User Generated Content

Where does one begin to speak about  UGC (user generated content)? The term became mainstream in just the last few years due to new media and web publishing. UGC has bought forward a barrage of collaboration and discovery, it is included in most digital media technologies … databases, digital video, blogs, podcasts, mobile phones, wikis and even traditional photography.

New users are taking advantage of the interactive opportunities provided by the internet, due to the fact that it’s accessible, the tools and applications are available to almost everyone, and the culture is embracing the individual versus mass media. Eighty-three percent trust the recommendation of a friend. The benefits are many, as they say, good news travels fast; right?

Originally it was deemed by the publishing culture, that one should only write if there was something unique to say, something new to report, or a new window with which to look upon an old issue or problem. But that’s not the case today, everyone can write, and your information may not be good for me, but it will resonate with someone, and maybe just one, but does that make it any less relevant.

Twitter is a perfect example, 140 characters of what? And yet, it’s got millions tweeting away … with simple, short, engaging content, links to websites, blogs, videos & podcasts. Everyone has the opportunity to post a video ( YouTube ), make a friend ( Facebook ), engage in discussion ( Technorati ), we now get to say what we want, when we want it and decide who we want to see it. Want evidence? Go to Wikipedia, spend moments, pick a subject and make an entry, its there for the whole world to see IN ANY LANGUAGE … once your get your your headspace wrapped around the simple fact that you can do anything, say anything, only then will you really begin to see exactly how things have changed, and it changed in a New York minute.

Information is best served short, simple, fun, engaging, punchy, memorable (Seth Godin says remarkable), you now have to realize that the volume of information available from all sources is incredible in terms of volume, in fact, it’s absolutely unbelievable. You need to appreciate that now you only have time to lightly review, skim, graze, glance, brush, peruse, glean information, as it moving at the flash of light.

It may be a little overwhelming, but this impacts individuals as well as businesses, the internet has provided the vehicle and you are the driver, let’s get you engaged, simply because you can and you need to.

Michael Bickerton, Raven5, May 2010

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