Tag Archives: social

06.21.13
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Social Media: Short Videos

Facebook is taking on Twitter/Vine with a video version of Instagram.  The app will allow users to create a 15-second video (compared to 6 seconds for Vine) and will support 13 custom filters.  Users will also be able to edit video frames and add a photo at he beginning.

Meanwhile, according to CNET, Vine may be reworking their app to add new features.  Based on videos posted by Vine’s founders, the new features may include a new design, curation capabilities, private messaging and, perhaps, the ability to build Vines from previous footage. (All based on CNET’s interpretation of the videos).

More:

Update 8/8/13: ReadWrite: Instagram Now Lets Users—and Marketers—Post Canned Video

Update: 7/16/13: MediaPost: Honda Does Personalized Vines For Summer

Update 7/11/13: AdWeek: Instagram Debuts Video Embeds, Could Alter Publishing Habits

Update 7/04/13: All Things D: In Wake of Vid-stagram, Vine’s Latest Update Could Spur Growth

Mashable: How to Create an Instagram Video in 7 Simple Steps, 6 Reasons Instagram Video Beats Vine

Forbes: Facebook’s Video On Instagram To Challenge Twitter’s Vine

CNET: Vine videos provide clues to new design, features

TechCrunch: Vine Goes On The Offensive, Teases New Features Ahead Of Instagram Video Launch

Poynter: Instagram gives news orgs tips on using its video feature

06.18.13
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Content Development: Socl Network Tools

Use:  Easily create content to increase user engagement or advertiser value

Socl is a social network from Microsoft’s Future Social Experiences (FUSE) Labs that offers a variety of tools that media companies can use to create compelling new content to share.  Tools include:

Collage, which allows users to drag and drop a collection of images and automatically create a stylish page that can be posted on social networks.  One obvious use is to gather a collection of photos from today’s newspaper, broadcast or Web site and use the page to promote the site.   You could also use the tool to gather a variety of images from an advertiser’s inventory to help them promote daily specials.

Video Party, provides a platform to tell a story with a series of video clips.  On the site, you create a title for your “party” (for example, “Turkey Rebellion”) and the service searches for relevant videos which are displayed in queue.  You click on the videos in the order you want to create a playlist which can be shared with friends.  You can modify the search to find additional relevant videos, as well.

Other tools include Blink, a “Vine-link” application for Windows’ OS that allow users to layer photos and video to create a short, shareable clip, and Picotale, a tool to create clever memes by typing in a headline and having the service search for interesting, matching images.

More:

YouTube: Socl Create Experiences

GeekWire: Microsoft updates ‘Socl’ network with new photo and video creation tools

PCWorld: Microsoft’s Socl network steps up its game with animated GIFs, meme generator

 

 

06.17.13
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Engagement: Askem

Use: Involve community in news process by getting feedback and interaction; increase engagement with advertising content

Askem is a new app that media companies can use to better engage their audience.  With the app, media companies create an image, ask a question and imbed up to five different answers.   After sharing the image on Facebook or Twitter, users can click on their preferred answer and Askem will tabulate responses.  Users registered with Askem can also comment on the question.

Here’s an example of how a news organization might use the app to get opinions about NSA whistleblower Edwin Snowden.   The sports department, as another example, could upload an image of a potential draft choice and get users’ opinions on whether not he/she would be a good fit for the team.  Or, the ad department could create an image for Macy’s showing three different dresses and ask which one women prefer most.

More examples of “Askems” are here.

More:

Mashable: Askem Gets You the Answers You Need, Fast

The Next Web: Meet three startups that participated in Microsoft’s Azure-focused Israeli accelerator

 

 

 

 

06.12.13
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Chat: Twubs

Use:  engage users with a hosted Twitter chat; provide sponsorship opportunities for advertisers

Twubs is a Twitter chat platform built on the official Twitter API that helps set-up, promote and execute Twitter chat sessions.

The new chat tools, according to the Wall Street Journal: “…allow chat organizers to easily create a public-branded homepage for their Twitter Chat. Once created, organizers can add their chat to a global calendar to be discovered by new users. In addition to advanced SPAM filtering, the Twubs interface separates out host messages from the regular feed allowing participants to more easily follow the conversation. Late chat participants can quickly get up to speed on the conversation by viewing the host’s Tweets at a separate and designated area above the feed….Twubs Twitter Chat Tools also include spam and abuse blocking, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), branding and many other features to support chat organizers and social media managers. The tools interface is designed to be simple and easy to use for both novice and more experienced Twitter users.”

News organizations can tap into their extensive Twitter following and, using platforms like Twubs, build additional followers, and schedule discussions on high-interest local topics.   Newspaper should consider collaborating on a single chat platform and sell national advertisers across a range of local newspaper chat sessions.

More:

Wall Street Journal: Twubs.com Releases Twitter API Compliant Chat Tools

Mashable: Is Twubs the Next Big Twitter Chat Management Tool?

Global Social Media Coaching: TWUBS – Hashtags Made Useful