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Aug30
The Statistical Lie that won't go away

It continually surprises me how far behind some of the Internet writers are on the demographic changes on the Web.

For example, just yesterday I found articles written or posted on blogs citing MySpace and Facebook as social networking hangouts for primarily young people, when the average user of MySpace is over 35 and Facebook is increasingly aging in its average user.

The same is now happening in the online video consumption market. It's been studied and revealed for some time here that those consuming video are similar to the demographic in the large social networking sites. In other words they're averaging over 35 years of age as well, says a survey by Advertising.com and InsightExpress.

How much of the over-35 crowd watch online video? A full 69 percent. How about those in the 18-34 age group? Amazingly, the survey says only 31 percent view streaming video.

Not surprisingly, the preferred content of video viewers is news, standing at 62 percent of video viewed. Other desired online video was movie trailers at 38 percent and music videos at 36 percent. TV shows were the fourth most-watched online video, with 33 percent watching that, while user-generated content was watched by 29 percent.

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Aug30
Monetizing Video by Partnering with Video Hosting Sites
Some tips on monetizing videoAn article in Wall Street Journal online talks about the growing trend of companies looking to put their advertising alongside Web video. Part of the trend is they're starting to look at niche video because of... Continue Reading
Aug29
Social Networks May Never Support Brand Advertising says Analyst Firm
It's not secret social networks have had a problem from the moment they appeared on the Internet scene, in that they offered everything for free, which created a wild west mentality among its users.The results are so much garbage content,... Continue Reading
Is Everybody a Media Company?
The acquisition of Maya's Mom by Johnson & Johnson, along with American Eagle launching an entertainment production arm called 77E, speaks to the enormous changes going on in the online business world.Kathy Savitt, exec VP and chief marketing officer of... Continue Reading
Name of News Corp. NBC Universal Joint Venture will be Hulu!
News Corp. (NWS-A) and NBC Universal (GE) have finally come up with a name for their joint venture, the companies dubbed the new video web site "Hulu."The companies said the site will go into beta in October for a limited... Continue Reading
Mark Cuban is now "Dancing with the Stars"
Mark (The Internet is dead and boring) Cuban has been enlisted as one of the contestants in "Dancing with the Stars."Whether you agree with Cuban's seemingly endless stream of comments he throws out there, he is a good marketer. As... Continue Reading
Aug28
Google's Chief Financial Officer George Reyes Stepping Down
In a surprise announcement, Google (GOOG) says chief financial officer George Reyes will retire by the end of the year, staying around long enough to help transition his replacement."I know I'm leaving the company in good hands with a remarkable... Continue Reading
No Surprise: YouTube Overlay Ads Going to Professional Content
User-generated content may be what has made Google (GOOG) what it is, but it isn't going to be what sustains it. As one report says, at this time "3,000 professional producers and 70 independent channels" are where Google is running... Continue Reading
Consumer Confidence and Being Prepared for Tightening Wallets
The announcement that consumer confidence plunged by seven points today is a wakeup call on the psychology of our customers.If you sell goods or services to American consumers, you need to take a good look at what you may need... Continue Reading
Rupert Murdoch, MySpace, about to Ramp up Monetizing the Network
Rupert Murdoch laid down the gauntlet to Fox Interactive Media earlier this month saying he wants the division to increase its profit factor by 20 over the next year. The division brought in $10 million in profits on sales of... Continue Reading
Aug26
Yahoo E-Mail Adds New Contact Features
Yahoo (YHOO) announced Sunday it would introduce some new features to its e-mail program that will enable those using their computer to text message from their key board to a cell phone. It will be available in the U.S., Canada,... Continue Reading
We Need to get rid of our Fear of Trying Different things in Online Marketing
"Failure isn't to be feared on the Web, it is to be embraced. If you are not failing, you are not stretching as much."Peter Black at Freedom to Differ cites an excellent report by Joe Strupp about the failures and... Continue Reading
Google New Advertising and Search Provider for NDM Websites
Google (GOOG) has landed a deal with News Digital Media (NDM) to add it to its content network, replacing Yahoo (YHOO) in the search area. The deal will include a number of websites like The Herald Sun, The Australian and... Continue Reading
How will YouTube Overlay Ad Decision Affect You?
