August 22, 2006

In the continued spirit of making "Web 2.0" make sense to marketers, here is a concept and execution that really defines the whole Web 2.0 phenomenon well.

YouTube...  I'm sure most of you (unless you've been spending too much time in front of the traditional b**b tube - source of just some of the material proliferating on this Internet video phenomenon) have heard of YouTube.  There were more than 16 million visitors to YouTube from the US in July.  Not a bad reach! 

(BTW - this is NOT to be confused with the viral account of the infamous "tubes" that make up the Internet.)

Basically, on YouTube, you're able to login and post your own videos online (their tagline is "Broadcast Yourself), rate other's videos, and send links to your favorite videos to your friends.  You can even create video groups to connect with people who have similar interests.

I actually - just today - received my second video link from my very enlightened friend Bryce, sourced from YouTube.  If you haven't already, I'm sure you'll get one soon.

Anyway, here's their Marketing 2.0 'hook.'  They are posting commercials on the home page, and allowing their members to rate the ads, write comments about them, and embed the ads in their own videos.

They're calling them "participatory" videos.  Of course, users have to click on the videos to view them, so the marketers who place them get real viewership.  Participants get to give the marketers immediate feedback. 

Imagine the possibilities...

Posted by at August 22, 2006

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