JuicyInfo

Marketing websites I like: Mediapost.com

It never ceases to amazing how much great research you can find online these days so I thought I'd start sharing some of my favourites with you.

One of my regular pit-stops is Mediapost.com, a US-focused marketing and media portal. My reason for choosing this particular resource comes down to a few things:

1) Niche content: First and foremost it has a great collection of subject areas for people with specific interests. I particularly enjoy the women, online video and youth demographic trend sections.

2) Knowledgeable writers: The content is created by industry professionals with a fair amount of expertise in different areas expressing their own research and viewpoints.

3) Conversations/comments and trackbacks: Once you're set up you can happily browse and comment on articles, and then choose to receive a single email with comments related to that post.

4) Easily digestible content: For me, the email articles are just the right amount to digest with a good serving of insight and a handful of key takeaways. Very snackable.

I am now off to read about why women over 55 are the the fastest-growing demographic on Facebook...

Google launches 'Survival of the Fastest' B2B channel on YouTube

Google's new video business blog on its own YouTube platform provides a useful tool in an engaging format. The video content features experts from a number of business disciplines, including Ogilvy's Rory Sutherland, Boris Johnson, IAB and London Business School.

Last month, Google joined forces with WPP to fund new research in the digital realm. As reported by the Wall Street Journal in this article, it includes a number of studies, using Harvard Business School, among others. Google already works as a consultant to advertisers, so this takes that relationship a step further. In addition, it showcases the ways in which businesses may also leverage YouTube from a B2B angle.  

Functions covered include Marketing, eCommerce and Finance & General Management. There are also themed videos around speed, agility and consumer insights. Altogether, a useful tool for businesses in  turbulent times. 

Interest networking

In the fast changing world of social media, one new brand Twine currently still in beta is of particular interest to us. Unlike traditional social networks, Twine, is based around clustering interests - 'interest networking'. Instead of the user profile being the core element as with many social networks, subjects or topics of interests are the common currency. Although, the ability to be able to communicate with like-minded individuals that share similar interests is a key benefit.

A twine is basically a subject or topic and you can create your own or join others. It's beauty seems to lie as a reference tool. Once you've created your twine, you can add links with their social bookmarking system (the Bookmarklet), which works just like Del.icio.us. Once you're signed up to your favourite interest areas, you can hook up to feeds summarising all the latest news on your interests. Currently the most popular twines are ‘web 3.0 - semantic web' and ‘cool', a place for sharing unusually cool things on the web.

The website is based on semantic technology, which is a key part of web 3.0. In a recent article, Trendspotting highlights the importance of being able to manage the abundance of information we deal with day to day. Something where Twine will be very useful.