Content Strategy for the Masses

I do write an awful lot about Google. I’d stop writing about them if they wouldn’t keep coming up with cool new things that are bound to shake things up on the internets (sic.)

The first is the announcement its new web browser of Google Chrome. Just like its Google Docs application, Chrome is easy to use. It’s a great way to view websites if you’re using Windows. There’s a free beta that should be available right about… now.

This is cool because if one site crashes, the other tabs won’t be affected. No more canceling and restarting your browsers.

Google has also created a video service for the business set.  If you want to create a training video for employees, spend $50 for a premier business version of Google Apps.  It will work like YouTube, with comments and videos.

There are reports NBC didn’t make massive amounts of coin for its online Olympics coverage…. estimates are at about $5million - a whole lot less than the $1billion it reportedly made off of its traditional TV coverage. But is making $5 million online a failure? Really? Given NBC’s relatively non-user friendly approach (such as only offering its online video content by downloading a Microsoft product and, as Wall Street Journal noted, the user’s inability to share favourite videos) this amount might be quite impressive.

The games are over for another two years and Vancouver’s winter games will probably be the real test for online ad revenue for NBC, especially if it learns to open up its video player to social apps and more common video players. Yet I guess that’s what happens when you partner with Microsoft – exclusive vp rights.

The only thing I was tempted to watch online was the closing ceremonies – in particular, the bad lip-synching and weird dance moves.

Speaking of bad lip-synching and weird dance moves, check out this video of what Britney Spears’ microphone really picked up during her concerts.

I know it’s a jump in logic, but it’s something I had to share.

Google in the midst of creating a mobile phone device. I know! We just got used to the iPhone craziness. Rumour has it the first device with this software (called Android) will launch will happen in the States sometime in November. The phone is built by HTC and will include Google software and lots of other features.  

Web Monkey studies the six reasons why the iPhone will deliver where Android won’t.

There’s also some talk that it’s more than just a mobile device and might reach TV sets. The iPhone already acts as a universal remote for the Apple products, so this isn’t too big of a surprise.

This is pretty big because it’s Google, a company that offers free usage on products that have traditionally gone with a paid-for model. For example, they have a free-to-use documents path that leads users to services that work just like Word and Excel. Its Analytics service is used by many companies (and me!) as a free way to monitor website usage. Did I mention all this is free? Perhaps this phone is another device that may, or may not, shift how business is done.

Bring this up next time someone asks you why you don’t have an iPhone yet.

This post from Julian Cole on Adspace Pioneers in Social Media marketing is interesting. He lists the top 12 moments that help define some of social media moments for advertising. It’s a clever look back at how social media has grown in just three years. It has gone from a niche service for the computer savvy to everyone on the planet, then slowly back to niche.

Organic’s Three Minds outlines whether niche social networks will attract marketing dollars as corporate media focuses its attention on the idea of spreading the word online.

I just wonder if the marketers will get it right in the niche world. If they don’t speak the language, or end up insulting those in the group, it can backfire. Also, some marketers are using social media all wrong. As ReadWriteWeb pointed out,  why is there a site for those who want to talk about cat litter? 

It would be OK if the litter site turned into a place where users could mock the ability to comment on kitty litter. But I guess that would put the delicate brand into the hands of the masses. It happened at Amazon.com when its users could describe their experiences with every product available, including groceries… and Uranium Ore. One favourite: “This Uranium Ore facial scrub has given my skin a beautiful glow!”  Also read about Land Tanks “… it also has plenty of room for groceries.”

Sadly, Amazon took down the over 1,000 reviews for milk.

Let me know if you’ve seen other ridiculous social media sites.

There’s a new music site called Jogli that boasts over 12 million albums and 500 million songs. And it’s all packaged into an easy-to-navigate site

Don’t judge me, but the first thing I looked up when I came across the site was Duran Duran. Maybe I’m nostalgic, or maybe I wanted to age myself. But after searching and finding a link to their not-so-popular New Moon on Monday song (and realizing I hadn’t seen or even thought of searching for that video since I was 12), I watched it.  What a horrible video. But what a good service to see it on.

When Jogli launched the video, it started up (courtesy of You Tube) with additional information such as lyrics (wow! even the lyrics are bad on New Moon on Monday – and yet I still love it) and the song’s album information. 

I won’t touch the copyright implications, although I’m sure this will work as an easy tool for future lawsuits against You Tube. This site is pretty cool, though, and it’s all still in beta.