This is a space to share thoughts, stories, factoids and more in order to get discussions about social media marketing with video!!! Here you will find my own thoughts, posts from others, links to stories that help explain what is happening in this fast paced industry and more!
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posted Feb 21, 2012 7:51 AM by AV Multimedia
Researchers from Northern Illinois University, Auburn University and University of Evansville produced a small study on 58 Facebook accounts by four "Facebook savvy" HR professionals. Each recruiter took 10 minutes to look at each profile, looking for these personality traits in their posts: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.
Six months later, the researchers compared the evaluations of these people in the profiles to their work performance reports. The research, according to the study, showed strong correlations from the recruiters subjective thoughts on each Facebook profile with those job performance reviews.
So, if you share photos on your Facebook page from your last trip abroad, it reveals you possess an adventurous nature and curiosity about the world. And if you have a lot of friends on your Facebook page, then it ranks you as being an "extrovert."
A separate study by the same researchers of 244 students showed that Facebook profiles tend to be an excellent indicator of academic ability and good test scores, but they didn't explain how.
MY TAKE: I wish I knew how these studies were done. Why such small samples? Why not a longitudinal study? This study is so small that it makes me question why Mashable, the largest online news website dedicated to social media would bother posting this, save for the "link bait" title that captures the reader's attention. The difference that makes no difference, is no difference. Sure, people are worried about having their profiles judged, especially by recruiters. If you have material on your Facebook timeline that you don't want read publicly, then mark as "friends only" or lock down your privacy completely, as I do.
People are always going to be subjective and there will always be people who make snap decisions about your character based upon an image of you holding a beer or wearing a clown wig in a photo. There is an understanding, according to this "study" that recruiters know that these sites are representational of someone's professional and private life, so the photo of you holding a beer with a wig on may not ruin your career. However, you don't know who is looking at your site and information, once submitted to Facebook or anywhere else online, is kept on their servers FOREVER! Use your own discretion! Question how a post will look before hitting "post." If there is ANY hesitation, don't post it!
Even if their indicators in these tests are accurate, it is up to you how you come across on your profile. Take care of yourself! |
posted Feb 13, 2012 5:05 PM by AV Multimedia
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updated Feb 13, 2012 5:07 PM
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Businesses thinking about the use of video content as part of integrated web marketing strategies are likely to see their pieces shared by readers and prospects. A survey of 400 Americans conducted by AYTM Market Research found that 22.8 percent of respondents currently share video content on social networks and an additional 25 percent said they will likely start.These users demonstrate the growing commonality of video content on the web. As more begin consuming this content, it will likely become more pervasive throughout their web habits. As such, they’ll likely share it and comment on it as they do with text-based content.The social element of online video viewing is growing as popular networks, including Facebook, make it easy for users to watch content without leaving social sites. Of the 400 respondents, 81 percent said they use Facebook, and 4.3 percent reported that they don’t use Facebook but have accounts on other social networks. Sharing video content has becoming increasingly simple on the web with YouTube, Hulu and other popular streaming services providing social sharing capability.Introducing video marketing as part of a content marketing campaign can help organizations appeal to the growing online video audience. Encouraging them to take part in a social media marketing campaign by sharing content with their own friends or followers can help companies boost visibility on the web.Visual content’s value to social media marketing campaigns has helped major companies, such as Coca-Cola and Red Bull augment their visibility on the web. Brafton recently reported thatCoke uses original video content to both inform and entertain its customers and fans on Facebook. Moreover, some of the most-watched and shared YouTube videos revolve around how-to content that a number of businesses could leverage to depict their industry expertise. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? EMAIL ME AV@AVMULTIMEDIA.COM and let's work on YOUR video message. You can do this, just like the big companies can. I can help you! Let's GO!
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http://www.brafton.com/news/more-than-half-of-web-users-likely-to-share-video-content-in-2012 |
posted Jan 25, 2012 11:31 AM by AV Multimedia
Three Portuguese journalists will traverse 10 countries to learn about the causes that led to the Arab Spring in an online doc series produced by transmedia prodco beActive.
