Archive for the ‘Maximize your Web Brand’ Category
TV Viewing Up – Top Media Trends in 2010
Two reports out today offer hope for our business in 2010. They also portend continued change and the clear message that we must manage that change if we are to survive as broadcasters. Add your thoughts.
Even though Americans are pushing domestic boxoffice revenue to new highs, an increasing number of them are indicating they’d rather save money and watch television.
According to Deloitte’s fourth annual “State of the Media Democracy” report, due out today, 34 percent of Americans cite TV as their favorite medium, up from 27 percent last year. Second through fourth, respectively, were Internet, music and books, all of which are perceived by the average consumer as being less expensive than a night out at the movies. Rest of this article
This is truly a golden age of anytime, anywhere media. And rather than Americans replacing TV with the Internet or a mobile device, they are just consuming more—often simultaneously. Despite the availability of video content on the Internet, TV viewing is up by about 20% over the last decade, and the average American watches 141 hours of programming each month. Online video consumption stands at more than three hours a month—up from virtually nothing ten years ago. Mobile viewing is growing, too, as devices and connectivity become more widespread. Smartphone usage is climbing and text messaging is through the roof. On average, teens use more than 3,500 text messages a month and adults about 500.
Top Cross Media Trends in 2010:
- Convergence is in demand. As American consumers continue to outfit their “home bunkers,” they will invest in the next generation of TV’s that are Internet enabled giving universal access to content across screens combined with the devices in which they’ve already invested, such as HDTVs, DVRs and “over-the-top” systems. And 4G networks make it an all-Internet world.
- Second and third screen initiatives grow. More content originally for the TV will be accessed on the Web, long-form video content for mobile phones will expand and efforts to make over-the-top systems will become more compelling for accessing Web content.
- Audience fragmentation continues. The increasing variety and sophistication of media options will make it a challenge to keep viewers engaged and receptive. Evolutions to the media universe will need to follow the new laws of increasing portability and increasing content.
- New and varied approaches to content are created. New, low-cost models are key (e.g., Jay Leno’s nightly 10 p.m. program on NBC). Low-performing networks will go extinct and free on demand online offerings will need reconsideration.
- Multiple distribution opportunities are formed. Deals—including the Comcast/NBC deal—will create new outlets for programming, while studios replace the traditional executive brand builders responsible for a number of distribution channels.
Enter The Murrow Awards – Now open to Online News Offerings
Share this with you staff and friends:
RTDNA has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Murrow’s pursuit of excellence in journalism embodies the spirit of the awards that carry his name. Murrow Award recipients demonstrate the excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the electronic news profession. In 2009, 540 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards were handed out and of those 540, 79 went on to win National Edward R. Murrow Awards.
Be part of the most prestigious awards program for electronic journalists – enter your best work to win a 2010 Edward R. Murrow Award!
Getting Your News Delivered by Mobile
Sourced from: Advancing the Story Posted by Deb Wenger on 12/04/09 •
• 
When I took a spin through the first 200 or so news apps on the Apple Web site earlier this year, WKRG in Mobile, Alabama, was the only local TV station featured. So, why is that? It may be that many local news organizations are not yet trying to capitalize on the mobile audience.
David Rencher, interactive media director for WKRG, a Media General-owned station, thinks that’s a mistake.
“Well,the way I see it is that we can’t just look at ourselves as a TV station,” Rencher said. “We are a content creators and we have to provide that content on whatever platform the user wishes to consume it.”
Looking for help to jumpstart this process in your newsroom. Call or email me. 270-443-3089 or griffpotter@bellsouth.net.
OTNB IDEA: News directors invite viewers to virtual story discussions
Last week, I alerted you to some of the uses for the new “YouTube Direct”. (Is YouTube Direct Right for your News Organization) Here’s another great idea to engage your customers in a powerful, new, way.
Stations’ Story Meetings Offer ‘Public Option’ By Michael Malone — Broadcasting & Cable, 11/30/2009 2:00:00 AM
While the typical station story meeting has six or eight people present to pitch ideas, WITI Milwaukee might have 60 or 80 at its daily 1:45 confab. That’s because WITI opens up the editorial meeting to the public through live blogging and a live video stream, along with a Web program that allows users to toss in story ideas while commenting on others.
Is YouTube Direct Right for Your News Organization?
Expect to hear a lot of buzz about YouTube Direct. And, for good reason. It may be the solution for you to get user-generated video and viewer comments on your site, or on-air, without costing you anything.
Except, this model has no revenue component, a fact established solutions like YouNews, USTREAM , KickApps , will surely point out. Oh, and you are helping YouTube build out it’s news presence online.
YouTube Direct allows you to embed the upload functionality of YouTube directly into your own site, enabling your organization to request, review, and re-broadcast user-submitted videos with ease. News organizations can ask for citizen reporting; nonprofits can call-out for support videos around social campaigns; businesses can ask users to submit promotional videos about your brand. With YouTube Direct, the opportunities to connect directly with the YouTube community are endless.
