» Gigaom

Using Signals to Create Relevant Content

Abby Johnson — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 10:00:12 +0000

Although the Web is full of content, the key to getting your content noticed is by producing relevant content. That said, then how do you create relevant content? As Liz Gannes of GigaOM explains to WebProNews, the secret is being timely.

She goes on to say that writing content close to when it actually happens is fairly easy, thanks to Twitter and news feeds. In addition, there are numerous tools to distribute the content after it is created.

On a note of caution, Gannes points out that writers should not even bother with producing content if they cannot add any value. Since there is such an opportunity online to read content in aggregate, most writers aren’t able to draw individual readers unless they provide a very unique perspective.

Gannes also talks about the technical aspect of making content relevant. There are many sites popping up that take in multiple signals from users, such as their behavior and preferences, and use these signals to make recommendations for the users.

“Making content relevant is all about figuring out what signals matter and making use of them,” says Gannes.

Are you using signals to create relevant content?

Google Changes Privacy Practices, Matt Cutts And The Next Generation Of Search, Michael Crook Apologizes

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:08:18 +0000

Google announced a change to its privacy practices for logging user information. They plan to anonymize their server logs after a limited period of time. After implementing this change within a year’s time, user data will be made much more anonymous after eighteen to twenty-four months from collection. However, lawmakers in the U.S. or Europe could require Google to keep original data for longer period of time.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has managed to convince Michael Crook to stop filing bogus DMCA claims against websites carrying a picture of him that appeared on Fox News. A settlement of the EFF lawsuit requires him to withdraw his complaints, take a copyright law course, and apologize for interfering with the free speech rights of those he targeted.

Wired News will put the phrase, “We are the media,” to the test as it launches its Assignment Zero project. The project will run for two to three months, and offers any willing contributor a chance at being a reporter or editor. Results of the project will be published at NewAssignment.net and Wired. If it works, it would show that a widely separated group of people can report completely and well on news issues.

The next generation of search will be improved for people as it becomes more personalized. Google’s Matt Cutts told Read/Write Web that “personalization has a very high chance of being able to improve search for the average user.” Matt also talked about web spam, and said being able to offer spam free search in any language has been a big trend for Google both last year and this year.

Dell Survey On Linux, Google May Be Softening Stance, MySpace News Beta

admin — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:18:15 +0000

Dell may be listening to its customers who want the Linux operating system as a pre-installed option. Thousands of visitors to Dell’s IdeaStorm website asked for that choice, and Dell has followed up by posting a survey that asks how people would want to have Linux delivered on its hardware.

Long-time YouTube critic Mark Cuban weighed in with an opinion on Viacom’s billion-dollar lawsuit against the video sharing site and its owner, Google. Cuban said in a post at his Blog Maverick site that he hopes the lawsuit is not just a negotiating ploy. He sees no downside for Viacom and expects many more suits to follow Viacom’s action.

Google may be softening its stance on net neutrality. GigaOM writer Drew Clark cited recent comments made by Google senior policy counsel
Andrew McLaughlin that ran counter to Google’s publicly stated opposition to quality of service agreements. Although Google distanced themselves from McLaughlin’s comments by calling them his “personal view,” Google did sign an exclusive contract with Verizon to carry YouTube videos in November 2006.

Rumors of a MySpace News site have gained more credibility. Screenshots of the news portal at the social networking site were leaked to Wired News in the form of a sales document. The leaked data discussed how the site will be structured, but a launch date was not included. Previous rumors stated the launch would happen sometime in the second quarter of 2007.