Road to Revolution will also compare uprisings in the Mahgreb and Middle Eastern regions with those in the west, from the 1960s to the Occupy protest movement. Produced with support from Portuguese weekly Sol and retail chain Sportzone, consists of online video blogs uploaded to a microsite, Sol‘s site and related social media feeds such as Facebook and Twitter every week for 10 to 12 weeks beginning at the end of January.
The video updates will eventually comprise a feature-length documentary for television broadcast at the year’s end. “As a new wave of revolutions sweeps the Arab world, Road to Revolution aims to show a different point of view from that presented by TV and online news,” said beActive exec producer Nuno Bernardo.
“It explores how and why revolutions take place, what changed and what remains. It features interviews with the younger generation about their role in the revolution and hopes and expectations for the future. The series demonstrates beActive’s commitment to producing groundbreaking multiplatform factual content.”
The series stars reporters Tiago Carrasco, Joao Henriques and Joao Fontes (pictured) and will take place in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. BeActive has previously produced factual transmedia projects such as the adventure doc 350 South: An American Journey and the TV series Yes I Can and The Club, both in partnership with Setanta Sports and magazine series Beat Generation.
-Kevin Ritchie
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posted Jan 13, 2012 9:31 AM by AV Multimedia
According to ComScore, Some 89.6 million Americans used their mobile phone to access EMAIL for work or personal purposes during the three-month period ended November 2011, up 28% (19.5 million) from the 70.1 million who did so a year earlier! In November, more than three-quarters of smartphone owners (78%) used mobile email. Among all mobile users, (smartphone and feature-phone users), mobile-email penetration was lower, at roughly 40%. Most mobile users (64%) now access email via mobile device nearly every day. Moreover, that audience segment registered the biggest growth over the previous year: 33%. Nearly one-quarter (23%) of email messages were viewed via mobile devices in the six months ended September 2011, up 34% from the previous six-month period, according to separate research from Return Path. The growth in mobile came at the expense of Webmail (e.g., Yahoo, Gmail) and desktop viewership: Webmail opens accounted for 44% of email opens during the period, down 11% from the previous six-month period, while desktop opens accounted for 33% of opens, down 9.5%, according to Return Path.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU!
We are the only company currently that sends your video to your contacts via email and their cell phone. * SMS text that contains your video is opened 97% of the time within 4 minutes of receipt * People are getting used to checking for messages while mobile
Great news to get your content seen! We are excited to see this news today.
CONTACT ME for a free 30 minute planning session and let's get your marketing up online, and on smart phones! |
posted Jan 12, 2012 1:08 PM by AV Multimedia
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updated Jan 12, 2012 1:34 PM
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Sky in UK has teamed up with Zeebox, a ‘second-screen' consumer service that brings together broadcast TV and the Internet. Launching in the first half of 2012, Sky and zeebox will offer what they call a "companion app experience" for Sky customers. The ‘augmented’ TV viewing features, can help you connect around TV shows, finding more information about what's on TV, and buying products relating to their favorite program. It's a TV guide with interactivity and friends. The Zeebox service – currently available on iPhone, iPad and the Web – serves up social media feeds and conversations via Twitter and Facebook, as well as additional information on the topics, people and products featured within specific programs. The branded experience means consumers use ‘zeetags’ to search the web for more information, read up on characters or actors, purchase music, buy products featured on-screen - whether during programmes or ad breaks, or simply share their views with friends and followers on social media. Meanwhile, GetGlue announces at CES this week that they were awarded $12million by Rho Ventures AND, if that isn't amazing enough, they win Mashable.com's "Breakout Startup of the Year Award." I wonder what the guys at MISO are thinking? According to Forbes, magazine, "Last year, GetGlue hit the 2 million user milestone and logged 100 million check-ins, which represents a 1000 percent increase year-over-year for a site that launched in 2009. They’ve done it by hitting the zeitgeist of social media from the past two years: check-ins, rewards and, most impressively, a filtered chat space built around your favorite shows. Partnerships have been key as well — GetGlue has 75 major networks meeting their audience on GetGlue now. Add 30 media companies integrating GetGlue check-in capabilities and you can see the seeds and conditions for a bumper crop." So the point is to bring people together, virtually, around content. But it is a more personalized experience...since the remote control learns your viewing habits...in a manner of speaking. It'll be interesting to see MISO's response, or TUNERFISH for that matter. They don't seem to be getting much press...
