Buffett (not Jimmy) Sings the Hits in New GEICO Video

• Mar 23rd, 2010
• Posted by Andy W.
• Posted in Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett, GEICO, YouTube

That’s right, Warren Buffett has taken to YouTube.  Buffett, whose company Berkshire Hathaway owns GEICO, appeared in an online video for the insurance giant known for its clever ads. In the video, GEICO customer service representatives sing a song of devotion to GEICO customers while a man in a gecko costume shreds some choice solos. Towards the 30 second mark, Buffet is enters, he dons a bandana, long hair and 1990’s era Axl Rose attire and croons in his raspy, 79 year old voice.

So far this video has gotten 61,292 views on GEICO’s YouTube channel, which is a respectable number for a video created by a brand. Even though it has not necessarily dominated the internet, it has achieved what social media marketers strive for in their campaigns, it got picked up by traditional media. Getting coverage from newspapers and television is a mark of a successful social media campaign, the irony of this notion is a whole other blog post, but social media marketers would have to agree with it. In this sense, Lizard Ballad is a rousing success not to be taken lightly.

If this video says anything about the state of corporate social media strategy, it’s that CEOs are now beginning to take it seriously (or in Buffett’s case, not so seriously). The maturation of SMM has been shown in many ways before but none have been as unique and personal as Buffett’s opus. This is the first time (that I can think of) that a big wig is joining the fun and being a content creator. So get ready for the zits folks, it looks like social media is hitting adolescence.