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Content tidbit
Posted by Laura Chavoen on April 18, 2008

A conversation I had with Bud Caddell last week generated this little tidbit:

User-generated content is more than content, it’s business intelligence.

This concept extends deep into every aspect of every action in every channel. What “digital media” enables is the ability to track/trend. And it goes on your permanent record.

But to me, content (and business intelligence!) is food for my brain. And today’s world is the WILD WILD WEST of content…and I’m loving it!

—Laura

Tagged with: content

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Comment

Joel said on April 24, 2008, 09:47 PM

Laura,

Could you define what user generated content is for me, please? The more I think about this as a category the more it seems to crumble. Is all content not generated by a user? That's obviously a straw man of a question, but let me push this farther.

The content that YouTube hosts is often referred to as user-generated. So let's take this an a starting point. Say I like making videos and decide to post one to YouTube -- I've created user-generated content. Now say I decide to post one to my personal website -- I've created what?

There are websites that actually provide tools for users to create content on said website. This seems to me like the most strict application of the term user generated content. But can't we break this down even further, between sites that provide tools for users to create content on their websites but ultimately for their enjoyment off of their website and those that host the content?

We can take this even further with the myriad ways that content is hosted and created on the web, all of it being referred to as "user-generated" in some capacity because, let's face it, it is.

I guess my point is that "user-generated content" is a trendy phrase that seems to be used by a lot of people to denote a variety of things and therefore is nearly useless for pegging down anything in particular. I understand the reasons for sticking with the language of the niche but can't we do better? If Imagination is going to be on the forefront of the digital media push maybe Imagination could be the pioneers of more accurate terms.

Ali Rizvi said on April 29, 2008, 04:15 PM

careful there on that last line Laura! you may be infringing upon mcdonald's copywrights!

I tend to visit online forums a lot, to me THAT is user generated content. There are some sites that have 50 even 60 thousand people signed on. They post, share information regularly, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It never stops. Some people even claim to be addicted to forums as they get niche news, general news, and every other needs they might come to the net for, all in one place by other people like them.

ali

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