From FastCompany: VH1 has experimented with everything from teaming with Twitter for social feeds to launching their own companion apps for the iPhone and iPad. Today, the channel is unveiling its latest experiment: a partnership with social-video startup Spreecast to provide live, multi-screen video feeds during the upcoming Critics' Choice Movie Awards. "More than three-quarters of our viewers are engaged with a second screen while they're watching TV," says Dan Sacher, VH1's VP of digital. "We started out with petty basic text chats a few years ago--we've graduated in complexity."And then there is Israeli company that claims to be first and only taste-and-mood based engine powering video discovery. Using content genetics and nuanced understanding of user tastes, the Jinni engine powers a uniquely intuitive, personalized experience that increases content consumption and reduces churn. The Jinni service is powered by the Entertainment Genome™, containing thousands of genes that are assigned to each title to describe mood, style, plot, setting and more; this is a rich alternative to the usual genre language. New titles are automatically indexed via analysis of user reviews and synopses, using a proprietary Natural Language Processing solution. Jinni’s content discovery solution was voted “Best Product Idea” at CableLabs last year. Jinni is a Webby Awards honoree, a Red Herring 100 Europe winner, an OnHollywood 100 winner, a SXSW Web Awards nominee, a TechCrunch Europas nominee and was selected as the best movie recommendation engine by CNET and Lifehacker. To see Jinni's award winning engine at work, visit www.jinni.com.
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posted Jan 10, 2012 8:10 AM by AV Multimedia
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updated Jan 10, 2012 8:35 AM
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I haven't had Cable TV for years.
When visiting family recently, family that have movie channel packages (i.e. NOT basic cable), I thought I should take a look at what's been going on with cable these days. What is it really offering? What are the big shows that are getting viewers in this fractured mediated world - and HOW are they cutting through the digital clutter in order to be recognized?
Why, for example, would producers extend the costs of programming for so - called "second screen" audience members producing and presenting additional material that is produced for NON-TV, but NON TV devices?
IFC Channel picked up a webisode program (a TV series made for the web, made in the hope of being bought by such a cool, hip channel searching for original material to be distributed to a major audience and actually earn some money from this labor of love) named Portlandia. Funny/silly show full of quirky character observations about an area of the USA that is, like most US cities, not ever recognized on major TV. What ever happens in Portland, Oregon?!! Do they have some sports team that's followed? I don't think so. When does Portland ever come up in conversation? Uhm..never? So, perfect! They make fun of their own city no one else talks about, thereby re-creating it for the uninitiated viewer in this hairy, hippy, funky image. Most US TV base their stories in LA, Miami, New York, Chicago. Sometimes beloved San Francisco... So Portlandia is unusual in that the show lovingly portrays this relatively unknown west coast sleepy town that produces...who knows? Freakjobs.
Portlandia visually captures areas of Portland as if the city itself is a wacky character. Tilted still shots of neighborhood intersections put the viewer in place, the off-kilter framing hinting at the wackyness about to ensue. The show presents pierced, not-slaves-to-fashion uber wymyn, extremists in how their organic foods being served, characters being "alternative", unconventional and taking 'political correctness' too far. (Hey! I thought that was Berkeley's job, you scene stealers! Oh yeah, a lot of Californians have moved to Portland...so..it is by extension 'my people.') Its NOT portrayed as a cosmopolitan city, a place full of offbeat weirdness. Loveable weirdness? What the heck comes from Portland people know about? Its the city of Roses...but is that shown on Portlandia? I haven't seen enough to know.
