YouTube forever?
Every social network must pass the parental test. Could you explain to your parents why they should care about a network? For almost every social network out there, the answer is going to be a resounding “no” at least some of the time. Some people just prefer to do their socializing in person, and there’s nothing you can do to change that. Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, etc., simply have no allure for some people.
YouTube is the exception. Social video is a force so powerful that it doesn’t need an explanation. Just show a person any one of hundreds of now-classic YouTube videos and they get it. It makes sense that Adam Ostrow would proclaim YouTube the “social media innovation of the decade,” because not only is it the most enduring social network, it’s the easiest to get into.
Some folks will say YouTube doesn’t count as a social network because the emphasis isn’t on profiles and personal information — though the ability to connect with Facebook is changing that. But if you’ve ever uploaded a video to YouTube that made another person’s day, you’ve undoubtedly made a connection. As exciting as LinkedIn or Gowalla can be, video is a visceral, immediate, persuasive format. And we ignore it at our peril.
Is YouTube really top dog? Will another video site come along and dethrone it? How will Facebook integration affect the YouTube experience?
Posted by Liz on December 23rd, 2009 at 12:20 pm
YouTube is an integral part of our marketing and social media. It not only works for people who aren’t into social media, but the links and annotations can be used to drive those who are to your other sites. Most marketers are only beginning to see the possibilities of YouTube.
Posted by Tweets that mention SmartBlog On Social Media » YouTube forever? -- Topsy.com on December 23rd, 2009 at 2:05 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by SmartBrief on SocMed and kevindasilva, 919 Marketing. 919 Marketing said: I feel like Youtube is just as much of a social network as anything else out there. RT @SBoSM: YouTube forever? http://ow.ly/OZWT (Sean) [...]
Posted by Jesse Stanchak on December 23rd, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Totally agree Liz. Isn’t weird that YouTube is practically ancient (compared to so many other social networks) and yet there are still people who haven’t gotten around to figuring out its potential?
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Posted by James on September 13th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
YouTube is near the top of the social networks right now, but you can’t say that it will stay there forever. The one thing that all social networks are susceptible to is trends. YouTube maybe popular today, but tomorrow nobody even cares about it.
My recent post How to Use Facebook Layouts to Attract Visitors to Your Website
Posted by saz on December 27th, 2010 at 7:00 am
"YouTube maybe popular today, but tomorrow nobody even cares about it." maybe… but only when another site performs the same service with better benefits.