GigaOM
trending topics
Close Box

Our news

Yes, it’s true: We are joining GigaOM...


YouTube Tests New Recommendation Systems To Get Visitors To Watch More Clips

  • Comments Comments (View)
  • Text Size: A A

Google (NSDQ: GOOG) continues to strike deals to up the amount of professional and long-form content on YouTube, but it’s simultaneously pursuing a more straightforward strategy in order to get more money from the site: It’s trying to get YouTube visitors to watch more of the content that’s already there. It doesn’t seem exactly like a big problem, considering that YouTube visitors watched an average of 67.8 videos last month, far more than any other big video property, according to comScore. But in a WSJ article, YouTube director of product management for advertising Shishir Mehrotra says, “As a general statement, we believe that the best way to grow revenue on the site (is) to do a great job growing traffic on the site.”

So, YouTube is experimenting with adding more sophisticated recommendation systems, according to the report, including basing clip recommendations on “data about (users’) viewing behaviors and the content of what they’re watching” and also introducing personalized recommendations based on what a user has watched on YouTube in the past. (Perhaps YouTube can start a Netflix (NSDQ: NFLX) like contest to try to encourage developers to come up with even better recommendations?) This follows the introduction of a new feature on the site in April that let visitors see in real time which YouTube videos their friends are watching and what they are saying about them—a constant tease to watch oh just one more clip.

Aug 20, 2009 3:00 PM ET

Television Photo: Flickr / dhammza


Posted In: Social Media, Video, Companies, Google, YouTube

(Page 1 of 1)


The Bestsellers

From iTunes and YouTube to Facebook and Kindle, the most popular content on the web, free and paid.

Android Apps (Free) Android Apps (Free)
1. Facebook for Android
2. Pandora® internet radio
3. Angry Birds
4. Words With Friends Free
5. Voxer Walkie-Talkie PTT
See The Other Bestsellers »

Jobs RSS Job Listings

Social Standing

Which media brands are getting a lift from Tweeters and bloggers right now -- and which are getting panned?

"Sentiment" Scores for All the Companies »

Sponsors

Staff