The show has attracted worldwide fans of the whackyness. Australian and German friends of mine who have actually been to Portland (as they pass through on their way to Seattle from San Francisco) like the show for its sarcastic humor and funkyness. More importantly, as they watch the program, they seem to feel as if they are in Portland, hanging out at famous Powells Books...seeing if they can spot places in the show where they have been. They enjoy feeling connected to the place while watching. As a producer, I'd say to get that feedback from a viewer is pretty awesome.
I'm glad the show has achieved some success. The producers and writers really "get" their audiences' sense of humor and what they like, what they'll consume. I think they are in fact really these characters they've created.
IFC have now addded live interactive chatting on second screen devices during the broadcast of Portlandia and a few other shows. They call this "IFCSync." You can chat online with producers, actors, crew from the show, while the show is being broadcast. Its a way to deepen the relationship between the viewer and the content creators...but just because the technology it is there...will people really engage? So far, the answer is YES. Wise move, IFC. You know how crazy wonderful FANDOM can be. Give them an opportunity to voice their opinion and they will take it. They will participate in polls about the likability of the shows characters. They will participate in games...like garnering points for in exchange for their participation on the show's Facebook page so they can get special posters from the show no one else will have.
But is it a wise move on their part to to spend money and time producing "second screen" programming of live chats and video clips intended for mobile devices and computers? What is the Return On Investment? One can argue that since the show was "born" on the web, it makes sense that they keep some aspect of it on the web for this special audience. They keep a very "VIP" feel to their show by having MORE ONLINE. Apparently, the producers of this extra content say the ROI is worth this extra effort because:
- there is more engagement by having outtakes or extra programming that can be seen by viewers on their time schedule, not the broadcasters - people tend to watch the second screen WHILE watching the program on the primary screen, so it makes sense to weave in elements from the show - they have made the content easy to be shared via social networks - the increased mentions on Twitter, the "check-ins" with social TV social networks online, the more the program is talked about via powerful WORD-OF-MOUTH advertising and therefore, the audience grows organically - the more participation by the fandom, the more viewers, the bigger the ratings, the more money the show brings in via ads - second screen presents opportunity to sell more stuff related to the programming.
Then, I read this article about how the Cable channel STARZ was taking their original content and making waves with the fandom.
The Starz show, Boss and season two of Spartacus have been a major win for this channel. Having Kelsey Grammar of Cheers and Frasier fame actually detour to a more serious role of Chicago mayor Tom Cane has surprised many and has been compared to the dark, dramatic engaging wonderfulness of The Wire.
Starz' Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing, Kelly Bumann, has really understood the social audience and they way they share programming they are passionate about. She wisely brought the programs to where the fans are: Facebook, to premier the pilot of the shows, after talking them up on other social networks, such as Twitter, social "check-in" TV site, GetGlue, online TV fan sites and message boards. She attracted new fans to the programs this way as well as rewarded uber fans by offering something exciting and special for their participation online.
To get traction for Boss, a new Tv show, they blurred reality and fiction by offering extensions of the story on a specially made website "Scandalous Dirt" which had real time audience participation in relation to the story line. Polls, Tweets, all this interactive activity featuring a blend between what the content writers put up and the audience reaction is a winning formula for engagement. Audience members were also treated to extended interview with the actors, photos of the actors, content that audience members love to see and something for bloggers to talk about. Absolute genius. Absolute deep pockets, but absolutely FUN for the passionate fans out there.
Similarly, Bumann created Starz branded website "check ins" and additional content online for Spartacus. They created an application on Facebook that through contests and social gaming, create buzz for the possibility of audiences to win everything from a trip to the set in New Zealand to DVD sets. The Spartacus Facebook page has a lot of engagement and content - enough to entertain and move 2 million fans sign up for.
