YouTube Abuse

No doubt, YouTube is one of the superstars on the social media scene right now. That is why I must get off my chest a problem that has been bugging me. I recently did some research on the brand for MSL Worldwide  for Advertising Week 2012 and YouTube has had an impressive five year history. What makes the site so great is that it is a repository of rich and unique content 'for the people by the people'.
I really appreciate the opportunity to share but...

I really appreciate the opportunity to share but...

 It absolutely grates on my nerve when:

1. Half of a person's presentation is swallowed up by a random YouTube video - even if the video is instructional. Please do not waste people's time. Quite likely a person is listening to you to receive 'your' insight on a topic; not the views of 'purplelollipop350' who uploaded the video. Once again, if people have ready access to it, don't belabor the video in the presentation unless it is an important lead up to your information.YouTube has an entire section dedicated to instructional use by schools where content is sorted by subject matter on YouTube Edu. If this is the kind of session you have planned for your audience, please let them know in advance.

2. People just pluck videos from the site for use in major professional presentations and workshops with no credit to the person who created it. Who are these presenters trying to impress, really? I for one am not. I also have access to YouTube and when I search the title of the video I can not only see that you did not create it but that you are one of 756,000 people to have viewed it.

3. Okay I wanted a third thing but there really are just these two main things.

For fascinating YouTube stories check out their FiveYear anniversary channel.
For more social media info check out SocialMediaDaily.

Drop a comment to share your own YouTube abuse observations.

The Real QR Code Fail

Not so long ago Mashable put out an interesting little article about QR Code fails featuring codes on cupcakes, codes on a headstone (which I thought was pretty cool) and QR code subway ads (#4). Picking up where this article left off, I have to draw attention to the biggest QR fail in the Communications industry and that is what I call the 'QR Solo Ad.' a.k.a (QRsad) It is a disturbing trend that early adoptors have rebounded  from but late bloomers are still (even as I type) contemplating. Below is a prototype of a 'QRsad' :
 

Can you guess what is wrong here?

 "A QRsad is one that features little to no text and is marked by the presence of a large QR code and the absence of a printed website address, email or contact information."

A QRsad is one that features little to no text and is marked by the presence of a large QR code and the absence of a printed website address, email or contact information, which means:

1. People without a smartphone (yes, these homo sapiens do exist) will not be able to access whatever product, service, event or idea is being advertised. If that was the aim then forgive my insight, if not then #fail

2. People who do have smartphones but do not know how to scan a QR code or even better, who do not know what a QR code is will not have access to whatever product, service, event or idea is being advertised. #fail x2

3. Let's just throw into the mix, the fact that these ads are often placed in inconvenient places such as inside the train and bus. So even if you do know what a QR code is and you in fact have a QR code reader, you  grab your phone to zoom in on the code but the train is going too fast, so everything is a blur resulting in capture not being decoded. #fail x 3

4. How about you reach for your phone to zoom in on a code and just when you think you've got it...*click*... you just snapped another passenger picking their nose. #fail x infinity

 The message is clear here. Communicators must never sacrifice what's relevant, effective and in the best interest of the target audiences for what is novel, innovative and trending. If you can find a way to meet both sets of objectives, the world will thank you for it.

For more on QR code fails read the original  post on QR fails. For other relevant social media articles visit Social Media Daily.