There will be a number of things the decision by YouTube to offer their video ads in flash overlays will have upon online marketers who monetize video.Ian Schaeffer, writing for Clickz, asks the question if YouTube is using overlay ads,... Continue Reading
Aug25
Clear Channel Communications Founder Red McCombs Launches Christian (?) Web Site
Red McCombs, a well-known fixture in the business world who co-founded Clear Channel Communications (CCU) and owns a number of auto dealerships in the San Antonio area, has started up a general Christian community Web site called Faithvine.com."The main vision... Continue Reading
Google Economist says Slowdown no Threat to Company
While it's not a surprise that advertising budgets are slashed during economic downturns, the Internet does add something that hasn't been there before during those major times.Google (GOOG) thinks this is true as well, as their chief economist Hal Varian... Continue Reading
Google Adds Video Upload Feature to "Blogger"
If you use Google's Blogger for anything you do, they announced on Friday that they added a new feature that allows users to upload videos to their blogs.They say on the Blogger Buzz site, "This feature allows you to upload... Continue Reading
High School Musical 2 and Integrated Marketing
The huge, record breaking success of High School Musical 2 is a good example of using offline events to drive traffic to our websites.While very few companies in the world can match the branding of Disney, within our niches we... Continue Reading
Aug24
Michael Eisner, Topps Co., and Creative Marketing Ideas
Former Walt Disney (DIS) CEO Michael Eisner has been making another name for himself as a player in the original content space of online video. Through his Vuguru studio, he bought the rights to Prom Queen, which was a success,... Continue Reading
Universal Music Most Viewed YouTube Channel
After trading some barbs and some sword rattling with YouTube (GOOG) in 2006, Universal Music says it's now the most viewed video channel on YouTube.Since the music company started putting up music videos on the site, they have in one year... Continue Reading
YouTube Gets Initial Feedback to Video Ads
When YouTube asked for customer feedback to placing overlay video ads on some YouTube videos, the expected herd of ranters responded for the most part negatively. Some said they're going to move to other video sites in response to ads... Continue Reading
More Trouble in Christian Celebrity World: Paula, Randy White Divorcing
Just one day after the beating of televangelist Juanita Bynum, another problem is revealed in the celebrity Chrisian world, as Paula White and husband Randy White announced Thursday night they are ending their 18-year marriage.The two described their breakup as... Continue Reading
Aug23
Canon Considered Best Brand for Digital Imaging by US Internet Users
When presented with a list of 15 digital camera brands, US Internet users chose Canon as the top of the line, according to an Ipsos survey cited by Marketing Charts.Canon (CAJ) was the choice for 24 percent of those surveyed,... Continue Reading
Afterworld: Post-apocalyptic Story Now on MySpace
The newest syndicated entrant in online video entertainment is "Afterworld," an animated series where a man wakes up to find the majority of the population of the world has disappeared.  There are 130 episodes in the series, which is created... Continue Reading
Juanita Bynum, Christian Celebrities, and Personal Tragedies
The battering that Juanita Bynum allegedly received from her husband Thomas W. Weeks III, made me think of the question of celebrity Christianity.Of course the first issue will be the very public aftermath of whatever is determined after Weeks, who... Continue Reading
SoundExchange Offers Small Internet Radio Companies Deal
SoundExchange, the group that collects royalties from small radio stations on behalf of record labels and artists, has offered small Internet radio broadcasters a temporary reprieve from the royalty fee increases.The group says online radio companies earning less than $1.25 million... Continue Reading
Aug22
Google Adding YouTube Video to its News Site
One area where Yahoo! (YHOO) kicks Googles' butt is in online news. Yahoo! draws almost four times the viewers that Google does in that area.In response, Google (GOOG) will start inserting YouTube videos into its news stories in an attempt... Continue Reading
Vogue Launches Broadband Channel for Branding
