into the video, that picture does momentarily appear on screen. Though it is very brief, its appearance is noticed by many viewers and detracts from the overall quality of the presentation. However, the trick serves its purpose: to draw in more viewers, to reinforce the LG15 brand, and to attract more hits to the lonelygirl15.com website.

==Usage of a Central Account==
Another strategy that surfaced from the initial efforts to raise view counts was the posting of all videos to [[Bree]]'s account, regardless of who the blogger was. This change was implemented because videos on Bree's account always got many more views than those on other accounts. This strategy continued when [[KateModern]] videos were posted to YouTube, likely for simplification purposes. Since the 2008 redesign of the [[lg15.com]] website, central accounts have only been used for recap videos or trailers.

==Adult Content==
Many videos feature adult content, which may drive views, and may also be used to provide a more "edgy" or realistic view to the videos.

===Sexual Themes===
[[Image:0458-SarahLongConversation.jpg|thumb|right|Join in on the conversation!]]
Sexual themes have become more prevalent as characters mature and their relationships become more complex. Many speculate that it is to drive viewership, though it has never been proven. This brings to mind the old adage, "Sex sells.", a well known and proven maxim of marketing. As the sex drive is one of the strongest motivating factors, it is something that all of us relate to on a primal level. With this in mind, it is realistic that a story about the lives of young adults would show some influence of sex upon them, as any observation of young adults in the real world would yield.

Use of Sexual Themes include:
* Suggestive episode titles
* Partial nudity or cleavage, especially as thumbnails
* Suggestive dialogue.

Regardless of the nature behind these sexual references, they have indeed driven viewership on a number of occasions. The most noticeable of these is "[[Girl Tied Up]]", which, with both a suggestive title ''and'' thumbnail, quickly became the [[Million views|most watched video ever]].

===Violence===
Although early lonelygirl15 videos were devoid of actual gun violence, or even much violence at all, with the shooting of [[Bree's dad]] in "The Unthinkable Happened" (Dec. 31, 2006), things got a lot more serious and dangerous in the LG15 Universe.

Guns have been used in videos for protection, stalking of characters, or as threats to hostages. Other types of violence that have been featured in videos include hand fights, torture, threats of sexual violence, and the use of vehicles as a weapon.

===Four-Letter Words===
Four-letter words are words often used to express anger and frustration, which generally are not allowed on television. Before it was known that lonelygirl15 was fictional, some fans were surprised by the use of four-letter words, and suggested that this was a clue that viral marketers were not behind the project. Their use has become prevalent in every series, and is occasionally used as an example of what sets the series apart from those found on traditional networks.

==Video Tags==
YouTube uses keywords called "tags" to assist in categorizing its videos. Often times these tags are used to draw attention to the video itself.

For instances for unusual tags used in videos, see [[strange tags]].

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 The thumbnail trick does not come without its drawbacks. Since the trick requires the insertion of a still picture into the video, that picture does momentarily appear on screen. Though it is very brief, its appearance is noticed by many viewers and detracts from the overall quality of the presentation. However, the trick serves its purpose: to draw in more viewers, to reinforce the LG15 brand, and to attract more hits to the lonelygirl15.com website.
-==Usage of a Central Account==
+==Central Accounts==
-Another strategy that surfaced from the initial efforts to raise view counts was the posting of all videos to [[Bree]]'s account, regardless of who the blogger was. This change was implemented because videos on Bree's account always got many more views than those on other accounts. This strategy continued when [[KateModern]] videos were posted to YouTube, likely for simplification purposes. Since the 2008 redesign of the [[lg15.com]] website, central accounts have only been used for recap videos or trailers.
+Another strategy that surfaced from the initial efforts to raise view counts was the posting of all videos to [[Bree]]'s account, regardless of who the blogger was. This change was implemented because videos on Bree's account always got many more views than those on other accounts. This strategy continued when [[KateModern]] videos were posted to YouTube, likely for simplification purposes.
 ==Adult Content==

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ==Adult Content==
-Many videos feature adult content, which may drive views, and may also be used to provide a more "edgy" or realistic view to the videos.
+Many videos feature adult content, which may drive views, and may also be used to provide a more "edgy" or realistic view to the videos. For this reason, videos could be considered "PG-13", and should be treated as such.
 ===Sexual Themes===
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 Regardless of the nature behind these sexual references, they have indeed driven viewership on a number of occasions. The most noticeable of these is "[[Girl Tied Up]]", which, with both a suggestive title ''and'' thumbnail, quickly became the [[Million views|most watched video ever]].
-===Violence===
+===Violence and Crimes===
-Although early lonelygirl15 videos were devoid of actual gun violence, or even much violence at all, with the shooting of [[Bree's dad]] in "The Unthinkable Happened" (Dec. 31, 2006), things got a lot more serious and dangerous in the LG15 Universe.
+[[Image:0172-FracasInvolvingJonasDanielAndAGun.jpg|thumb|right|Jonas pulls out a gun!]]
-Guns have been used in videos for protection, stalking of characters, or as threats to hostages. Other types of violence that have been featured in videos include hand fights, torture, threats of sexual violence, and the use of vehicles as a weapon.
+In all LG15 shows, it should also be noted that several characters have a somewhat callous disregard for the law. Committing crimes is not necessarily wise, but posting them on the Internet in video form cries sheer stupidity. Various crimes that have committed include theft, breaking and entering, homicide, kidnapping, evading arrest, and [[Inebriated|underage drinking]].
 ===Four-Letter Words===
@@ Line 38: / Line 40: @@
 For instances for unusual tags used in videos, see [[strange tags]].