Never underestimate the power of one blog post. I surely did.

Several days ago I announced a cosplay photo shoot at the Intramuros Golf Club. I had left an “open invitation” for online friends and acquaintances to take part in a very informal shoot on a Sunday afternoon.

I was expecting 5 or 6 friends to show up.

I ended up with a total of more than 45 people.

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Holy cow. There I was at 2:30 PM at the golf course getting a slight asthma attack because I had not expected such a huge reciprocation with this “informal gathering.” I’m amazed. Truly thankful. And still in shock.

Here is how this viral marketing phenomenon happened, to my limited understanding:

1. I posted an entry inviting people to shoot with Markku.
2. The post was picked up by a random sampling of photographers and was posted in Lomomanila, DPP forums, Tipid PC, PiPho, and Rangefinder PH
3. Upon hearing about the shoot, Senor Enrique started an SMS campaign
4. The crowd started to pour in and there would have been a few more photographers showing up had they not have gotten lost (really sorry about the vague directions)

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To those who came, thank you very much for taking time out on a Sunday afternoon at the Intramuros Golf Club and shoot with the models. I made new acquaintances and reinforced my memory with familiar faces as well. I’m not in the market to start a new photo organization but I do enjoy organizing small “wala lang” (”just for the sake of”) events like these around the metro. People have jokingly called this meet the first official photo shoot for the “Ako ay JAPO” group which stands for “Just Another Photo Org.”

Speaking of these small events I help plan, I illustrate my advocacy at the Blog and Soul Project which is a movement to make blogging a relevant paradigm for new media.

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More pictures here. Photo credit to abuggedlife.com please :)

Boy was that fun! Thank you to the models, photographers, as well as to the Intramuros Golf Club for lending us the venue. I especially enjoyed talking to Eric Isaac, Joey Climaco, Markku, Juned, meeting Rain Contreras (w00t your TLR rocks!!) in the flesh, and hanging out with the rest of the photographers

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Till the next shoot!

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You have 14 Responses

  1. Jayvs, i toldya. It will work. =) which ties in to the other stuff we’ve been talking about. congrats.

    2. Kiven on May 21st, 2007 at 10:32 am

  2. thanks for coming everyone^_^ Specially to you Jayvee^_^ Lupet ng blog power mo. :P

    3. Jerry on May 21st, 2007 at 1:42 pm

  3. Thanks for a great shoot, Jayvee! You rock! :)

    4. Mike Abundo on May 21st, 2007 at 2:56 pm

  4. [...] first event, a cosplay photoshoot, turned out better than expected. This is definitely a good sign and a great inspiration for future [...]

    5. The Blog and Soul Movement: Philippine Blogging as Media * Stellify on May 21st, 2007 at 6:23 pm

  5. [...] the weekend I realized the power of viral marketing over the web. With blogs, forums, podcasts and other real world connectivity synchronizers like SMS campaigns, [...]

    6. The Blog and Soul Movement » Blog Archive » Tagline :) on May 21st, 2007 at 7:24 pm

  6. Some photos are uploaded already, man, but there’s some more to follow:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/raincontreras/

    7. rain on May 21st, 2007 at 10:45 pm

  7. [...] thanks to jayvee for the invite. kakaiba talaga ang power of one (blog entry). sa [...]

    8. Jobarclix » Blog Archive » cosplay shoot on May 22nd, 2007 at 1:07 am

  8. ey jayvs, thanks for the shoot. sa uulitin. my pics are here: http://jobarclix.multiply.com/photos/album/39

    9. jobarclix on May 22nd, 2007 at 1:21 am

  9. Completed the set, in case you’re interested.

    10. rain on May 22nd, 2007 at 7:53 pm

  10. [...] orgs and online communities that me and Jayvee were wondering how the idea turned itself into a successful idea virus. Joey, Juned, and Eric were very helpful in facilitating the activities and talking with everyone, [...]

    11. Photographers in action [rebelpixel productions] on May 23rd, 2007 at 2:25 pm

  11. [...] Jayvee Fernandez Markku Seguerra Senor Enrique Ricky Refuerzo Eric Fernandez Patrick Hocchuan Maxi Adrian San Agustin Rain Contreras Jolengs Francis D Richard Santillan Reuel Mark Delez Alistaire Ong Ian Ong Jerome Jovellanos Buzzada Foeva Ten Paras Mike Serrano Ace Balsador Marco dela Torre Francis Gaerlan Jenina Dennis Bryan Joan JC Joey Rossette Lea Bien [...]

    12. Filipina Cosplay Idol as Fran, Chii, Schoolgirl, and Gothloli on May 23rd, 2007 at 10:49 pm

  12. [...] realized that this is a proof of concept of how viral marketing works in the Philippines: from blog post to forum thread to an SMS campaign. At least for this [...]

    13. Blog Addicts » From blogs to forums to SMS campaigns on May 28th, 2007 at 5:18 pm

  13. [...] photographers they will need as they left the numbers open. Compared to the last shoot we did in Intramuros, this one will be a bit tight as it will be on an early morning Friday. There will be [...]

    14. A Bugged Life [ the pseudo personal blog about blogging, technology and stuff ] » Blog Archive » Caylabne Bay Resort Shoot this Friday on June 5th, 2007 at 11:30 am

  14. [...] http://abuggedlife.com/2007/05/21/proof-of-concept-the-power-of-one-blog-post/ [...]

    15. Google Toggle « © Maxi Adrian | Digital Photographer on September 1st, 2007 at 12:26 am

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