While the Vogue launch of its new broadband channel has been has been talked about as an entertainment and shopping site, in reality it's been created for the purpose of branding.As part of the branding effort, the company has launched... Continue Reading
Aug21
YouTube Launching Major Online Video Marketing Strategy
In its first big push into providing ads on its video inventory, Google (GOOG) announced it will launch a new initiative for YouTube starting Wednesday.The way it will work is in providing an overlay or "skin" across the bottom of... Continue Reading
New Video, Social Networking Site for Scientists Launches
The recent launch of SciVee.tv is a good example of how the online video space will continue to fragment and go niche.The new video, social networking site was launched by the San Diego Supercomputer Center, the Public Library of Science and... Continue Reading
Google Admits Mistake with Video Compensation Fiasco
It didn't take long for Google (GOOG) to change its decision on users of its video download service. It never made sense when they made the announcement that they were going to shut down the service and offer refunds as... Continue Reading
MySpace, Facebook and Hype
From the online coverage of Facebook, you'd think they were demolishing MySpace (NWS-A) and the News Corp. owned company was falling on its face. In reality, the opposite is happening.Using unique visitors as the metric, MySpace is doing really good.... Continue Reading
Secrets of Running an Ad-supported Online Business
The slowing down of ad growth at AOL (TWX) prompted an article in the New York Times (NYT) that makes it look like they may be in big trouble. One of the problems is AOL had been growing its ad... Continue Reading
Aug20
Online High School Sports Market Exploding!
The entrance of three media companies into the high school sports category last week shows the desire by advertisers to reach this highly desirable market. The major reason it's so sought after is its draw of multiple demographics.Last week Emmis... Continue Reading
Google Battling Baidu with Acquisitions and Stakes in Chinese Companies
Trying to gain market share on Chinese search giant Baidu.com, Google (GOOG) has been on a buying and investing spree in a number of Chinese companies.Google is reported to be looking a buying two Chinese companies while investing in another... Continue Reading
Aug19
LA Times Panics over Googles' News Story Comments
The Los Angeles Times went ballistic when they found out Google (GOOG) was going to add a feature to Google News that will allow those being reported upon to comment on the story.Here's what the Times panicked about:"But Google now... Continue Reading
Small or Medium Local Newspapers Not Growing Online - May Not Survive
About a year of so ago, many thought local newspapers may be less affected by the Internet as their larger cousins. That assumption seems in doubt now, as some now believe the migration to the Internet could end up seeing... Continue Reading
Aug18
Retailers Selling Christmas Goods Almost All Year Long - Internet Key to Research
A recent study by ShopLocal.com shows that the retail Christmas shopping season continues to extend, especially with online shoppers using the Internet to research potential buys months ahead of Christmas day.Of the over 2,000 people surveyed, a full 33 percent... Continue Reading
MySpace Lands Internet Video Veteran Tom Bosco to Head MySpaceTV Sales
MySpace has hired Tom Bosco as VP and marketing head for MySpaceTV. He will be responsible for video advertising sales across the entire MySpace platform.Bosco was one of the major participants in the launch of AOL and MSN Video. He... Continue Reading
Garth Brooks Won't be Offering New Music Package Digitally
Saying that he considers his material to be part of a cohesive whole, Garth Brooks said he won't be offering any of his newest material online individually.He said in a press conference Saturday (August 18) that a single from his... Continue Reading
Aug17
Gaming Most Popular Online Entertainment Activity - A Business Model to Look at
hen asked what the most popular Web activity is, most people probably wouldn't think of online gaming. It doesn't get the press coverage that social networks and online video does, yet it's emerged as a powerful business model with multiple... Continue Reading
Google Sued for Allowing Competitors to use Company Trademarks for Search Results
Google (GOOG) has another lawsuit to contend with as American Airlines is suing them over allowing competitors to buy keywords which are triggered by the trademark of the company.What is happening is "A Google visitor who enters certain words or... Continue Reading
