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Article: Secret Strategies of Viral Videos

Agnes Varnum — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 15:34:17 +0000

Via TechCrunch, The Secret Strategies Behind Many “Viral” Videos, is a very interesting look into the techniques some folks are using to create hurricanes around online videos. You might read this and think it is kind of smarmy and way more underhanded than you want to be, but it strikes a cord as I think it is what many companies are actually doing. The comments are interesting because there are many who are attacking the writer as a spammer, but given the advice to create heated comment threads, is the post just an exercising in generating blog traffic the same way they create viral videos?

So, buyer beware of online scamming but as filmmaker, maybe there are some take-aways for increasing the visability of your video?

SXSW Panel: Building an Online Fanbase

Agnes Varnum — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:15:38 +0000

SXSW has posted a panel discussion recording that you might be interested in - our favorite, Scott Kirsner (CinemaTech) moderates Lance Weiler (Head Trauma, Workbook Project), Jim Miller (Brave New Films Foundation), David Straus (WithoutaBox), Ian Schafer (Deep Focus) and Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes the Stairs) as they discuss how filmmakers can, do, and should build your film’s fanbase. Go to the panel>>

Re:Facebook

Agnes Varnum — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:00:45 +0000

I signed up for Facebook some time ago; it felt a bit futile at the time. I knew I wasn’t that interested in maintaining a profile or making friends a la MySpace, but there was some reason why I felt like I needed to sign up. I was impressed that upon registering, Facebook scanned my Gmail address book to see which of my current contacts were already on Facebook. You might have received an invitation to join (Friendster, LinkedIn also do this) or to add someone you know as a friend via this feature. But that isn’t really enough. To get something out of the program, you do need to spend sometime within the network to build your community.

Luckily, Facebook opened up their code and are allowing developers to create applications that will help you integrate your profiles from elsewhere into your Facebook so you have to spend less time updating content. Do you use Flickr for photos? Or Upcoming to list events? After establishing contacts and joining a few groups (like Hot Docs Doc Fest or ThinkFilm, which have Facebook groups!), you can import your blog feeds so your contacts can see what’s going on at your site. You can add a Twitter, Flickr or Upcoming applications, among others, to integrate your content located elsewhere, and which is usually more frequently updated than your blog.

Anyone have a Facebook, LinkedIn or Friendster story to share? Jennifer Fox has been creating groups at several sites. I’ll check in with her after the July 4 NYC opening of Flying Confessions to get some real-world intel.

Lessons in LinkedIn

Agnes Varnum — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 02:49:06 +0000

I’m a Facebook gal myself (these days) and I have a lot to say about it in an upcoming post. But for those interested in LinkedIn, self-proclaimed Info-Geek Jennifer Brown has a great series of primers for getting up and running with that tool. If you are thinking about exploring LinkedIn, let Jennifer be your guide>>

Re:Try Before You Buy

Agnes Varnum — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 12:00:10 +0000

I’ve written some basic information about a number of software packages you can use to run your website, but OpenSourceCMS allows you to test drive the software. Use the left sidebar to choose the software you would like to test drive and you will be taken to a page with basic information and a link to “Demo” and any login yoy may need.

Making Media Now, Boston, June 1

Agnes Varnum — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:00:18 +0000

From the conference website: Filmmakers Collaborative presents a full day of master classes, panel discussions and keynote speakers focused on new technologies and the opportunities they create for film and media makers. Todayâ€™s world of video blogs, social networking and media publishing sites, and other Internet innovations have democratized the tools of media creation and distribution. What do traditionally-trained filmmakers need to know to enter this brave new world? How can media makers utilize these technologies to their advantage?

A must-attend for cutting edge learning and networking opportunities for media/film/video professionals throughout New England!

Discount if you register before May 1. Go the website>>

30 Days 30 Experts

Agnes Varnum — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:00:42 +0000

One of the most useful items I took away from PodCamp NYC held this past weekend is an introduction to a whole new world of new media professionals. A fantastic site that several presenters from PodCamp are contributing to - 30 Days 30 Experts.

30 blogging gurus take us on a tour of tips and tricks to becoming a blogging expert. But Agnes, I’m not a blogger, you say. The idea of having a blog or any kind of regularly updated content on your website is to build your profile or the profile of your project, and there are people who spend their whole work day figuring out how to do this. It doesn’t matter whether you are selling widgets or films.

Let us know if you find a nugget that is helpful.

AnneLewis.org is Up

Agnes Varnum — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:02:23 +0000

Renew Media Fellow Anne Lewis has been working through getting her new website up and running and she has succeeded! AnneLewis.org is a portal to Anne’s work with the newest projects on the front and navigation to the various features in the sidebar navigation, including her new blog. She is still working on it, so please go check it out and leave her some comments.

Comments help us know others are reading as well as being useful in development.

I noticed that when I load her site the little icon that lives in the address bar of the browser is the standard Wordpress icon - that image is called a favicon. Here are some directions on creating your own personalized favicon and uploading it to your site. Just a small touch that says that expressed you and your site.

Congrats Anne!

Follow-up from PodCamp NYC

Agnes Varnum — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:45:22 +0000

I have some items to report from PodCamp, which I am in the process of writing up. In the meantime, a faster draw than me, The Film Panel Notetaker has up some of his notes from Saturday’s event, 60 Minutes Called: How to Attract Media & Major Publishers to Your Podcast, Vlog or Blog.

Also, if you would like to access the multitudes of media that is going up daily from the event, just go to Technorati and search for keyword “podcampnyc.” You will find lots of great wrap posts, images and videos.

One more quickie: How to Create a Podcast by Jason Van Orden

Re:Learning Movable Type

Agnes Varnum — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:34:00 +0000

Ms. Lewis chose to go with Wordpress to power her new website but I’m going to keep combing the internet for resources for those who make other software choices to run their sites. Via The Rabbi Report, Learning Movable Type is a comprehensive site devoted to, you guessed it, becoming an expert with MT.