Posts filed under 'User-Generated Content'
Posted August 24th, 2007 by Char Lyn
Have you noticed the new features on YouTube? I love the new beta page—it’s cleaner and just feels better in my browser. Today I noticed that they’ve also added forward and back navigation buttons to the recommended videos at the end of each clip. The forward button also has a timer feature that lets you know when the presented clips will change. I’m thrilled about these nav buttons since I can never mange to click on an interesting video before it is replaced by a new one. They’ve also added thumbs up/down buttons to the comments to help filter out the drivel, which I greatly appreciate.
Successful Web services like YouTube have learned that they have to continuously improve in order to stay relevant. But, they also have to earn revenue. In addition to other improvements this week, YouTube has rolled out a new advertising format that overlays the videos like a news ticker at the bottom of the video. Its use is very limited right now, and I had to watch a number of videos before I found one with the new ads. The blogosphere is voicing its opinions about these ads in posts like these on Profy, CyberNet News, and Jaffe Juice.
According to Mashable, Google is making the ads optional for the content owners. If these ads survive the current maelstrom of mostly negative reaction, Google could potentially use the format to make revenue from the extremely popular embed feature, which currently allows people to put ad-free clips directly on their blogs and Web pages.
Corporate America has capitalized on the platform by sponsoring vloggers, posting their commercials, and buying banner ads. The new ad format may increase commercial use of YouTube and water-down the user generated content, but as the largest video community on the Web, it will continue to get the eyeballs marketers covet.
Posted August 15th, 2007 by admin
The recent bridge collapse in Minneapolis showed the extent to which citizen journalism has been empowered by social media. The news quickly spread on Twitter, photos were uploaded on Flickr and videos were posted on YouTube and the whole world could Digg them.
News organizations recognize the power of citizen journalism. Sites like CNN’s iReport, MSNBC’s First Person or BBC’s Talking Point call readers to submit their own content. The BBC even offers courses in photography and reporting. Even Yahoo came up with its own version called You Witness News.
A recent trend is citizen journalism sites where anyone can post news stories they find on the web and can also submit their original reporting. Here are a few:
NowPublic is probably the most prominent. The posts are twitted on the home page as they arrive. The site is mostly people re-sending news from news wire services, but every once in a while there is some original reporting by subscribers. The site claims little over 125,450 subscribers in 4095 cities.
Wikinews says it is trying to do for journalism what Wikipedia has done for Encyclopedias. It is up to you how you want to interpret that.
GroundReport.com is a citizen news portal that enables anyone to instantly publish articles, photography and video. A story gets pushed up by voting and a reporter needs to establish trust within the site. The frequency of posting is not great, but it does require original reporting to get published and all contributors earn a share of revenues based on traffic to their stories.
Orato.com is a site where both citizens and journalists contribute.
Another trend is news sites dedicated to specific towns and cities like Bostonist of Boston, Newton’s Garden City, and my personal favorite H2Otown of Watertown. If you want to see if your town has a site, visit the Knight Citizen News Network which has a nice map.
While the debate goes on whether citizen journalism is a good thing or not, the world keeps reporting and it has never been easier to get published. It has only been two years since I got a degree in journalism and I’m already wondering if it will be worth much in the future. Lucky for me I double majored!
Posted June 28th, 2007 by Kevin
Last week, Digital Influence Group Chairman, Larry Weber, celebrated the release of his new book, Marketing to the Social Web: How Digital Customer Communities Build Your Business, with a launch party at the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, Mass. Drawing on his three decades of experience, Larry provides a roadmap for all marketers looking to harness the power of the social web to enhance brand awareness and create effective customer communities. The early reviews are in and here is what people are saying about the book:
• “The Social Web is an intriguing but scary place for marketers,” said Josh Bernoff, Vice President at Forrester Research and co-author of Groundswell, an upcoming book on business strategy and social technologies. “Marketing to the Social Web is the guide you need to enter this world with confidence. Let Larry Weber take your hand and show you around – you’ll profit from it.”
• “Larry has brought pragmatic and useful recommendations to help brand builders manage the complexity of social interaction in a digital age. I was pleased to read a book that actually suggests how to do something with social networks, instead of just ponder them.” – David Kenny, Chairman and CEO, Digitas Inc.
• “Where’s the allure of social 2.0? Brands can talk…customers talk louder! Digital influence has arrived.” – Jeff Taylor, CEO, Eons and Founder of Monster.com.
• “Larry Weber provides a simple and effective roadmap of the new customer information highway. Marketing to the Social Web is a valuable tool that will give everyone the confidence and know-how to compete in this fast-growing marketplace of ideas.” – Steve Harris, Vice President, Global Communications, General Motors Corporation.
Of course, in the spirit of the social web, we want to hear reviews from some of the lucky few who were able to get their hands on a copy of the book already. We’re happy to answer questions and will keep you updated on the progress of the book as more news becomes available.
If you’re interested in learning more or purchasing a copy, please visit the books site here.
Posted June 15th, 2007 by Kristin
July 7, 2007, YouTubers and fans will converge upon Washington Square Park in NYC from 11am until 8pm for a gathering event. Why should marketers care? Popular YouTubers are the new influencers. Lonelygirl15 has 94,625 subscribers and her videos have over 11 million views. Smosh has 118,334 subscribers and their videos have over 6 million views. 777 is an excellent opportunity for marketers to begin cultivating a relationship with these influencers, not to mention spread around some swag to develop brand awareness. So will you be in New York City on 777?
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