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RSSWhat this means is that video is coming to Facebook in a big way, but it will not look like the video we have seen on such social media platforms as YouTube and MySpace. To date video on these and other social sites has fit the paradigm of a small number of content producers, relative to a larger audience of content viewers. Meaning, the goal on YouTube, for a bulk of the content creators, is to get more views of their videos regardless of who is doing the viewing. To date, even with all of the user-generated content out there, on social sites most users' primary role was to either distribute/share other people's (commonly strangers') content, or simply consume that content.
Now users on Facebook are creating videos specifically to communicate with people -- or even a single person to whom the user is already connected. It sounds simple, but the difference is significant. The shift in behavior is being caused by a proliferation of easy-to-use devices that produce easy-to-upload, Flash-based videos (like Flip, and the video camera now built into every phone and computer) and Facebook's support of intuitive video sharing among social graph connections.
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As this behavior increases, it creates a whole new class of video content on the Web. The plus side for Facebook is that using the site to store and share videos for communication adds a new layer of utility for Facebook, in a way that is very appropriate for the platform. Still, the trend brings another big issue: if you thought YouTube had a hard time monetizing its video content, imagine trying to monetize someone's personal video message to a friend.
For us, as marketers, video as communication represents people adapting to new technologies and evolving new media habits, even while we are still trying to adjust to the idea of social media at all. There is no guarantee how this will shake out (i.e., Will YouTube and MySpace simply cede this functionality to Facebook?). I am not sure yet what this will mean for the industry as a whole (marketers, social networks or users), but I am interested in your thoughts, as I am convinced this will be one of the major consumer trends over the year.
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The video aspect for personal communication is a game changer. I recall thinking of the opportunities when I found myself recording a holiday video from Hawaii for my niece Marie who lives in the Tetons. I love video technology! :-)
Great post, keep them coming. Peace out, Kathleen
@chrismingryan http://christophermingryan.typepad.com/thewaywewatch/
The growth will come from advertising (1:few) as millions of SMBs begin to leverage simple tools like the Flip.
I seriously doubt that personal video (1:1) will see huge growth -- at least in 2009. We're still waiting for people to adopt synchronous video in a messaging context.
One thing you (and many others) fail to mention about video is the associated impact upon broadband carriers.
The simple fact is that the rapid proliferation of video poses a huge cost to the carriers. They must figure out ways to deliver new, higher margin, services that work with the tide rather than against it.
I wrote a post about this topic here http://broadbandevolved.com
From Facebook: You are blocked from sending messages due to continued overuse of this feature Your failure to comply with an earlier warning has resulted in this block. Continued misuse of Facebook's features may result in your account being permanently disabled. Which of the following links describes what you were trying to do? Clicking on a link will take you to more information on how to use Facebook's features.
Using Applications <http://www.new.facebook.com/help.php?topic=wusingapplications <http://www.new..facebook.com/help.php?topic=wusingapplications> > Planning an Event <http://www.new.facebook.com/help.php?topic=wevent> Sharing your Facebook Group/Event link <http://www.new.facebook.com/help.php?topic=wevent> Promoting a business, product or service <http://www.new..facebook.com/help.php?topic=wbusiness <http://www.new.facebook.com/help.php?topic=wbusiness> > Chatting with friends <http://www.new.facebook.com/help.php?topic=winbox> Help Center Questions and Answers from Facebook
I was chatting with friends by sending them a lot of Inbox messages, but now I've been warned for misusing site features. Facebook has several features in place to limit the potential for abusive or annoying behavior on the site. One of these features is a cap on the speed and frequency at which a user sends messages to other users while using the Inbox. Please note that even if all of your conversations were legitimate interactions with friends, our Inbox message service is not a chat client, and should not be treated as such. As a recommended alternative, we suggest that you check out the Facebook Chat feature, which allows you to exchange real-time messages with your confirmed Facebook friends. To start using Facebook Chat, click the Chat icon in the bottom right corner of any Facebook page, and choose the "Go Online" option. You can start a conversation with any confirmed Facebook friend by clicking on their name in the "Online Friends" list. Once you send a message, your friend will receive an alert at the bottom of their screen, and they can reply by typing in the conversation box provided.
FB it is a fantastic free service, as the video trend catches it will put its bandwidth costs through the roof. If they are relying on their ads to cover the cost then they will need to find a better placement are targeting system. As a married man I am still seeing singles ads.
I think you are absolutely right that video sharing/communicating will be the next huge trend!! I agree with Paul, sagely and timely post!
I'm excited to see the web moving this direction regardless of the blatant search problem relating to crawling nomenclature of links and text content. It would also be nice to turn on the webcam, send a message, and not feel like such a narcissist as in the case of the 1.0 early adopters of Youtube.
Good post Joe.
~D.Rey www.BeyondBanner.com
Creating new creators launches a new stage in the strategic evolution of Facebook, as the desire to flip a video at a friend will engender the flip-back. Like cold-fusion, it will create more energy than it consumes.
That surplus energy will faciliate the active landscape for behavioral, dynamic context, and demo-targeted advertising banner space in the messaging platform.
http://richreader.blogspot.com/
What's interesting is Facebook's efforts to create an environment where video is both portable and clickable. Imagine going to a LOST TV show page on Facebook, watching the video with your friends, and being able to participate in a chat with fellow LOST-ies at the same time.
Given that type of service, would ABC find value in a video-gram targeted to potential viewers?
You betcha.
Gregory Gotts (gottstogo@briefworld.com)
This is sagely and timely post Joe. I'm tweeting it!
Gordon Gordon@RealTVfilms.com