Additionally, they have live stream interactive chats with the actors for fans to have the opportunity to speak to them directly via the Internet. Bumann created the opportunity at Comic_Con in San Diego for fans to pick up speciality stickers for the show, not seen anywhere else.
In short, it may be worth all the expense and effort to make a show come to life. The idea is to create GOOD content, then engage, engage, engage with your viewers, keep up the buzz on social networks, create loyal dedicated fans, offer the die hard fans something special. Make your content shareable online and your uber fans will do the marketing for you. Is this good ROI? Depends on the amount of time and effort you have and how far you want to go.
As far as social media marketing and video marketing? Same thing applies! Create good, solid content. Have it be shareable. Engage by actually talking to your fandom. Give them a voice. Create something special. They will do the work of further marketing you for you. I've been practicing this mantra since producing video marketing for small and middle sized companies. There isn't much difference in product...if people are made to feel important, welcomed in your world, told their voice matters, and you give them something valuable, you can create mad fans too!
Kelly Bumann unerstands Fandom. She is making it work and I'm having fun observing what she is going to do next. Sigh! She's doing it right. (swoon!)
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posted Jan 9, 2012 7:37 PM by AV Multimedia
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updated Feb 8, 2012 10:45 AM
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Some Google insiders have told me that Google TV is a bit of a ..shall we say...disappointment. However, there is much planning going on and I think it will explode and offer all kinds of interesting options for niche audiences. As with all other social media. you don't need the whole world! You need people who are into what your niche is all about.
That is what your Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook accounts are for - finding people with similar interests or needs. Read the conversations there and participate. See how you can help others or , provide value or solve a problem for others with similar interests! This is how you promote yourself to new people and gain a following.
Build your niche and grow your audience around it! People will be there because they are interested in the same thing you are interested in!
Robert Kyncl, a senior Google staffer explains: "People prefer niches because “the experience is more immersive,” Kyncl went on. “For example, there’s no horseback-riding channel on cable. Plenty of people love horseback riding, and there’s plenty of advertisers who would like to market to them, but there’s no channel for it, because of the costs. You have to program a 24/7 loop, and you need a transponder to get your signal up on the satellite. With the Internet, everything is on demand, so you don’t have to program 24/7—a few hours is all you need.” Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/01/16/120116fa_fact_seabrook#ixzz1j1PBV6ik" We at AV-Multimedia help you come up with your story, and help you promote your company with that story to these niche audiences who need you!! EMAIL US TODAY so we can plan how to make YOU the rock star of YOUR niche!
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posted Jan 3, 2012 12:13 PM by AV Multimedia
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updated Jan 3, 2012 12:15 PM
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Sopranos star, Steve Van Zandt is part of this new TV drama, Lillyhammer. It will begin February 6. Yes, its no surprise Van Zandt plays a gangster. But it is a surprise that Netflix is able to move into creating original content. Obviously, they have the metrics and see what people are watching...and why not put their own material and promote it in front of all the Netflix users' eyeballs?
Netflix also outbid HBO to produce House of Cards based on the British series of that name, with Kevin Spacey in the title role. Apparently, that will be out in late 2012.
They are also re-making TV show Arrested Development to be out by 2013.
Facebook will be joining this game too...back in March of last year, they announced they would be working with Hulu as a way of distributing Hulu content to interested Facebook audiences. It makes sense, as the audience is built in...and Facebook has your TV "likes" already.
Hulu original content, such as Kiefer Sutherland's production he also stars in, The Confession and LeBron James' production of...The LeBrons has shown to be pretty popular, especialy now that you can view this content through a blue ray player or other OTT (Over-The_top) devices.
Glad to see how this game is shifting away from the stranglehold cable operators have had. I only wish that there were more for the smaller producers...aside from videos posted on Vimeo and You Tube. I suppose there is :
http://webseriesnetwork.com/
IMDB, the Internet Movie Data Base is adding a web series listing, which is interesting to note.
