Content trends: six things everyone’s talking about
We're nearly halfway through 2012 and there are some clear content trends emerging.
Here are the top six hot issues we’re discussing with content owners…
The mainstreaming of content marketing: ten implications
Let's face it, content marketing has gone mainstream. That kind of sucks, really, because it used to be a hugely powerful differentiator in most markets.
Soon it will just be the price of entry. Everyone will have a rich content library, so a new eBook or video won't be enough to make you jump out from that pack of pesky competitors.
So how will the world of digital marketing change when content marketing becomes the norm for everyone?
Here are ten predicions and what you can do about them...
The five Cs of connected TV
When two very different industries like traditional broadcast television and digital collide, it’s difficult to ignore the implications on both sides.
While analysts predict that 60% of households will be watching internet TV by 2014 and many companies are trying to capitalise on shifting viewing habits, the connected TV market is still in a nascent stage.
To coincide with the recent release of Econsultancy’s Connected TV Smart Pack, we’ve identified five key elements of this emerging ecosystem that any marketer needs to be aware of.
These are what we call the five Cs of connected TV...
MENA case studies: Beat FM wins ArabNet's best digital campaign
At ArabNet's Digital Summit in Beirut last week, Jordanian agency, Prodigi Corp, took home the prize for Best Digital Campaign for its work for radio channel, Beat FM.
The Facebook campaign asked people to share their pictures if they are a celebrity look-alike.
More examples of innovative social media case studies are beginning to come to light in the Middle East, which is exciting for the digital industry in this region.
Sharing case studies and examples of best practice is hugely beneficial for digital as a whole, enabling companies to learn from their peers and better understand best practices and rules of engagement.
With that in mind, here we look at Beat FM's case study in more detail, as well as some of the other campaigns shortlisted in this category at ArabNet's summit.
Mad Men season premiere sparks big social chatter
A mere decade ago, the water cooler was still the ideal place to discuss the movie you saw over the weekend or the TV show you watched last night. But with the rise of social media, the water cooler is, for many viewers, online.
When it comes to talking about the latest happenings on the big screen and the small screen, connected devices are creating an entirely new dynamic, one in which viewers talk about the content they're consuming with large audiences in real-time.
Google rolls apps, movies, music and ebooks into Google Play
There are numerous differences between Apple's content ecosystem and Google's. One of the biggest: through iTunes, Apple offers a unified and arguably superior experience. Whatever you're looking for, be it music, apps or books, can be purchased and downloaded in a single place.
This apparently hasn't been lost on Google, which today announced that it's combining Android Market, Google Music and the Google eBookstore into a single entity dubbed Google Play.
You need an API, but not one like ESPN's
Are you a sports fan? Are you a developer? If you answered yes to both questions, ESPN wants to talk to you.
Why? Because the sports media giant has jumped on the API bandwagon and is courting developers who can take its content and data to build cool sports apps.
Five steps for creating phenomenal content
We’re all publishers now, aren’t we? The barriers to enter the publishing game are low and Google’s given its public seal of approval to decent content (thanks Panda).
As someone passionate about content, this seems like a good thing, having content be more valued and recognised for the brand awareness, visibility and engagement it can bring.
But here’s the thing - just because we can all be publishers doesn’t mean we should be. How can you tell if you should jump into the game? And how can you ensure your content is right for your customers and your brand?
Here are five steps to help you figure out the right strategy.
HBO Go set for April 1 Xbox 360 debut
It's a multi-channel, multi-platform and multi-screen world and that means one thing for broadcast and cable networks: distributing content effectively requires more than just access to the airwaves or cable pipes.
The networks realize this, which is why many have been rapidly pushing to make their content available to consumers wherever they go.
Major online video players schedule their own upfront
According to some in the tech startup community, television is dead, or should be.
Instead of striking fear in the hearts of executives at the major television networks, it probably brings a smile to their faces. After all, year after year they count billions of dollars in revenues from upfronts as it rolls in.
