Whether you’ve ever wanted George Costanza toasting your father at the Festivus or Chaka Khan wishing you a happy birthday, Cameo can make your dreams come true. You probably know Cameo as a platform that allows fans to request celebrity videos, but did you know that you can also use Cameo to grow your business?
Read on to find out more about how Cameo can work for you and your company.
What is Cameo?
Cameo is a website and mobile app that allows you to request personalized video messages from celebrities. Founded in 2016, Cameo connects fans with their favorite actors, athletes, musicians, performers, creators and social media influencers.
Most users order cameos for other people because they make the perfect gift – and bonus, no packaging is required. But you don’t have to wait for a special occasion. You can also order a video for yourself or as part of a business strategy.
While Cameo is best known for its pre-recorded videos that can be uploaded and shared, you can also make live video calls! Cameo Calls lets you chat with your favorite celebrity and invite a group of friends to join you.
How does Cameo work?
Cameo is very user friendly and easy to learn. Start by visiting their website or downloading the Cameo app to view the celebrity list. You will need to create a Cameo account in order to make a request.
You can search Cameo by category, such as actors, musicians, or comedians. Or you enter certain terms into the search bar, such as “Great British Bake Off “. There are thousands of celebrities on the Cameo marketplace, so it’s good to use your own search terms!
Using the sidebar menu options, you can filter by criteria such as price and rating. If you forgot that tomorrow is your best friend’s birthday, you can even limit your search to 24/7 delivery options!
You can also view celebrity profiles and read their ratings and reviews. Each profile has a selection of videos so you can check out their style and delivery.
Once you have chosen your celebrity, the fun begins. First, let Kameo know if you are booking for yourself or someone else. From there, Cameo will ask you for the following details:
- Introduce yourself. Tell your favorite celebrities why you’re so excited to hear from them. Remember, they are the real people on the other end of this request – they will read what you say! This is an opportunity to be real.
- Enter the recipient’s name and photo. If you are giving your cameo as a gift, include the name of the person you are sending it to. You also have the option to upload a photo. Later, you can add information about the pronunciation of the name.
- Add pronouns. This optional function allows you to specify pronouns. Cameo offers she/her, they/them, and he/him, but you can enter any pronouns you use in this field.
- Pick a reason. Do you send the cameo as a birthday present? Do you want advice? Looking for a pep talk? Or maybe just for fun? Cameo offers several occasions for you to choose from.
- Add instructions. Here you can get as many details as you want. Do you want Jonathan Frakes to tell your brother for two minutes straight that he’s wrong? Paste it into the request form! Just make sure you follow the community guidelines: no hate speech, sexual content, or harassment. The more information you provide here, the better your video will be. If you don’t know what to include, Cameo will also help you. They offer written prompts to help you figure out which details to mention.
- Attach video. If you make a request through the mobile app, you can also include a video up to 20 seconds long. This is another opportunity to express your wishes and give your favorite celebrity some details to personalize your video.
If you want your video to stay between you and the recipient, select Hide this video from [celebrity name]’s profile. Otherwise, it may be published on Cameo, where it can be viewed by other users.
After you’ve finished making a request, you fill in your payment details (they accept most major credit cards) and confirm your order. Cameo will send you a confirmation email and let you know how much time the celebrity has to fulfill your request. This is usually a seven-day window, but some Cameo celebrities offer 24/7 delivery.
When your video is ready, it will appear in your Cameo account. You will also receive a link to the video via email. You can watch the video, share the link directly, or download the file to keep it forever.
After you receive your video, you will be asked to write a review. And if for some reason the celebrity is unable to fulfill your request, your payment will be refunded.
How much is Cameo worth?
Cameo prices vary depending on how famous and in-demand the celebrity is. Brian Cox is $689 (a steal if you have Roy’s family money) and Lindsay Lohan is $500.
But there is a huge range, and hundreds of stars offer personalized videos for $100 or less. You can even find options ranging from $10 to $25. These might not be the most famous names, but they could be your favorite drag queens or TikTok creators – and that matters!
Can Cameo be used for business?
Yes! Cameo for Business was designed especially for you. It’s perfect for companies that need celebrity endorsements for their new product launch or upcoming event.
If you are looking for videos for business purposes, then you need to go through the Cameo for Business website. According to Cameo’s Terms of Use, Cameo’s personal video may not be used for promotional or commercial purposes.
(That’s why I can’t show you the cameo I commissioned from actor James Marsters, aka Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is too bad because it’s incredible.)
But the ordering process for Cameo for Business is very similar. You can browse over 45,000 celebrities.
As with personal Cameo videos, prices vary, but you can usually expect a business video to carry a higher price tag. For example, Lindsay Lohan will create a personalized video for $500, while for a business video she will charge $3,500.
Cameo for Business also offers customized business support. Collaborate with Cameo to create a roadmap and set measurable goals, and get data-driven celebrity recommendations that resonate with your audience.
