If you're wondering about the power of viral media talk to Ted Williams.
It took just a few hours for Williams, a homeless man in Columbus, Ohio, to become the latest viral sensation, sifting through job offers pouring in including one from the Central Ohio Chapter of the Ohio Credit Union League.
Williams, an ex-radio announcer who fell on hard times after drug abuse, was featured on The Columbus Dispatch website in a video story titled "Golden Homeless Voice."
He was given an opportunity to demonstrate his vocal talents and delivered in a big way.
Upon hearing the story, Nicole Carey, marketing manager for BMI Federal Credit Union in Dublin, Ohio, figured out a way to give Williams his second chance. Ohio CU League Central Chapter President Amanda Thomas offered him up to $10,000 in voiceover work for an upcoming awareness campaign to help spread the word about its BumpYourBank.com website, which lays out the difference between banks and credit unions.
Since the story broke the video has been shared on YouTube, Facebook, and Reddit.com and has been trending on Twitter. His story has also been picked up by such media outlets as CNN, CBS, ABC, Inside Edition, and local Columbus television affiliates. Williams also appeared on the CBS Early Show this morning.
The job offers have been pouring in. Most recently Williams said the Cleveland Cavaliers offered him a full time job and a house.
There are some skeptics. Longtime radio personality Howard Stern weighed in on his show this morning after fans kept sending him Williams' video asking him to offer the homeless man a job, and said he thinks the video may be a hoax, that it could be some kind of viral advertising campaign.
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