New YouTube-3 Months of New

Design-Loved or Hated?

If you have a YouTube channel or if you watch YouTube videos on other peoples channels, you’ve probably noticed a lot of changes in its look and how it works since March of this year. I’ve been writing about social media engine optimization and social media and YouTube is part of that subject.

The new YouTube design has many admirers who love it but there are, by the looks of it, many more of those who don’t like it or even hate it.

The new YouTube which switched over from the previous design on March 07, 2012 may not yet be fully working as it was meant to be.

Update: as of 23 July 2012 it’s been at least 3 or 4 days since the Reply to comments on videos hasn’t worked on YouTube. I have let YouTube/Google know a day or so ago so let’s see how quickly they fix it. Update: 25 July, 2012: The reply to comments on YouTube videos is now working again.

But still, why do so many people dislike it or, even worse, hate it?

The stated intent for implementing the new YouTube was to make it better. But if it’s actually better, why would so many people not see it that way?

Of course, at least initially, you might say that it’s because people resist change. That may be true but if the change is for the better they soon adopt it. Almost 3 months after the switch from the old to the new, in this case, the sentiment has barely changed.

Many YouTube Accounts Closed By Their Creators

Many YouTube accounts and good ones too, have been closed by their creators since the new design started. I have observed the disappearance of channels of a number of my subscribers and many channels I have subscribed to and watched are gone due to this. 

I can only imagine and guess how many channels are gone in total.

So what ticked off so many people?

The new YouTube took away peoples friends. That’s a biggie. You don’t ever take away someone’s friends and get away with it lightly, if at all. For some strange reason YouTube did just that. It stopped showing them on the channels and it stopped showing subscribers and subscriptions on the channels as well in spite of saying that friends are now  part of subscribers.

What was clearly visible before, without having to log in, now isn’t. And now you can’t see other peoples friends, subscribers or subscriptions at all, no matter whether you’re logged in or not.

YouTube Seemingly Didn’t Listen to Anybody

Before the changes were implemented, thousands of people with YouTube accounts were pleading with YouTube not to make them. They were even signing online petitions or voting on different channels and going as far as boycotting YouTube by not using or watching it on certain days.

YouTube didn’t listen at all or ignored most of what the concerned YouTube channel creators had to say.

Many YouTube channel creators, operators or account holders-YouTube owns and controls everything and Google owns YouTube-did warn that they would close their YouTube channel accounts. And many did as they were ignored or not listened to enough.

It’s a sad story.

Is the New YouTube Finished and Working As Intended?

Only YouTube knows if it’s finished and done with the new design or if things are still being worked on. But there are signs that it’s not done yet, that it’s still working on it behind the scenes.

To be sure, not everything is bad when it comes to the new YouTube. The new design has some features that are better than in the old design. The playlists and their visibility is one of them.

It would have been better if YouTube had implemented the new features and found a way to keep the most popular old features instead of getting rid of them.

If you want to see an example of what the new YouTube channels now look like, just click on the following link: new YouTube channel look example. While on the channel you can explore it and watch some of the videos that catch your attention.

If you already know what the new design look is and would just like to see a video or two you can watch them right here:

Cat Purring Video:

Freight Train blowing horn:

I think and hope that the new YouTube will get better and though it’s a very optimistic view I hope that they’ll listen more to the very people who create content for them instead of ignoring them.

How about you, what do you love the most and what do you hate the most about the new YouTube?

Do you think that YouTube and Google ever listen to anybody? What chance is there that they will ever change and listen?

Comment in the comments section and then tweet, like on Facebook and if you have Google+ google plus it too. You can bookmark it as well for others to find the post and thus enable them to express their views.

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Authored by Vance Sova

Is Facebook More Useful Than Twitter Or Vice Versa?

I wonder what are your views regarding Facebook. It’s interesting that when people are asked what they think about Facebook they almost immediately start the discussion by comparing it to something else, like Twitter.

Soon after I asked this question at the Dot Com Pho lunch meeting of bloggers at Happy Pho Restaurant in Vancouver, one of the keen participants, Aaron Koo proceeded to compare the usefulness of Facebook with that of Twitter.

Those who joined in then continued largely in that vein. Is Facebook only for communicating and sharing things with close friends or can it also be used for building contacts and rapport with acquaintances and virtual strangers?

Can it be useful for business?

This is what was discussed at our recent lunch get together. You can view the video from the discussion below.

You will hear me say in the video that I don’t agree with some of the opinions expressed, at least not fully. I’ll have my say the next time we meet.

Just let me say here a little bit.

I think that Facebook is a great tool to communicate with close friends and it can be very useful for business. Facebook can also be used for email list building.

If you have not read my previous post on Social Media Engine Optimization you may want to do that.

Watch the Facebook discussion to see if you agree with any of the bloggers:

Now is your turn to have your say.

What do you think about Facebook and its usefulness apart from staying in touch and sharing things with your friends?

Tell me your opinion by leaving a comment.

Then tweet the post, share it on Facebook and bookmark it on your favorite social bookmarking site to let more people join the discussion.

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Authored by Vance Sova

Could it be that in time SEO will stand for Social Engine Optimization instead of Search Engine Optimization? Perhaps. More likely it will be SMEO or Social Media Engine Optimization though.

Are you shaking your head in the affirmative or dismissively? You’ve never heard these terms unless you were at Happy Pho in Vancouver on April 30, 2011 when they were coined at the Dot Com Pho lunch meeting.

Creative things happen when bloggers and internet marketers get together. Being social or socializing live is an important part of a Social Engine.

The horse power of a Social Engine, which of course nowadays is largely formed through Social Media, is greatly enhanced by meeting people live. (If you want to read more about live meetings read my post about Internet Marketing Networking).

Get to know a few people this way and you’ll see a different, much higher quality of communication with them through social media as well.

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+?

Yes, it’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ that are most popular and perhaps the most effective social media platforms.

It is these three that are and will be the keys to Social Engine Optimization or if you prefer SMEO – Social Media Engine Optimization.

But you must always remember that this engine will need a regular tune up in the form of live networking or socializing in order to provide the maximum horse power.

Before you continue reading the post, or after you read it, check out the videos below showing parts of the last few Dot Com Pho meetings and the relaxed, creativity supporting atmosphere they provide.

Once you understand the power of live networking, you can then delve into mastering the 3 Top Social Media Platforms.

Facebook Is the Most Popular?

Facebook seems the most talked about and the most popular right now.

Recently I received an email from a very rich and famous internet marketer recommending a Facebook course which made totally ridiculous promises.

Like, “you’ll get 24,000 Facebook likes on your fan page in 24 hours from brand new followers if you do what is shown in the course.”

I think that whoever believes that promise is either totally desperate and totally naive or quite a nut.

I do want to learn everything I can about how to best use Facebook but not from people who make outrageous promises and claims.

How do you feel about Social Media?  And how about Social Media Engine Optimization? Will you mention it to your friends and even blog about it linking to this post?

Leave your comments, tweet and bookmark.

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Authored by Vance Sova