Contentinople - Eve Bergazyn - News Bits: YouTube Nails Search

Written by Eve Bergazyn

Thursday, November 13. 2008 at 11:15 AM EST Post a comment

Digg

Del.icio.us

Email This

no ratings

The attempts to search video effectively have been largely unsuccessful, until... soon. YouTube Inc. is selling search ads, à la Google (Nasdaq: GOOG). It's also expanding its reach into users' lives with streaming video feeds.

Falling in the why-didn't-they-think-of-this-before category, YouTube's hoping to cash in on online ad spending. The site's new "sponsored video" format allows advertisers to not only buy keywords, but to choose the videos they want to promote, complete with spending limits, reports Reuters.

And the site is hammering yet another nail into user-generated content's coffin. YouTube is going to dip its e-toes into Webcasting later this month, according to Reuters. Videos will feature popular performers from the site, keeping it community-focused.

In other news:

There's a new social network! That wouldn't be news, but this one's by Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT). Windows Live is now more socialized, according to a release. The company is adding to its offerings, which consist of mail, photo sharing, blogging, and MSN Web Messenger, to include updated current offerings and integration with third parties, like Flickr , LinkedIn Corp. , and Pandora Media Inc.

If you've ever wondered how the near-ubiquitous-in-banner-ads Classmates.com can pay for all of those ads, it's by defrauding users, claims a disgruntled one who is suing, reports Wired. Last Christmas Eve, (a presumably lonely) Anthony Michaels signed up for a free account, then upgraded to find out who those former classmates allegedly searching for and/or trying to contact him through the site were. After forking over $15, he learned the truth: none. Now he's suing and seeking refunds for himself and other users who paid to join.