Alderney video goes viral

Friday 13 April 2018

A video called 'A place called Alderney,' posted on social media by a filmmaker based in the UK who still calls Alderney his home has already been viewed more than 55,000 times!

Cameron Cairnduff posted his vlog on Monday. It is an eight minute long video, filmed over a few summers which he finished last week with a voice over and skate board scenes. It received more than 10,000 views in less than two hours when it was first posted.

Mr Cairnduff is passionate about the island and particularly how it can market itself better in the modern world. His parents still live on the island in the house he grew up in. He said: "My parents bought a cottage in Alderney in 1989 and named it Apple Cottage and in fact got married in it too. They would visit nearly every month and when my sister and I arrived we spent long summer months on the island. My folks then retired there almost ten years ago."

Speaking about how quickly the video spread Mr Cairnduff said: "I uploaded the video to Facebook around 20:00 on Monday and by 22:00 it had hit 10,000 views; which my mum refused to go to bed until it did. I woke up the next day and it was already at 20,000 and now well over 50,000. I wasn’t surprised by the success of the video as I understand the relevancy and timing but I was surprised by the overwhelming sense of gratitude that people felt and expressed to me in the hundreds of messages and comments that I received."

Although Mr Cairnduff now runs his own creative consultancy in Manchester he is hugely passionate about Alderney. He said: "Alderney is special for me because it’s my home. Although I went to school in England I would travel home to Alderney on most Friday evenings and return to school again on the Monday morning red eye flight; back in time for morning registration. We never took family holidays because Alderney gave us all we needed to enjoy ourselves. I spent a lot of my time growing up on Alderney not only with friends my own age but older generations too. This is something that not many people understand and having been in business with people my own age I understand that the ability to converse with with older, more experienced generations is key to good communication. As well as the social skills that Alderney gave me, I would say that what makes it so special is its natural surroundings of beauty and history, the small community comradely and the relaxed life style."

Mr Cairnduff thinks that the island needs to become more modern in its approach to marketing: "I only became a vlogger a few months ago. I made this particular vlog for two reasons. Firstly, I wanted to show the world what an amazing island Alderney is, in the hope that people will want to visit, bring friends and maybe even settle on Alderney. Secondly, to prove a point to the states of Alderney that marketing has changed and they need to understand this before making future commitments within their marketing and tourism budgets."

 WATCH: A place called Alderney vlog

Mr Cairnduff flies home to Alderney regularly and it was during one of these visits home that the idea to make the vlog came about: "After having a very heated debate with my dad about the lack of modern marketing techniques for Alderney I told him that I would make a vlog about the island and put it online. As well as my dad and mum who support my work, I have to thank the fog in Alderney as well because the two day delay meant I could finish the vlog. Apart from the skateboarding and talking scenes I used footage from previous videos that I’ve been filming over the years."

With many people complaining recently about the lack of transport to and from the island, Mr Cairnduff has a unique perspective on travel operators investing in air and sea services: "I remember an island that was buzzing with life all year round. We used to joke about there being an overwhelming amount of pubs in comparison to the size of the island and the amount of people. Over the past decade Alderney has seen a decline in visitor numbers due to multiple factors including transportation problems and the high cost of travel but also the high cost of living and lack of local opportunities. Here’s the argument that I’m tired of hearing; 'We want more planes! We want a ferry! A more reliable service! And we want it now.' However, how can any airline be expected to invest in a route that is not be profitable? Aurigny say it isn't, but the figures need to be scrutinised before any long term strategy can be put in place."

"My approach is simple. If Alderney can market itself to different groups of people all year round, then the demand will put pressure on transportation companies, like Aurigny, who will see the island as a sound investment. However they will need to see that there is demand (and the mechanisms in place to prove that demand) before they will look to provide the island with the much needed resources to get people there. And in turn this will allow business to flourish. It’s simple economics; create the demand and the provision will follow."

Following the success of the vlog Mr Cairnduff is hoping to work with the states of Alderney, to show them a more modern approach to marketing that will appeal to all and ultimately help put Alderney on the map. Express certainly think his video is a great start for the little island!

Pictured main image: Cameron Cairnduff