Check out our latest new feature… Guest Broadcasting! :O

younowblog:

“Two is ALWAYS better than one.” This is why we are proud to announced the launch of our new feature: Guest Broadcasting!

This Guest Broadcasting post will break down both sides of the new feature: Guest brodcasting as Host and as a Guest.

1. Broadcasting as a Guest  

During a live broadcast, users can become an eligible to be a guest broadcaster by clicking the Guest Broadcast button.

Clicking this button will bring up the Camera and Mic setup screen. After passing the test, users will then be dropped into the Guest Lineup, seen by the main broadcaster ONLY. 

After becoming a potential guest broadcaster, users can toggle on / off their guest status. Toggling off will remove you from the guest lineup. 

  

When an invite is sent, potential guest broadcasters will hear a ring and see a pop up on the screen:

Once the invite is accepted, the guest will join the live broadcast!

Guest broadcasters have the option to drop themselves from the broadcast by simply clicking the Drop button. (see below)

Once the guest broadcaster is removed from the broadcast, he/she will be placed back into the Guest Lineup.

2. Broadcasting as a Host:

Once live, broadcasters have the option to invite guests to their broadcast. There are three ways to invite a guest, and each will bring up the invite panel.

1. Clicking the guest’s name in the Guest Lineup.

2. Clicking the guest’s name in the chat or leaderboard.

3. Clicking the guest’s name in the queue. Users in the queue that have guest broadcasting enabled will have a green indication on their thumbnail.

Once an invite is sent, the invitee will have 10 seconds to accept or reject invite. The host will be notified when user has accepted or declined.

The host has the ability to drop the guest broadcaster at any moment during the broadcast by clicking the Drop button on the guest side of the broadcast.

Once a guest is dropped, the host can invite another user to broadcast.

You’ve asked for it and we delivered! Guest broadcasting is now active in Talk+ and Shows2, and will be rolling out on other channels in the future. Please remember to leave your comments below about guest broadcasting. We want to hear your thoughts and opinion!

proud of this one. :)

younowblog:

Have you ever wondered what getting to the next level on YouNow will do for you, or how close you are to the next level? And don’t you wish you could keep better track of all the new fans, followers, and subscribers you are gaining? Of course you do.

Well, monitoring your progress just got a whole lot easier. Introducing The Status Tab:

1. Levels Transparency

• Understand the benefits of reaching the next level, while also tracking how close you are to achieving it! 

2. Social Progress Dashboard

• Seamlessly monitor the progress of your Facebook friend requests, YouNow fans, Twitter followers and YouTube subscribers with one simple dashboard. 

3. Sharing

• Easily share your social progress with the world!

No longer will you have to open “My Stats” when you want to see how many fans you have. You don’t even have to check Twitter or YouTube to see your followers/subscribers!

Now you can check your status and social reach at any time directly on YouNow… all it takes is one click.

In light of Instagram’s success, many rising mobile video apps have endeavored to become the “Instagram for Video.” Companies like SocialCam, Viddy and more have shown prodigious growth in app downloads / monthly active users, but I wonder if these users will truly remain active after the initial buzz dies down.

I came across an interesting post tonight by Semil Shah, which echoed sentiments that I’ve had as of late… 

One thing Instagram really has going for them is that it transforms users into artists, essentially… empowering them to capture fleeting moments and make them magical in a way that is easy and fun to consume.

But there’s something different about video… Videos generated in a moment don’t quite have the same effect or ease of display that photos do. Perhaps users need more skill to make their videos look exceptional…  It seems much more difficult to make video work. 

In his post “Photographs > Video?” Semil brings up some good points as to why he is somewhat skeptical about video:

1. “I’m not sure if it’s a core behavior as snapping pictures is”
2. “the current interfaces seem to deemphasize “capturing video” as a feature within the camera interface”
3. “even if core behaviors change and/or the software around the video camera evolve, there are technical hurdles that would need to be overcome in order for the average phone user to capture and share a video that would meet the requirements the audience’s time to consume that media.”

I tend to agree with Semil’s skepticism about video… to some extent, at least. Regarding Semil’s first point about user’s core behaviors not including video… I don’t think this is much of a problem, as I believe these behaviors will change very soon. (he mentions this himself in #3.) And while current interfaces may “deemphasize capturing video,” fortunately I also believe that mobile UI improvements will make videos even more enjoyable to create and share.

What really made me go “hmm” was Semil’s 3rd point: that users would encounter technical hurdles preventing them from being able to deliver to the standards of their audiences. At first I was like, “my thoughts exactly”… just throwing a filter and a music loop over your video clip doesn’t necessarily make it “magical.” There are more moving parts when it comes to video.

