Three Things That Rock About the YouTube Makeover

In case you haven’t noticed, YouTube got a major makeover; probably the biggest one since the site launched. As you all know, the Google peeps have been working really hard on redesigning their products — Gmail, Google+, Google Mobile — so everything looks clean, easy to navigate, and user friendly. But, most importantly, they’re creating a platform with seamless integration between all of their products, and You Tube is no exception.   The redesign got a bunch of mixed reviews; some people think that YouTube is trying to compete with TV and that will not happen, some people don’t like the look. I think many of them are missing the bigger point: YouTube is not trying to reinvent TV, but is trying to bring the “TV experience” to a social platform.   Here are 3 (of my personal favorite) things you can look forward to in the new YouTube:  

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What the Advent of In-App Advertising Means for Agencies

A recent article on mocoNews.net talks about how DoubleClick (Google’s online advertising service provider) is gearing up to serve ads in the furthest reaches of the digital realm.  Specifically in mobile, DoubleClick will now be able to place in-app ads more frequently and effectively, claiming that they are “ready to bring in-app ad formats to their exchange platform.” In-app advertising-–one of the newest mediums that advertisers are exploring–-specifically targets users through their smartphones and tablets within apps.  The rich display provides much more enticing capabilities than text messaging or search, and because ads are placed within apps that users have elected to download, the target audience is basically served up to brands on a silver platter.   While this sounds like an opportunity that’s worth diving right into—it’s not completely smoothed out just yet. It’s a finicky platform, with a slew of bugs and a ton of untapped potential.  That

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Top 4 SEO Factors That Determine Your Search Engine Ranking

Search Engine Optimization, or more commonly known as SEO, is the process of improving the visibility of a website or a web page and its results ranking order in search engines. According to a recent survey from the 2011 State of Digital Marketing Report, SEO is the number one source of leads for both B2C and B2B marketers, beating Pay Per Click (PPC) and Social Media. Therefore, it is vital to show up at the top as often as possible to maximize your leads.   So, how do you optimize your site so that you not only show up, but that you show up higher than the competition? Well, here are the Top 4 SEO Factors That Determine Your Search Engine Ranking: Anchor Text & Linking Probably the most powerful factor in determining your rank in the search engines, internal and external links to your site are what boost your

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Using Social Media to Build Local Connections: Big Walmart’s Strategy

In the beginning of October, Walmart launched a hyper-local social media strategy in hopes of creating a stronger relationship between the brand and its customers. The campaign marked the launch of a Facebook page for each of its 3,500 individual Walmart locations, giving consumers a way to directly access updates and sales that a particular store is featuring. Instead of being perceived as a giant multinational corporation with each store delivering precisely the same experience, the pages give stores a chance to shine in their own local right. While this might not be enough to create a local cultural microcosm that can undercut the bigger perception, it might drive a better connection with consumers than what currently exists—a start, that if nurtured correctly, can mean a big payoff. Tweet

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A Preview of the New Facebook Timeline Profile

Following the F8 conference yesterday, and a slew of micro-feature launches on the Facebook platform earlier this week, Zuckerberg introduced the timeline profile. This new layout allows members to see all of their Facebook activity over time in a summarized view, getting easier access to past content, and ultimately a full personal life story (or will be “life story” if you plan to be a Facebook user for twenty more years). Tweet

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Apology Marketing: Netflix Says Sorry & Announces Segmentation of Streaming Technology vs. DVD Mailing

This morning I received an email from Netflix which opened with the lines “I messed up. I owe you an explanation.” Hook, line, sinker. I wanted to know more. Tweet

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