Video views can be driven by people actually viewing the videos. Or they can be purchased and generated by bots.

1. Augustine Fou- 1 -
What Purchased Video
Views Looks Like
Dr. Augustine Fou
http://linkd.in/augustinefou
acfou @mktsci .com
June 2014

2. Augustine Fou- 2 -
Suspicious Views
same views per day, botnet

3. Augustine Fou- 3 -
VenetianPrincess
Source: Socialbakers Channel Stats Tool
Daily traffic is exactly the same

4. Augustine Fou- 4 -
Werevertumorro
Source: Socialbakers Channel Stats Tool
Botnet recently turned on

5. Augustine Fou- 5 -
Purchased Views
create a straight line

6. Augustine Fou- 6 -
Bruno Mars – Treasure
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPvuNsRccVw
In the cumulative chart, views are perfectly straight line (consistent with a set
amount of purchased views over time). In the daily chart, the traffic remains
“propped up” and shows regular spikes; this is inconsistent with naturally occurring
PR or word of mouth generated views.
straight line
propped up baseline

7. Augustine Fou- 7 -
Macklemore – Same Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0
When they started buying traffic

8. Augustine Fou- 8 -
Real Views
supported by search volume

9. Augustine Fou- 9 -
Old Spice Guy
Search volume for “old spice guy”
Views supported by TV ads
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE
Increases in views correspond to
support by TV ads; search volume at
those exact times also corroborate.

10. Augustine Fou- 10 -
Dr. Augustine Fou – Digital Consigliere
“I study online advertising trends and
delve into ‘evidence based’analysis of
various forms of online ads so I can
advise clients on optimizing their ad
spending across channels and specifically
in digital.”
FORMER CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER, HCG (OMNICOM)
MCKINSEY CONSULTANT
CLIENT SIDE / AGENCY SIDE EXPERIENCE
PROFESSOR AND COLUMNIST
ENTREPRENEUR / SMALL BUSINESS OWNER
PHD MATERIALS SCIENCE (MIT '95) AT AGE 23
@acfou
ClickZ Articles: http://bit.ly/augustine-fou-clickz
Slideshares: http://bit.ly/augustine-fou-slideshares
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/84444-augustinefou

11. Augustine Fou- 11 -
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http://www.slideshare.net/augustinefou/video-ad-spending-vs-tv-ad-
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Augustine Fou- 11 -