Blast from the past! How Chatbooks' Record-Breaking 3 Min YouTube Ad Revolutionized Online Marketing

Chatbooks, a Utah-based company that offers an easy way to turn digital photos into printed photo books, made headlines in 2019 for creating the longest pre-roll YouTube commercial ever. The ad, which clocked in at 3 minutes and 30 seconds, was a direct violation of YouTube's rules that pre-roll ads should not exceed 15 seconds. However, despite this, the ad became a huge success for the company.

The idea for the ad came from Chatbooks' CEO, Nate Quigley, who believed that a longer ad would be more effective in conveying the company's message. Instead of creating a traditional ad that focused on the features and benefits of their product, the Chatbooks team decided to take a humorous and relatable approach to their marketing.

The ad features a mom who is struggling to keep up with the never-ending task of printing and organizing family photos. She's constantly interrupted by her kids, who are always getting into mischief and making a mess. As the ad progresses, the mom becomes more and more frazzled, until she discovers Chatbooks and realizes that she can easily create photo books without all the hassle.

The ad struck a chord with viewers and quickly went viral, generating over 2 million views on YouTube within the first few weeks of its release. It was also featured on numerous news outlets and blogs, further increasing its reach and impact.

So what made the ad so successful?

First and foremost, it was entertaining. The ad didn't feel like a traditional commercial, but more like a funny and relatable short film. This helped it stand out from the countless other ads that viewers are bombarded with every day.

Secondly, the ad was effective in conveying Chatbooks' message. Rather than simply promoting the product's features, the ad showed viewers how Chatbooks could solve a common problem that many people face - the overwhelming task of organizing and printing family photos.

Finally, the length of the ad actually worked in its favor. While it may have violated YouTube's rules for pre-roll ads, it allowed Chatbooks to tell a complete story and connect with viewers on a deeper level than a traditional 15-second ad would have.

Chatbooks' decision to create the longest pre-roll YouTube commercial paid off in a big way. The ad was entertaining, effective, and memorable, and helped the company establish itself as a leader in the photo book industry. It goes to show that sometimes, breaking the rules can lead to great success.