You’ll also find talks with next generation content developers like Jim Kertz from The Clip Show, Casey McKinnon from Galacticast and many others. And of interest on the distribution side, CEO Josh Kindberg gives you a quick introduction and update on what has been happening at FireAnt.
An audience member captured some footage of the SPORE demo given during the Will Wright keynote address at SXSW 2007. I thought this was one of the more memorable events from this year’s conference.
If you are into animation and character design and weren’t able to attend this year you may want to keep checking the SXSW video coverage page to see if an official version was captured and gets posted. The portion of the demo that gave us a sneak peek at how SPORE will empower the player to create and animate some relatively sophisticated 3D characters on the fly and insert them into the game seemed to ignite the audience and is worth a higher rez look if one is out there.
Filed under inspiration by david cummings on Saturday 3 February 2007 at 10:52 am
If you’ve been going through your Apacheserver logs or Google Analytics account recently, you’ve probably noticed some new activity from bots originating from emerging visual search engines like Pagebull and Snap.
Screenshot of Pagebull results page of search for “content developer”
In addition to Snap and Pagebull, Browster offers a variation on the visual search theme by adding the power of an instant visual preview to Google search results via the Browster browser plug in.
First impressions are that all of these early leaders in the visual search race have something to offer. Pagebull’s use of screen real estate along with easy access to information about sites from Alexa and the ability to immediately share sites via del.icio.us, digg, reddit and furl is effective. Browster’s integration with Google search results is a potent combination while Snap’s list of partners is impressive and their branding may be most appealing among the group. Snap also recently launched Snap Preview Anywhere which allows a site owner to use visual preview for links on their site. While this has generated some debate, it’s power to impact the user experience is clear.
Screenshot of Snap results page of search for “dvd release dates”
While testing some of these services it appeared that some in the group didn’t process any javascript in their visual preview, meaning that if your site uses swfobject to display any Flash based design elements or if you’re remixing rss content via tools like feed2js your site design may end up looking less than it’s best in these previews. It would be nice for the site owner to have some kind of mechanism (an optional line of code that could be embedded in the site HTML?) to override the default visual preview and designate their own screen shot that will be displayed in the search results.
An even more attractive feature might be the ability to designate your own video clip for the visual preview rather than simply a still.
Imagine the possibilities.
The only major downside that initially comes to mind with these new visual search tools is that they may increase the odds that users are exposed to images they may prefer to avoid. Techniques to minimize that risk will likely evolve along with the tools, so that tradeoff would seem manageable. And if users are troubled by that risk, they can always choose to play it safe and stick with a text based search engine.
While next generation search services like these that return a visual representation of their search results as opposed to simply a text description are only beginning to appear, their potential to disrupt the way we currently think about search looms large. And what will this new visual dimension in search mean for content developers? Will SEO morph to not only mean emphasis on pagerank and relevance but now also include a new visual optimization component? Could a movement build around designs and techniques that might, for better or worse, borrow from banner and text ads that inspire the prospective user to click through?
As the search marketplace figures all that out, these new visual search tools should at a minimum provide fresh incentive for content developers to be sure our work is packaged in a visually clean and inviting environment.
Update: The visual search engines talked about here that return visual representations of sites in their search results shouldn’t be confused with search engines such as Like which allow the user to choose an image and find things that look similar. Or as Like puts it, you search by appearance.
Filed under inspiration by david cummings on Monday 1 January 2007 at 10:10 am
How did you spend your 2006? Were you in search of inspiration, or were you busy creating content that inspired others? Were you doing your best to juggle multiple projects or did you finally take that much needed breather? The ultimate question being…
Was this how you really wanted to spend your time?
With the spirit of that question in mind and in lieu of the more traditional Year End Best Of Worst Of List or a Forecast Of Somewhat Obvious Predictions, I wanted to welcome in MMVII by sharing with you a cross section of the companies, tools or content that I experienced over the past year that either provided a creative spark or produced at least a subtle shift in the way I think or work.
Brightcove: While YouTube sucked up all the oxygen in the online video space in 06, Brightcove may turn out to be the company to watch for the independent Content Developer.
screenshot of Brightcove’s tools for content owners
Some Content Developers I’ve met through the years love creating their content but quickly break into a cold sweat when they realize that they also have to find a way to generate some revenue from it. Founded by ColdFusion creator Jeremy Allaire, Brightcove may bridge this gap in skill sets by offering solutions for a content owner to not only globally distribute their video but also monetize and syndicate their content.