Amazon.coms' IMDB Latest to Lose Advertisers - This Time Over Porn Listings
It may be time for Amazon.com and its Internet Movie Database site to change their strategy, as two advertisers left the site recently over their inclusion of porn movie titles in their database. Dropping advertising from the site were The... Continue Reading
Page Six Head Richard Johnson wants to Take Over Gossip Universe
In a play to extend the Page Six brand across any platform they can get it on, Richard Johnson has been on the lookout and searching for those into the celebrity gossip genre who want to help him do it.... Continue Reading
Aug16
Google AdSense to Distribute Short-Form Videos
Google (GOOG) announced Thursday that it will begin offering short-form videos across its adsense network. The videos will include two different creations. One by the creator of "Family Guy," Seth MacFarlane, and the other featuring the star of "That's So... Continue Reading
NBC to Offer Record Coverage of Beijing Olympics: Most of that Online
The 3,600 hours of coverage of the summer olympic games by NBC (GE) will be more than the combined total of every previous Summer Games televised in the U.S.With an approximate 2,200 hours of that being streamed online at NBCOlympics.com,... Continue Reading
AOL Repositions Video Search Engine "Truveo"
AOL has repositioned it Truveo.com video search engine that originally was used for developers as a demonstration site which would eventually be used to integrate with AOLs' existing video search engine. They are now offering it as a one-stop consumer... Continue Reading
More on Being Prepared for Major Disruptions
Yesterday we talked about the storm season now upon us and how we need to be reminded of being prepared for potential disasters that could happen in our industry; especially on the various effects that could come upon us from... Continue Reading
The Dirty Little Secret why Advertisers are Targeting Social Networking Sites
Some are making a big deal about advertising dollars going to social networking sites as if it is some type of confirmation of their attraction or success. It's no surprise that the majority of that money is primarily going to... Continue Reading
Aug15
Storm Seasons Upon Us, We also Need to be Prepared for a Financial Tsunami
On another blog I talked about the impact the storm season and unknown disasters can have if we don't have contingency plans in place. A recent post by my colleague at Ad Hurl, George Parker, talks about the subprime tsunami... Continue Reading
JCPenny Launches Online Reality TV Show Targeting Teens
The quarterly results for retail outlets show the teen fashion market is up for grabs now, and JC Penney (JCP) is wasting no time reaching out to to young people to win their business. The company enjoyed a strong quarter... Continue Reading
Heavy.com Launching Video Ad Network "Husky"
With the growing demand Internet video viewers have to watch video where they want, a number of companies have been creating video ad networks to give users their wish. Heavy is joining a number of other web companies in making... Continue Reading
Van Natta No Longer Facebook COO
The change of Owen Van Natta from chief operating officer of Facebook to “chief revenue officer and vice president of operations,” brings with it some changes at the social networking site.While the company claims it's not a demotion, it's hard... Continue Reading
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" Streaming on MySpace
For fans of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," you won't have to wait to get a glimpse of the crazy characters in the show. FX has teamed with MySpace (NWS-A) to stream the episode "Mac Is a Serial Killer" on... Continue Reading
Aug14
Content is Increasingly King Online
Content is the new king of the block in time spent on the Internet, as it has now bypassed communications as the number one activity online.In 2003, communication was the number one online activity, accounting for 46 percent of time... Continue Reading
Yahoo Beats Google in Customer Satisfaction Says Study
A study by the University of Michigan places Yahoo (YHOO) ahead of Google (GOOG) for customer service for the first time. The study focused on search, Web portals and Internet news sites. The study called American Customer Satisfaction Index, has... Continue Reading
The Toy Recall and Quality Control
