YouTube has a shake up...

This week YouTube has had a shake up... and it is causing a bit of a stir. Google (owners of YouTube) seem to be streamlining their assets recently. As we saw with the new Google Helpouts - only being payable via Google Wallet etc. The search engine professionals seem to be marrying up all their other endeavours to get what would seem to be a more versatile brand.

Image: mashable.com

So what exactly has changed? If you are regular YouTube user with an account you may have already experienced this first hand. What's new:

• Make comments private
• Reply to threads
• Share comments via Google+
• Edit comments
• Get notifications
• Leave longer comment
• Include URLs (although this has been used as an invitation for spammers)

Looking at this list, you can see what YouTube are trying to do. They are trying to inject some quality into the otherwise nonsensical and dramatic world of the YouTube user. Well, this is how I have viewed it up until now. I see their point but I’m not sure whether it would make me sign up still.

They are making it impossible to have an account without a legitimate Google+ account. This means if you don’t have one, you will be getting one soon. It also means that false accounts and bogus names are forbidden, it will have to be a ‘real’ name... although of course you may make one up. One of the major grievances is that there is less anonymity.

Any old comments can still be seen but are currently frozen; they cannot be replied to. Also, your new account will not link up to any of your previous posts.

Image: gizmodo.com

By and large the reaction has not been great, there are a lot of thumbs downs from their regular users but is this just because it is different? Someone has even uploaded his own video in disgust; I am sure there will be more of these to come. The critics are claiming they are upset at Google for making these 'unnecessary' changes. It doesn't look like Google are going to back down, although like any new venture adjustments will be made along the way.

Reflectively, it seems we all revel in the speed sites get updated usually, as long as it means we don’t have to do anything. YouTube have obviously made these changes with an idea, a vision of the new YouTube. They have competitors and work in a tempestuous market, so in their defence they are just rolling with punches.

Their mission statement will not of changed and I feel these alterations are just a sign of the times. Most social media sites give you an option of messaging, commenting, re-posting etc and so it is not strange that YouTube will want to keep up with this. To make the site have a more integral attitude will probably attract new customers and move the site into the new direction.

The changes mean you can write more and be continuously interactive with other users; I am assuming YouTube are hoping this will create a more appealing place to discuss whatever you are watching. In the next few days we will witness the benefits and pitfalls, it will effect the way people use the site and it will become apparent within a few weeks if it was worth it.

As I have stated, I am not signed up to YouTube but the idea of a friendlier and potentially safer environment promotes a positive attitude. I am sure it will have many reactions but a change is sometimes exactly what is needed.

Social Media for your Business - Training vs Management

Social Media is the word on every business owner and marketeers lips, but how do you harness the power of it. It's simply not as easy as creating a Facebook page and a Twitter account, thinking it will take care of itself. It's like anything that you grow from scratch, you need to take the time and effort to get the rewards. So many businesses are left with the question; do you keep it in-house or outsource your accounts?

Social media horror stories happen every week and this may put some business owners off, usually though the good stories are missed and easily forgotten. So this may make you decide that you want your social media accounts to be handled by a so called "expert" at a management company. But there are flaws in these management companies as they can only work on what you give them. They truly won't know your business as well as you. However, a management company does have its advantages; for instance, page design and graphics. These are all great to get you started.

As of this morning, the low budget airline Jet2 decided to hand over its reigns of their social media accounts to a prospective management company to help gain some more online prowess. But many large companies keep their social media in house and manage being hugely successful. Nike and Oreo have hugely successful online campaigns. Nike's online presence means they are able to engage with customers directly. This creates a lot of brand awareness and loyalty from their customers.

Nike has proven that keeping your social media in-house is the best way to promote yourself online, only you have the true knowledge of your business and can give your customer the best answer. Nike have now taken to adding customer services on Twitter, so if customers have any problems they can be dealt with almost instantly. By doing this as well, it shows that swift action is being taken, as everything is posted in the public eye.

Nike have employed an expert to control their social media and then they've trained other members of staff on how to enhance Nike's online power. However, you don't need to employ a social media expert at all to take advantage of social media. Many consultant companies offer training and may help you every step of the way so you become an expert yourself. Here, at Social Media Frontiers, we offer a free workshop where local businesses attend and learn how social media can help their company.

You wouldn't let someone who doesn't know your business! So be the person that controls your social media.

What do you think?

Do you do your companies social media or do you use a management company?