If Brightcove continues to gain traction, could the most effective online video content marketing and distribution strategy for 07 and beyond be to release your viral via YouTube and then distribute and monetize your content through Brightcove?
Podtech.net: 2006 marked a tipping point in my audio content consumption habits while commuting, having finally kicked local radio station listening to the curb for the most part in favor of near fulltime podcast listening. One Content Developer that helped make this transition possible is podtech.net.
With such a vast quantity of on demand audio content now available, sifting through it all and finding a source that consistently delivers a high percentage of what you’re after can be a challenge, even with the help of iTunes. If you’re the type that views time in your vehicle as an opportunity to learn new things or stay current on technology, marketing and entrepreneurship, then podtech.net may be just be what you’re looking for.
On a side note - I’m still looking for a quality sports talk podcast where the content doesn’t grow stale within a day. If you know of a podcast like that, please drop me a line.
When you hear the assortment of activists from one side of the political spectrum that are associated with this project, some of you may be tempted to run in the other direction fearing exposure to a 90 minute partisan rant. But no worries. While this documentary does have a point of view, it makes its case with some smarts and relative objectivity, and doesn’t resort to blaming all the world’s energy woes on Big Oil and W. (only some of them)
With all the talk these days about the promise of hydrogen power, biodiesel, and other alternative energy sources, Who Killed The Electric Car makes a compelling case that we may have had an answer right in our grasp and somehow let it slip away.
Clap your Hands Say Yeah: This band broke out in 2006 and their true indie spirit is something to applaud. If your musical tastes might appreciate a sound influenced by early alternative - think quirky Velvet Underground type tracks layered with sometimes fitful David Byrne like vocals - then you may actually dig their music too.
Being a casual fan of pre punk, that artistic heritage worked for me. And after encountering a song title like Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth, the attraction became impossible to resist.
But even if that isn’t your particular cup of tea, their approach may inspire the artist in you. Musicians are Content Developers after all, and Clap You Hand Say Yeah’s passion for and success at writing, producing, performing and distributing their content along with the use of viral marketing to build a new band brand could be a case study on the impact of the democracy of distribution.
Creating Passionate Users: I got the chance to meet this blog’s author Kathy Sierra after her packed presentation at SXSW 2006. Kathy’s audience is large because no matter what kind of content you are creating, her insight provides a regular source of both encouragement and lessons on what it takes to create a meaningful and lasting connection with your users. Plenty going on for both your left and right brain and definitely a must feed to put in your rss reader.
My knowledge of this subject matter comes mostly from researching a screenplay that explores these themes. So, make no mistake, I’m no expert on it. Still, I wanted to include this on our list here because if ever there was such a thing as a paradigm shift, this must certainly be it.
And for Content Developers, will there be a day when your content will be distributed via a biological system? Forget current high resolution leaders like High Definition or Hybrid Digital, will there come a time when HD is understood to mean Human Distribution?
The human body as a premium distribution platform? An embedded Flash plug-in for your cerebral cortex? YouTube becomes, well…you?
If you’re interested in the speed at which what is currently science fiction is becoming reality, this TedTalks presentation from Ray Kurzweil is worth your time.
PaidContent.org: This blog and its sister site MocoNews.net have quickly become a daily must read for those interested in the business of content. And if you’re in between gigs, PaidContent’s job listings are among the highest quality out there.
Mozes: Over the past year ContentDeveloper.com spent a lot of time focused on methods for developing and distributing content to mobile devices. And apparently many of you are interested in this as well as the post Open Source SMS continues to be one of the most visited pages on this site. While working on a project in this space I was introduced to a company called Mozes that is making access to their sms short code available to the masses.
Mozes.com screenshot
Many companies are entering this arena, but the simplicity with which Mozes allows you to sign up, choose a free keyword and start experimenting with delivering on demand content to and interacting with a mobile audience is an empowering experience for those wanting to move onto the mobile platform.
Google Analytics: 2006 marked ContentDeveloper.com’s transition from primarily using Apache server logs and Webtrends to track our site traffic to using Google Analytics along with their collection of other Webmaster Tools. We still use the Webtrends/access_log combo on occasion, but a shift has taken place.