The toy recall by Mattel gives a caution on those online marketers that may be using sources from other countries as suppliers. I talk about the specifics at my managersrealm blog.Even the smallest company importing goods should have some program... Continue Reading
Online Video Growth Could Increase Broadband Costs in UK
The online video boom has brought potential challenges to the UK market, which are starting to be talked about before they become a major problem.Driving the issue is the European market in general, and the UK market specifically. In Europe,... Continue Reading
Aug13
Why the Hiring of Alan Greenspan by Deutsche Bank is Important to Online Marketers
The hiring of former FED chairman Alan Greenspan by Deutsche bank is in direct correlation to the current crisis in subprime lending. I talk here about him being probably more of a symbol of economic growth and than anything else; somebody... Continue Reading
Microsoft, aQuantive Finalize Acquisition
After clearing regulatory hurdles last month, and shareholders approving the deal last Thursday, aQuantive Inc.  in a regulatory filing Monday said it was officially a wholly-owned subsidiary of Microsoft (MSFT). Per the terms of the deal, the aQuantive board resigned as... Continue Reading
Aug12
Googles' Move to Drop Video is Bad move for Overall Online Video Market
It's no secret that people prefer high quality video to user-generated online video. The problem is that companies, to this point, are having problems delivering it.Added to the mix now is Googles' dumb move to shut down their video service... Continue Reading
Comcast Goes into Beta with Fancast.com
Comcast (CMCSA) has launched the beta version of its new entertainment portal Fancast.com. The site is an obvious response to the Internet Movie Database run by Amazon.com (AMZN) which the company says receives about 50 million online visitors a month.At... Continue Reading
Aug11
Social Networks, Targeted Ads, Niche Markets - 2
Continuing on from last post, we'll look a little deeper into whether targeted ads on social networks will increase their ad prices. The catch-22 for portal-type sites is if they try to get more niche, they cease being what they are and turn... Continue Reading
Social Networks, Targeted Ads, Niche Markets - 1
A good post at business2.com talks about the recent testing MySpace (NWS-A) has done concerning targeting ads. Here's a quick comment by Fox Interactive Media Chief Revenue Officer Mike Barrett on how they're practically going about it:"The plan was to... Continue Reading
Where Will all the Online Stars End Up?
Entertainment Weekly had an article that asks the question "Can YouTube stars find fame offline?" I found it interesting in that we just talked last post how HBO is trying to figure out ways to make their online video strategy... Continue Reading
HBO Trying Online Video Strategy without Using its Brand
HBO has been in a experiment over the last year with their HBOlab division, which most people haven't heard of. They're deliberately flying under the radar trying a variety of things with online video which isn't connected to using the... Continue Reading
Hearst Acquisition of Kaboodle Underscores how Online Growth is Changing
When Hearst announced it had acquired Kaboodle, the social shopping site, it highlighted how the online industry has changed again in a relatively short time.Not too long ago tech gadgets and computers were the major driver for web sites that... Continue Reading
Aug10
NBC Partners with HIRO Media for Ad-supported DotComedy Video
NBC has teamed up with Israeli start-up HIRO Media to offer their DotComedy content free with an ad-supported element added to their videos. HIRO will serve up the technology to offer the service, while NBC starts off with its "Comedy... Continue Reading
DVDVideoSoft Launches Online Video Helps Site
DVDVideoSoft has launched a new web site that is a one-stop shop for an exhaustive number of video tips, tools and free, downloadable software. The service is unique in that it's more than an aggregator of 3rd party products, rather... Continue Reading
Parents Television Council Ranks Proctor & Gamble as Best Advertiser
The Parents Television Council released its annual report ranking what companies sponsor family-oriented shows versus those shows peddling vulgarity, violence and sexually explicit content.Proctor & Gamble (PG) came out as the number one company for advertising on family shows. Others... Continue Reading
SpiralFrog in Beta, Looking for End of Year North American Launch