Even Especially in a down market like this, we need a little humor with our financial research. That’s why I get my daily dose of Wallstrip each day. Wallstrip, the only vlog (video blog) on my list was a pioneer in the use of video. While others, including broker-dealers, had previously tried to convey research on video, Wallstrip realized that in order to get users to consume their product they’d need to make it entertaining and brief.
A typical Wallstrip episode is around 2-3 minutes long, just enough to briefly tell the story of a particular company without getting tied up in too many details. They wrap the facts in humor and a healthy dose of sarcasm, creating a tasty, snack-size portion of investment research.
Conceived by Howard Lindzon in the summer of 2006, Wallstrip was acquired by CBS in May, 2007 (it’s not often a startup goes from back of napkin to acquisition in less than a year). While I miss the wit and on-screen personality of original host Lindsay Campbell, replacement Julie Alexandria does a more than admirable job of filling her Manolo Blahniks.
When Wallstrip first launched, the biggest challenge for me was when and where to view it. We have an open office space so audio and video can be disruptive at work. But the Wallstrip team quickly began making the episodes available via iTunes so now I watch the latest episode on my iPhone during my morning commute. It’s perfect.
While Wallstrip has had many creative episodes, my favorite remains their take on Salesforce.com (NASD:CRM), spoofing one of my all-time favorite movies, Glengarry Glen Ross. Watch it here if you haven’t already seen it and remember - "coffee's for closers".