The ability of the potent mix of Google Analytics, Webmaster Tools, Adwords and Adsense to provide the independent Content Developer with a foundation of tools to market, monetize and measure the global distribution of your work is something to celebrate.
The night I saw this film on DVD I thought it was nice, but only ok. But then Robert Altman who directed the picture died the next day. That strange coincidence propelled me to research the circumstances of his a death a bit more. In doing so I learned that he’d been sick for a while and wasn’t in the best of health when making the movie.
Underneath the surface story of the last broadcast of the radio show that also serves as the title of the movie, the film also contains some subtle and not so subtle themes about death. When I later thought more about the picture in the context of a dying man trying to convey some wisdom, the movie’s impact grew.
The film’s style and subject matter is pretty folksy and no doubt not for everybody, but the craftsmanship is excellent, the casting top notch, the story well told and the layers run deep.
With the world in the midst of what the Institute for the Future calls a cambrian explosion of creativity it’s tough to single out only a few for mention here. But there you have it, with the hope that as you pursue your own goals and resolutions for the new year, somewhere in this mix you might find a tiny catalyst to dream bigger, work smarter or simply enjoy your own journey a little more.
Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year from ContentDeveloper.com. May your 2007 be filled with time well spent.
Filed under inspiration by david cummings on Monday 23 October 2006 at 11:01 am
When deciding on what original content projects to invest your heart, time and money, what emphasis do you place on a project’s potential for global distribution?
This week the Coates Library Cinema Series at Trinity University offers not only a chance to enjoy some award winning cinema from around the world, but the films may also serve as inspiration for you to dream big when selecting what you are going to work on.
Have you imagined all the possibilities of where and how an audience may choose to consume your content?
Filed under inspiration by david cummings on Thursday 12 October 2006 at 10:01 am
Who do you pay more attention to these days when you’re searching for information about a product or service? The well produced corporate communications campaign or an actual consumer with first hand experience but perhaps a slightly unpolished presentation?
If that consumer comes across as genuine and knowledgeable, then for me it seems that more and more my somewhat subjective scales of credibility will tip in their direction. Research suggests that chances are you may share this view as well.
Which leads to the question…
Is there a more effective evangelist today than the articulate and motivated consumer?
Granted, the influence of the actual consumer on the buying behavior of the potential consumer has been a force in the marketplace since Adam Smith thought writing a book might be a good idea. But the change we’ve all been observing over recent years is the actual consumer’s ability to more easily attract an audience of potential consumers to share their experience with.
The mouth in word of mouth is getting bigger by the day and is learning to speak new languages.
But as the barriers to distribution so gloriously get stripped away and the tools to create become easier and more affordable, I sometimes wonder if I’ve fully grasped the concept that the motivated consumer may now have something even more valuable to share than simply their opinion, online rating point, inbound link or referral.
Is it possible that the organic spark of a true believer can capture and communicate the authentic you better than anyone?
After all, advertising is content. And as User Generated Content continues to dominate the headlines for so many reasons, discounting its value in your marketing mix increases the odds of suffering that sad consequence known as missed opportunity.
I think most of us get that now. But how do we take that first step?
If you’re looking for ideas on how to tap into the higher powers of the passionate consumer, the Firefox Flicks contest from earlier this year is not a bad place to start. I thought the winner did a nice job of conveying the Firefox attitude of openness and freedom in this traditional :30 second spot.
Or if your customers for some reason currently lack the will to join the fight then you may find creating passionate users to be a great place to get inspired. Many do.
As you chart your own path, the biggest challenge may be remembering that the mission here is not to manufacture or create but rather to discover and unlock the magic that can only occur when customers enthusiastically join the team.
The catch of course is that your customer may take you someplace you never imagined you’d be going.
Filed under inspiration by david cummings on Sunday 1 October 2006 at 6:47 pm
The Upstart Media Arts Center in Bastrop is offering a Make a Movie series of workshops running October through December. In short, the workshops promise a hands on movie making experience starting with a completed screenplay and taking you through script breakdown, casting, storyboarding, pre production and ultimately production with opportunities to crew for credit the shooting of the film. Full details here.
Filed under inspiration by david cummings on Monday 25 September 2006 at 9:25 am
It’s not often that a direct mail advertisement has what it takes to motivate the recipient to take a closer look before tossing it in the circular file. Recently my mailbox contained a wonderful exception to that rule from the San Antonio Symphony.