Key features of YouTube Direct include:
- Built on the YouTube API, this 100% open-source solution provides you with an easily-integrated audience engagement platform for your website
- The customizable interface allows you to tailor the look and feel of the tool precisely to your audience
- Visitors can answer your call for content by uploading their videos to YouTube via your site without leaving the page
- A moderation panel enables your editors to review and approve/reject all submitted videos, deciding which ones meet your organization’s editorial criteria
- All videos approved by your editors include a link back to your site when viewed on YouTube
Examples:
WHDH, Boston
San Francisco Chronicle
Here’s how to sign up and start uploading.
How journalists can use Twitter Lists
We LOVE Lists! So I couldn’t resist posting these lists of a few quick and easy ways journalists can use Twitter Lists to keep tabs on their sources. ( From Jeremy Porter, a veteran public relations professional. He is the founder of Journalistics.com) :
* Create a public list of all the journalists at your organization
* Create a private list of your sources, organized by beat, story topic, or by people you’ve interviewed in the past
* Create a private list of your competitors, so you can keep tabs on what they’re writing about
* Create industry-specific lists of experts to brainstorm new story ideas
* Create geographic lists for sources in specific markets
* Create hashtag-based lists, for people who regularly participate in discussions around a particular tag (i.e., a conference or current event)
How PR professionals can use Twitter Lists
* Create a list of your clients who actively use Twitter
* Create a list of your colleagues at your organization
* Create a private list of journalists you want to follow or target with story ideas
* Organize media contacts by geography, beat, past interaction, etc.
* Create a list of media organizations, to keep tabs on current events or stories – for example, create a list of the top social media Twitter users
4 Ways News Organizations are Using Twitter Lists
Though Twitter Lists are new to most users, some news organizations are trying to stay ahead of the curve by taking advantage of the new feature and implementing it quickly. Whether by creating staff directories to make their journalists easier to find, or recommending tweeps to follow on specific subjects, Twitter lists are giving news sites the ability to curate news and further open up to Twitter users that can help them to gather news.
Who has the Most Followers on Twitter? (Top 100)
The Twitterholic.com Top 100 Twitterholics based on Followers
As expected, Ashton, Oprah, Ellen, and CNN Breaking News made the top of the list. Products and shows like Chelsey Lately, Martha Stewart, and Whole Foods Market are in the 2nd 25. Also, notice how few people the top Twitterers follow. BTW, Griff Potter is ranked 206,631st on twitterholic!
The Social Media Marketing Test
Ouch! Graeme Newell has again delivered a much-needed jab to the midsection. If you contribute to your station’s social media efforts, at any level, you need to read Graeme’s new blog post The Social Media Marketing Test. He points out what I’ve been telling partners and clients for months: Social Media is not a new promotion or ad platform. It is a relationship and all the rules of relationships apply. Give freely, don’t dominate the conversation, Listen to what is being said back, don’t rush the conversation.
I have seen so many social media campaigns go wildly off course when they are executed using this Madison Avenue mindset. Social media is not just another form of advertising. We treat it like a monologue, when it is actually a dialogue. Social media really is a new form of communication, not just another medium to be included in a traditional marketing plan.
For those of us who grew up in the traditional advertising world, we just can’t help ourselves. We know that social media is two-way personal interaction, but we still tend to fall back to practiced one-way communication. In the old ad world, copy space was scarce, and messages were short with succinct calls to action. It was a world guided by the need to quickly bang the drum and get attention.
The true power of social media is its ability to persuade by socializing, not advertising. It has a longer selling cycle. This more leisurely pace often chafes the hurried corporate agenda. Impatience is its most beguiling temptation and most ruinous attribute. Social media does not tolerate commercial exploitation and over-the-top selling. Yet, a casual read through many company social media pages quickly reveals a disingenuous, transparent selling agenda. No one wants to be friends with a salesman working a crowd.
Successful social media campaigns have a deeper purpose and are all about human interaction. Zappos uses it to showcase great customer service. Ford & Molson use it put a human face on an impersonal company brand. Dell uses it to battle a perception of bad customers service.
Put your social media posts to the test. Evaluate your fan page. These telltale signs show customers they are a sales mark to be harvested, not a friend to be wooed.
Take the Social Media Marketing Test
How news sites can cover an election night – examples from Norway
Need some inspiration to take your multi-platform coverage to new heights during the next election cycle? How will you cover more with fewer people? Start planning now.
John Einar Sandvand has a fascinating overview, and some great links, from the recent Norway national elections on his site BetaTales.
John writes:
Several of the sites had prepared interactive graphics which where automatically updated as the results came in Services like Coveritlive and Twitter were used to report live from the different party headquarters News sites increasingly provide a platform for users to discuss the election resuts with each other. This was done by integrating Twitter hashtags into the news content as well as through use of Facebook Connect.
You will also be amazed at Norwegian newspapers in general. Much grittier and in-your face that American papers.
