New YouTube Call to Action Works Well for Non-profits
This week YouTube launched a call-to-action feature for its non-profit partners, allowing them to include in-video clickable ads leading to their web sites. Apparently they are quite effective, because in one day, one of the partners raised $10,000 using one.
Of course it probably helps that the video was featured on YouTube’s home page. The video can be seen here:
AdSense Video Units Get The Axe
Here’s a bit of bad news for anyone using AdSense video units: there simply aren’t enough of you, and as a result, Google plans to stop pursuing the monetization option. The company’s left individuals about one month to land on another strategy.
Google Taking TV Ads Online
Google is reportedly readying a service that will allow advertisers to distribute ads across not only television through Google TV Ads, but through YouTube as well. According to the Wall Street Journal, the service is called Google TV Ads Online, and will be launched within the next several months.
Google Shows Paid Search/TV Relationship
Google has conducted a study looking at how paid search affects TV viewing habits. The results are pretty interesting.
Adam Stewart, Google’s Industry Director for Media & Entertainment tells Murdok that the research confirms that paid search is an effective way to build traffic for a network’s website and, as a result, increase viewership for content like online video.
EU Study Disputes Market’s Ability To Enforce Net Neutrality
A study sponsored by Dailymotion, eBay, Skype, and Google and YouTube of European Internet users showed that 91 percent expect their ISPs not to block or limit their Internet service and that all legitimate websites and applications receive similar treatment.
Netflix Gets More Personal
Netflix recently started integrating Facebook Connect into its site, allowing the service to get more social with people sharing movie ratings, and things of that nature. Now Netflix has announced some changes to its site in general that will give it a more personalized feeling all around.
Another Round of Noteworthy Facebook Tidbits
There is always plenty to discuss about Facebook as the site continues to grow rapidly. However, there are a few items of interest floating around the blogosphere currently that I wanted to highlight here.
New Google AdWords Beta Expands Internationally
Google launched limited beta testing of a new AdWords campaign management interface back in November. At first it was only available to a limited number of US advertisers. Now the company has expanded the testing to more US advertisers as well as advertisers in the UK and Australia.
Google Updates Blog Search Algorithm
Google has updated its Blog Search algorithm after postponing the update earlier in the month. Barry Schwartz at Search Engine Roundtable quotes Googler Jeremy Hylton who explains:
Google To Eliminate 200 Positions
Google represented something of a bright spot during the past few months; while other tech companies made layoffs, the search giant just slowed its hiring spree. Unfortunately, Google became part of the downsizing pattern this afternoon, announcing the elimination of 200 sales and marketing positions.