Youtube Direct: New Free Tool to Increase Interactivity
Posted by Holly in Free Software, Social
Youtube is helping webmasters engage with website visitors on a whole new platform, by giving full access to “Youtube Direct,” which allows webmasters to embed the upload functionality on their own website. Basically, Youtube has gone beyond allowing you to embed videos into your website – with “Youtube Direct,” you can use their technology to allow your readers to submit videos to you. In very basic terms, I believe Youtube is allowing us to totally benefit from their array of software features, and use them as our own.
Who Will “Youtube Direct” Benefit?
“Youtube Direct” could benefit any webmaster who wishes to increase the interactivity level of the traffic received. This is ideal for someone who has a blog with active readers or topics which spark a lot of interest. It can be used by organizations, businesses or non-profits who are asking users to submit videos to help spread the word about a cause or business idea. In general, many major news organizations have a function on their website which allows users to submit user-related news stories. It allows the public to share their opinion and their take on a story – and “Youtube Direct” will give the webmaster the same capabilities. Users can submit videos directly to you, in which you can moderate and approve the video to be posted on your website.
Ideas for Internet Marketers to use “Youtube Direct”
For Internet Marketers, using video marketing tactics to interact with readers is very popular. I haven’t utilized this area of marketing much yet, but I understand how using videos in marketing can increase interest and exposure significantly. Rather than only using text posts on your blog, you could do a weekly video and ask readers to submit their opinions through videos as well (using “Youtube Direct”). Another idea is to create a video contest, allowing submissions and award the winner of the contest with something. This would increase your website exposure, get repeat traffic to your site and create a great buzz. Marketers also use videos for product reviews – and to have user-submitted reviews can also help build trust among website visitors.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgGxi3hiOnY
Key features of YouTube Direct include:
- Built on the YouTube API, this 100% open-source solution provides you with an easily-integrated audience engagement platform for your website
- The customizable interface allows you to tailor the look and feel of the tool precisely to your audience
- Visitors can answer your call for content by uploading their videos to YouTube via your site without leaving the page
- A moderation panel enables your editors to review and approve/reject all submitted videos, deciding which ones meet your organization’s editorial criteria
- All videos approved by your editors include a link back to your site when viewed on YouTube
How Internet Saavy Does Someone Need to Be to Use “Youtube Direct”?
According to the website, the “Youtube Direct” platform is designed to run on the Google App Engine. If that makes no sense to you at all, then we’re in the same boat! According to the site though, this software is easy to setup and use. If you are struggling, you can always hire someone on Scriptlance to set it up for you (save you a lot of time and headaches). The Get Started Guide is available here. For full details on “Youtube Direct” and to get started using it, go here. If I have the time, I will try to set this up on one of my websites. If I am capable of doing it, I will then make a tutorial on that for the readers. I think this software could be very beneficial to a lot of webmasters. Please signup to my RSS feed to be notified of follow-up posts and a possible tutorial.
7 Responses to “Youtube Direct: New Free Tool to Increase Interactivity”
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Garr
18. Nov, 2009
Great Post Holly . . . and a potentially exciting new tool. I will definitely check it out. Could bring a whole new level to some of our sites.
Got my wheels to turnin’
It’s so good to see you back and having weathered the flu storm. It’s hard enough when there are two of us taking care of our boys when they fall ill. Doing it on your own has to leave you pretty exhausted. You were definitely in my thoughts.
Welcome back!! Onward and upward!
GARRY
PS – You posted about GoogleVoice a while back. I have two invites available if you, or anyone, is interested.
Holly
18. Nov, 2009
Thanks Garry!!! I was lucky with our flu that our sickness happened together – so we both slept like crazy around the same times. I was only sick one day after he was already better, and he had to deal with me being lazy and trying to rest. His energy levels are through the roof again now! And besides that, I am glad you enjoyed this post. I hope I can figure out how to use this because I think there is a lot of potential here to use this on several of my sites. Let me know if you end up using it
and about Google Wave – I finally got an invitation. I also have 8 invitations to give out to others – if you want to use it please put a comment here and I will email you one. Thanks!
Garry
18. Nov, 2009
I’d love an invitation to Google Wave. Not sure I completely understand it, but it looks interesting.
It was Google Voice I was mentioning however. The alternate or enhanced phone service / messaging / screening.
Back to work.
GARRY
Dave in Larryville
19. Nov, 2009
Awesome on multiple fronts Holly. YouTube really is an interesting tool, and now, a way to really engage visitors… ALSO really good to hear you and Josh are feeling better.
Haven’t heard of google Wave. I’ve been using Google Voice since it was Grand Central, before Google bought them up. It’s a pretty amazing tool.
Google Voice sends you a text transcript of your Voice Mail messages. I have been playing with using that functionality to leave myself a voice mail, speaking “copy content” right into the phone, and the being able to use the output text as content, after doing some light revision.
In essence, using it as a voice transcription service.
I’m really really glad yuse guys are feeling better. Stay warm, keep those lungs warm and don’t have a relapse
You want to be sure you’re fully ready to eat Turkey Lurkey next Thursday!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dave
Holly
19. Nov, 2009
Thanks Dave – it’s always nice to hear from you. That’s smart the way you’ve been testing out and using Google Voice – love that idea. It’s a great service and so many people I know are using it now. You have a great Thanksgiving too!
SoundsAndGear.com
19. Nov, 2009
Awesome post Holly, I can definitely see a use for this on my site, I will be looking into this a bit more and seeing how I can work it into the community.
thanks!
Glad to see all is well with ya too
Holly
19. Nov, 2009
Awesome JK! I hope it helps you – especially because you use videos in your marketing so regularly! I hope to get into this too.