In a recent cover story, NewMediaAge shows that selected partners such as FHM, NME and Kerrang! are now able to sell ads around their own content on YouTube. A logical move by Google and good news for partner channel owners. Effectively, it extends media owners reach beyond their own site and fits with the strategy to “think distributed”. However, for somewhat different reasons, YouTube brand channel owners need a similar feature. Continue reading »
Google’s Alexandra Levy, director of branded entertainment was interviewed by Beet.TV earlier this week at the Digitas New Front in New York earlier this week. She talked to Beet.TV’s Daisy Whitney about the partnership with Carl’s Jr. that rolled out this week. Google and YouTube are creating custom content for Carl’s Jr. to distribute across the Google content network and on a newly created brand channel on YouTube.
‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ That’s the thought that crosses your mind when you see the Google Maps/YouTube mashup that international real-estate company Coldwell Banker launched recently. Probably, we will witness other brands doing a similar thing. Think what localisation could do for job markets or anything you sell on eBay…
Coldwell Banker combines the features of YouTube with the power of localisation through Google Maps by enabling visitors to find real estate locations throughout the United States. Very smart move. The production quality of the videos shown on the channel varies substantially (compare this one with this one), but the idea is great. The channel already features more than 600 videos and new content is added daily from various locations. Mainly in the USA and a few listings from Italy.
“YouTube doesn’t offer the ability to find out what videos are local, but we geo-targeted the videos and populated them onto the map,” said Mike Fischer, Coldwell’s SVP of marketing. The goal for Coldwell, recognizing the popularity of YouTube, is to generate traffic outside of its own site. “Many go to YouTube first, instead of the normal site. It’s the place to engage people where they look for info,” Fischer said.
Last week, I held an interview with Mascha Driessen of Google The Netherlands, following her presentation at the Broadcast Business Club. Since 1 February 2009, Mascha is responsible for sales on YouTube and Display advertising at Google. She is a veteran in the media industry with previous jobs in broadcasting (RTL, Endemol) and online (WebAds). Although she was not at liberty to make any specific promises (see how she evades my questions in the video below), Mascha talks about some of the things Google is looking into with respect to YouTube. For example, possibilities for designated sponsors around a brand channel and in-video advertising on brand channels. Enjoy.
Over the last two years and as independent consultant since February, I have beeen advising brands and media companies on the professional use of a YouTube brand channel or partner channel. Although Google has done a great job in improving many features inside and around the world’s most popular video platform, there is always room for further improvement. This post lists my 7 tips to Google for improvement of YouTube.
In a recent e-mail conversation, Jeff Jarvis, owner of Buzzmachine and author of What Would Google Do (WWGD)?, expressed the following opinion on branded channels:
“I agree on the branded channel approach and think that media companies had better get themselves into a position of helping marketers in such a way.”
Branded and partner channels on YouTube differentiate themselves by having more design options. Although you are pretty limited with design options for a user channel, you can make some adjustments. Even companies like Philips use YouTube’s built-in limitations to maximum leverage.
Although a user channel doesn’t feature all the good stuff, it doesn’t mean either that you should settle for bad design. The good news is dat HouseHoldHacker now offers a PhotoShop template document that enables you to quickly and precisely design your own background image. Only problem is that the file size is limited to 256kB. Below is the instructional video:
As of February 1st 2009, Richard van den Boogaard will start as independent consultant in Branded Channels: content syndication via external networks.
Until this time, Richard works for QNH Interactive. Managing director Bart Termorshuizen from QNH Interactive: “In the past year, Richard has specialised in this relatively new field of expertise. In his role as communications manager at Rabobank Nederland, he was responsible for project content sharing. This involved syndication of video content from Rabo SportTV on external platforms, with an objective to broaden reach for the video content. With QNH Interactive, we have developed the first branded channel in the Netherlands on YouTube. This has generated more than a million video views for Rabobank.”
“Branded channels means thinking outside-the-site”, says Richard van den Boogaard. “The strategy is straightforward: bring content to platforms that attract many users, rather than using display advertising to drive traffic to a brand site.” Aside from a branded channel on YouTube, QNH Interactive was also closely involved in realisation of a commercial hyve and hyves gadget, as well as a pilot with Brabants Dagblad (part of Mecom).
Richard van den Boogaard will offer this expertise to other brands and media owners but remains available for QNH Interactive on a project basis.
Aside from UGC content YouTube features a great deal of content from well-known media brands. Recently, Dutch advertisers have begun claiming attention with a branded channel on the world’s most popular video platform. This article focuses on the differences between partner and branded channels, provides a feature overview as well as a few practical tips. Continue reading »
Welcome to Branded Channels
Branded Channels is a video marketing consultancy founded by Richard van den Boogaard.
Branded Channels provides fresh thinking on video content syndication, as well as creative video content development & production and channel management services. Also available: (competitive) video tracking reports.
In a recent cover story, NewMediaAge shows that selected partners such as FHM, NME and Kerrang! are now able to sell ads around their own content on YouTube. A logical move by Google and good news for partner channel owners. Effectively, it extends media owners reach beyond their own site and fits with the strategy to “think distributed”. However, for somewhat different reasons, YouTube brand channel owners need a similar feature. Continue reading »
Over the last two years and as 
Aside from UGC content YouTube features a great deal of content from well-known media brands. Recently, Dutch advertisers have begun claiming attention with a branded channel on the world’s most popular video platform. This article focuses on the differences between partner and branded channels, provides a feature overview as well as a few practical tips. 