Cameo will also help you run your campaign in just a week – perfect if you’re on a tight deadline!
6 ideas for using Cameo for business
1. Increase brand awareness
The Cameo Snap x Cameo Advertiser program allows brands to create their own video ads exclusively for Snapchat. These ads are perfect for raising awareness, especially for brands targeting a younger audience looking to connect with Snapchat’s 339 million daily users.
GIF via cameo
Through Snap x Cameo, retail brand Mattress Firm has created a series of video ads to build brand awareness, working with a range of celebrities including NFL stars, broadcasters and content creators. The campaign increased ad awareness by 8 points and video views were 3x higher than the industry average.
2. Launch the product
Celebrity Endorsement is a proven marketing tactic, but that’s because it works!
Snack line Dean’s Dips partnered with Cameo and Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones to launch the “Chipper and Dipper”campaign to promote their new dips. With Cameo, they were able to find a celebrity that perfectly matched their customer demographics. After all, what’s better for exercising than chips and dips?
Image via cameo
In addition to promotional video content, the campaign included social pranks, offering fans the opportunity to interact with Jones in a cameo. The contest increased engagement and created more shareable video content for Dean’s Dips. The result was a successful and original product launch.
3. Book a speaker
Whether you’re looking for a guest host for your podcast or an inspiring speaker for your next event, Cameo is the alternative to traditional speaker bureaus.
Apple Leisure Group worked with Cameo to invite broadcaster Carson Kressley to their annual conference, to the delight of their attendees.
Image via cameo
You can order speakers for concerts and panels, as well as jointly create an individual program of events based on the personality of the star. Kressley played games with attendees and attracted audiences, which played into his strengths as a broadcaster and presenter and ensured the success of the event.
4. Make your employees happy
The pandemic has undermined workplace culture initiatives as working from home has become the new normal. While telecommuting has many benefits, many workers feel out of touch and employers are wondering how to engage them from a distance.
Hosting a virtual employee event with your favorite celebrity is a great way to give a truly amazing and fun experience. Or reward high achievers with personalized videos from their favorite stars to show them how much you appreciate them. Whether it’s Kenny G serenading them on the saxophone, or a face-to-face encounter with an elephant sanctuary, it’s definitely better than an “employee of the month”certificate.
5. Ride the Viral Wave
In August 2022, the internet experienced a rare moment of genuine happiness when they met Tariq, a little boy who loves corn very much. “Corn Boy”went viral because he said what we all know to be true: corn is amazing.
Sensing a great opportunity, Chipotle commissioned a business video with Tariq through Cameo. Together they created a TikTok video of their shared love of chili and corn salsa (and amassed over 56 million views in the process!)
@chipotle Wait for it #corn
This strategy worked because of the timing. It aired just a few weeks after Tariq’s internet fame, when “Corn Boy”was still resonating with online audiences. If you want to capitalize on a viral trend or meme, speed is everything. Luckily, Cameo can roll out a business campaign in less than a week.
6. Host a contest
One of the biggest uses for Cameo? Send birthday messages to friends from your favorite celebrities.
So Bud Light worked with Cameo to run a contest, encouraging people in the UK to enter and win a celebrity greeting for a friend. Through Cameo, they collaborated with six British celebrities and gave away six videos.
Image via cameo
The giveaway attracted seven times more attention than their regular campaign and 92% positive user reviews. It also resulted in video content perfect for social media sharing, further boosting brand awareness and engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kameo
Who are the highest paid celebrities on Cameo?
The highest paid celebrity as of October 2022 was… Caitlyn Jenner for $2,500.
How long does it take to get a cameo video?
Cameo guarantees delivery within seven days. You can also use search filters to find celebrities who deliver orders in a shorter time, such as “< 3 days”. If you’re really in a crisis, you can limit your search to celebrities who offer 24 hour delivery.
Cameo is social media?
Cameo is not your typical social media platform. Users do not have the ability to create their own content or interact with each other, which are the main functions of a social network. But Cameo videos can be shared on other social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat.
How do you get cameo videos?
You will receive a link to the Cameo video via email. It will also be added to your Cameo account when ready. You can find it by logging into your account and checking “My Orders”.
How long can you keep your Cameo video?
Forever! Your Cameo video will be stored in your Cameo profile under “Your Orders”. You can also download the video and save it to your phone or computer.
Are Cameo videos accessible to people with hearing impairments?
Yes. You have the option to turn on subtitles when you receive a video.
Can you ask celebrities to say whatever you want?
It depends on the. Cameo prohibits requests that contain hateful or violent language, as well as material of a sexual or pornographic nature. For example, you can’t send or request nude videos or ask a celebrity to harass someone.
Some celebrities also have preferences on their profiles, especially when it comes to roasts. Remember that you are talking to real people and try to be respectful.