…but then I thought, well what about LIVE mobile video? 

                       

At YouNow I’m constantly trying to imagine the future of video… how it will be transformed by mobile, and how users’ core behaviors will evolve over time. People have lower standards (at the moment) for live video - that’s just the nature of it. A trade-off is made, sacrificing production quality in return for experiencing something genuine and raw. While live videos by and large are not (yet!) Mona Lisas, they certainly whet social users’ appetites for intimate engagement.

Perhaps live video could reach audiences despite their technical high standards for video content. I have to think a little bit more about this… but what do you guys think? 

younowblog:

The long anticipated YouNow iPhone App is available for FREE in the iTunes App Store.

This means you can now broadcast LIVE from your iPhone, unlocking countless possibilities for you unique and interesting broadcasts! 

This first version of the app only works for Wi-Fi, and allows you to broadcast. We are working on a version that supports 3G broadcasts as well as viewing and chatting.

Let’s take you on a quick walk-through of the app:

1. Once you open the app, you are immediately prompted to select a channel to broadcast in. The app shows you how many viewers are in each channel and how many are in the queue. Click “GO” to enter a channel.
2. Once you have logged in via Facebook, you will be entered immediately into the queue, where you can see who is waiting ahead of you and directly behind you. The app shows very clearly your queue position, also giving you the opportunity to back out of the queue by clicking the X on your thumbnail. 
3. Once you are about to go live, we give you a 10 second countdown, to give you ample time to prepare to be live.
   
4. You are now live… OMG! If you wish to switch from front-facing camera to rear-facing, you have the option. You can also end your broadcast by clicking the red square.
5. You’ve completed your first broadcast from your iPhone! Look at you. Hot stuff.  

NOTE:

• This app is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (4th generation), iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad (3rd generation) and iPad Wi-Fi + 4G.Requires iOS 4.2 or later.

Have comments or suggestions about the app? Add them in the comments below.

Sneak peek of @younow buttons!! Coming soon! #younow #socialmedia #startups #tech cc: @sampepper (Taken with Instagram at YouNow HQ)

As Jeff Bullas (@jeffbullas) puts it, “there’s a lot of hype around influence.” And with good reason, I’d say.

You may have seen the short documentary “INFLUENCERS,” for example, which “explores what it means to be an influencer and how trends and creativity become contagious today in music, fashion and entertainment.”

INFLUENCERS TRAILER from R+I creative on Vimeo.

Being a social influencer is becoming increasingly valuable these days, as people realize the hold that “social” has on our everyday lives. In an attempt to quantify influence across social media, sites like Klout have emerged, which measures influence “based on one’s ability to drive action.”

This knack for driving action is what makes influencers so powerful. Influencers are the tastemakers of our society, and in the digital age, having influence in social media, whether you’re an individual or company, can directly translate to revenue in unprecedented ways.

I thought there’d be no better way to illustrate the power of an influencer than doing a brief case study on one I’ve encountered during my work at YouNow. Meet Sam Pepper.

who is sam? 

There were two things about Sam that really caught my attention: 

1. His ability to continually engage with his audience.
On his first time on YouNow, he brought 1000+ people, and has continued to be an advocate for the site, bringing new users virtually every time he comes on the site. (what users have dubbed “The Sam Pepper Effect.”)

Sam has found the balance of being cool enough to admire and follow, but also friendly and open enough for people to feel connected to him. He always has something new, exciting, controversial or crazy up his sleeve…  

…like putting a condom on his head. and blowing it up until it explodes. Or this…

… see what I mean?

2. The power of his recommendations.
Whatever Sam likes, the people like.

An example of this is what I like to call the Kigu phenomenon. After a couple broadcasts on YouNow wearing a giraffe Kigu onesie, Sam Pepper had managed to influence other users to purchase their own onesies without even telling them to do so. Everyone was either wearing or wanting a Kigu within a week - it was that simple.

To discover the method to his madness in Sam’s own words, I asked him a few questions:



DD:  How did you get started making YouTube videos? Did you begin before or after Big Brother?
SP:  ever since i’ve been young i’ve loved photography and film making, also i’ve loved acting a bit of a tit on camera and i think this came from Jackass at around 13, this lead to me filming stupid videos on a old vhs video camera. time went on and started making more serous videos. documentaries, music videos etc, which i loved filming but they was never featuring me. after my stay in the house i thought it would be a perfect opportunity to start a youtube channel based more around me than other people and thus my youtube channel was born!

