The Web's Most Viral Ads

Online video ads are meant for cheap laughs, but getting them onto the Net and influencing viewers is no joke

Companies are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to create humorous ads in hopes they'll go "viral" -- what it's called when computer users spread content throughout the Internet via personal Web sites, blogs, and e-mails. The appeal of viral video has long been the potential to reach millions of viewers, without the hefty placement fees to media companies.

But those videos are slicker than ever, and making them is becoming a big business, generating $100 million to $150 million a year, according to market researchers. To see what the buzz is about, open the following link in a new window or copy and paste into your browser...

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