It'll be interesting to see who gets listed and in what way. This is so exciting, because small producers without much backing can get a central place of eyeballs where they could be found and possibly picked up by a bigger media org and make something happen!
Here's a cute little idea I found on Indie-a-go-go about setting up a more central location for webseries to be promoted and found: http://www.indiegogo.com/What-is-a-Webseries
Stay tuned... |
posted Dec 30, 2011 12:18 PM by AV Multimedia
"51% of Facebook users say they are more likely to buy from the brands they follow." "People are the lifeblood of your business. Building relationships with people fosters loyalty. As a result, loyalty has the potential to increase profits."
This is demonstrated by the nice infographic from KISSmetrics: The Importance of A Fan Base and How To Grow One. See the full infographic here http://blog.kissmetrics.com/fan-base/ (then click the image to enlarge).
The 7 steps to grow your fanbase on the bottom section of the graphic are very helpful. Even though Facebook now allows people who don't "like" you can now write on your wall or share your posts with their friends, it's still important to build those "likes" to grow your fanbase and better your chances of getting seen in the News Feed!
Even if you have a like-gated welcome tab, visitors can just click on the wall... but, most visitors won't know that so a like-gated welcome tab is still very useful and effective! |
posted Dec 30, 2011 8:52 AM by AV Multimedia
Online Video Is HOT HOT HOT! Why? Its the ability to take your audience and engage them in your product, either with humor, with sensuality or just bringing the viewer into the world your brand creates.
Ok, so these are huge brands with a lot of money to spend on You Tube productions. However, the concepts are amazing and inspiring for us at av-multimedia.
There are ways to pull off these same ideas...it just takes a story; a beginning, a middle and an end. The new videos are added each week to further the story.
You can do this, too! It takes a good story, a small, crafty team, and the will.
So, here are my favorite Interactive You Tube Brand Channels for story telling, engaging, and well thought out campaigns.
1) The Inside Experience. Intel and Toshiba make a horror film. You have to help rescue a fair maiden who is armed only with a laptop. Distributed over 8 days, these videos find have our heroine using social networks to solve the mystery of where she is - and this communication happens in real time. You get the opportunity to help her figure out the mystery of what happened to her...
She is cast right for her intended audience; young, tech savvy, a bit of Angelina and a bit of Girl Who Played With Fire.
Excellent job of keeping people coming back to your site, engaging and entertaining viewers.
Will any of these eps educate you about the product? Is that the point?
2) Yia Yia Disapproves by Athenos The disapproving Greek Grandmother online videos. What I liked about this campaign is the ability to come up with your own videos of the disapproving grandma with the text you provide. Don't know how many people took advantage of this - but we found it is relatable and light hearted and made the site a bit more "sticky" being interactive in this way.
The site also includes recipes Granda DOES approve of.
3) Le Club by Perrier.
This high production piece features steamier versions of the video. The more the initial versions were shared, the more views, the quicker the site unlocked the more and more risque videos. (See the temperature video thermometer on the right of the page.) This garnered 11 million views on You Tube for the product.
Additionally, the heat and steam in Le Club made for interesting aesthetic choices. You not only got the sense of the heat physically and emotionally, it made you feel hotter and in need of more water. This online video transports you to another place, brings you out of yourself and the everyday and into this wild fantastic party life. And come on. Most people don't live this life. At least not every day. But they could through these videos. And the more they shared socially the more they got to experience.
The power of using online video to promote your brand should excite your creative drive, help you tell your story in ways that engage the viewer, invite them into the experience your brand represents visually, emotionally. The trick is really to find a way to tell the story in a way that gives an emotional twinge.
Like this one, by Google.
Here, the story (seen over 4 million times) is one of a father keeping an online record of his daughter's growing up. He sends her emails to her account "Dear Sophie" of photos and videos he recorded of her through the years.
Not a dry eye in the house.
Simple, effective and tugs on those heart strings.
All of these are great online video campaigns of 2011. Can't wait to see what comes up next year!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR one and all!
--AV
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