DD:  Why do you think (in your words) that you are influential? Why do people listen to what you have to say?
SP:  lol i really don’t know, sometimes i don’t even trust listening to myself :) i think what it is that alot of other people in the public eye like to butter coat things, or try to be a person who they think there fans want them to be. i’m just me and always will be, and the people that watch me can see this and i think they respect that.

DD:  How do you come up with new ideas to engage with your audience?SP:  i’ve always been a bit of an ideas man and i’m always thinking up the next idea, i think the more personal you can get the better. i like to do meet ups, i like to get them involved in my videos and i like to have convocations with them on facebook and twitter.

DD:  From TV, you’ve catapulted yourself to prominence in social media. If I’m not mistaken, you’re also a graphic designer? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
SP:  i hate the 5 year’s time question always makes me think i’m being interviewed, ohhhh wait…… but seriously i dont know whats happening tomorrow let alone in 5 years time! i like to live each day as it come. my end goal is to be able to make youtube my full time job, and maybe living in america making videos!

DD:  What’s your secret sauce?
SP:  just be who you are!

DD:  Anything else we should know about Sam Pepper?
SP:  nope thats about all

To educate yourself about Sam Pepper, check him on:
twitter.com/sampepper
YouTube.com
facebook.com/sampepperfb

When I was in high school I used to write 10 goals on a piece of paper at the beginning of each semester.

I would then put them on a prominent spot of the wall in my room, so that I would be reminded daily of what I wished to achieve. I limited them to 10 goals, because it would help me to focus on the things that were most important, and would also increase the likelihood that I would achieve them. I continued this practice into my first and second years of college, but somewhere along the way I fell out of practice.

I thought I would bring this back, in a way that is open and concrete. This transparency will help to keep me accountable, encourage me to keep pushing, and hopefully will inspire some of you to make your own goals and KICK BUTT in 2012.

Here are mine:

1. Take care of my body.
I used to be a real athlete… football, basketball, track & field and martial arts. Now I’m just a has-been. I want my body back.

2. Write 2 blog posts a month
I recently read “12 Blogging Mistakes to Avoid” by Jeff Bullas (@jeffbullas).  I’ve learned  by working on this blog, and writing for YouNow’s blog, that in order to establish myself as a writer, I must write! (Sounds simple, right?)

Consistency is key. Maybe one day I’ll be like Fred Wilson (@fredwilson) of Union Square Ventures and post every day. Until then, 2 / month is a good goal.

3. Teach myself to build a basic mobile app by the end of 2012.
This will be a hard goal to achieve, but I am determined to do it. If you’d like to help me succeed with this goal, please reach out to me!

4. Monthly check-ins with my younger sister and brothers.
I am the oldest of four. When I went away to college, I wasn’t as active in the lives of my siblings as I used to be. It’s time to change that. I want to help them to achieve the goals they have for themselves, while also validating them, their individuality, and their self-worth. Their success is my success. I love them.

5. Secure a professional mentor, and become a mentor to someone else.
I believe that giving back is important… it’s something I learned through my participation in the Ron Brown Scholar Program, (@ronbrownscholar) a scholarship organization that financially supports talented & service-oriented African-American high school students in attending college.  Everyone should have a mentor, and I hope to be one to a young hustler in need.

6. Get some new threads
I often find myself wearing a hoodie that I bought my freshman year of college… 4 YEARS AGO. Womp.

While I believe in buying what I like to call timeless “anchor pieces,” (unique and versatile items that will last me for some time), I’ve decided I need some fresh gear. Time to hit the thrift stores.

7. Finish “Learn Ruby The Hard Way” by January 31st, 2012
This goal is a corollary from my blog post “Why I am Learning to Program.” In the post I resolved that I would learn how to code as a means of developing the discipline I need to achieve many of my personal and professional goals.

If I want to complete Goal #3 by 2012, I will need to accelerate my learning… so January 31st it is. LET’S GO!

8. Love my woman in the way she deserves.
Camille, my girlfriend, has been a tremendous blessing from God in my life. She is a humble and supportive hard-worker of whom I’m very proud! She has also taught me many things… including how to be gentle, loving, kind, and especially patient. I want to be all of these things to her and more. Love you baby!

9. Strengthen my relationship with God.
God has undeniably blessed me beyond measure, especially by giving me Camille. While my relationship with Him has grown tremendously, I still need to take more time for God.

10. Return to art.
I am an artist and musician. (see my art here.) Recently most of my creative juices have been going into my work at YouNow, and taking pictures via Instagram. At the end of the day, however, I still feel creatively deprived and unfulfilled. I am a creator, and I need to create.

What are your goals for 2012?
Let me know by commenting below, telling me in person, or writing a blog post about them!