May 3, 2017 — Published by: Fereshta Amir
All Posts in Buzzfeed
June 19, 2015 — Published by: Drew Benvie
BuzzFeed launches dedicated serious news app
BuzzFeed has launched a current affairs news app for iOS called simply BuzzFeed News. Over recent months the site best known for its viral 'listicles' has been hiring senior execs and journalists from some of the world's most respected business newspapers and broadcast outlets, and now we can see the first, of many no doubt, products that begin exploring how BuzzFeed can reinvent serious news.
The app offers customisable alerts, and is available right now just on iOS. You can download it here and read more on the launch here.
August 6, 2014 — Published by: Drew Benvie
How Buzzfeed is disrupting the media model with new hires and ways of working
The rise and rise of Buzzfeed as an online media outlet ceases to give pause for breath. Recent data shows that its expansion in audience size, viral spread and as a company (ie people) is outstripping most media on the planet. The below graph from earlier in the year shows a bit of a comparison, just for a sense of scale.
It's not just the site traffic that's interesting though, I think. It's how the company is bringing on board talented media innovators. The company has over 365 people working there and a global audience of 150 million. This morning a couple of moves over at Buzzfeed caught my eye.
Firstly a new major appointment, that of former Yahoo, Huffington Post and Criteo exec Greg Coleman, as Buzzfeed's new president. Secondly a new job opening that's doing the rounds for a new UK News Director, which reminded me of a recent cover story in Wired on the explosive growth of staff at Buzzfeed.
Wired's cover story explains a little on how people work over at Buzzfeed:
If there is a science to BuzzFeed's content strategy, it is built on obsessive measurement. The data-science team uses machine learning to predict which stories might spread; the design team keeps iterating the user interface through A/B testing and analytics. Every item of content has its own dashboard that shows how it spreads from "seed views" on the site to the scalable "social views".
BuzzFeed staff receive a list of Golden Rules of Shareability. These include: "Don't use tricks. People don't like to feel stupid… Be yourself. Content should reflect your own identity, not anyone else's… Make content you would be proud to share… Experiment. No ideas are bad ideas… Have a heart."
Much has been written about Buzzfeed's new approach to the advertising model too. This all feeds into making the site shareable and a commercial success.
I'll end with my own piece over on Buzzfeed - 13 social media PR disasters. Don't think I'll be applying for that News Director role at Buzzfeed in a hurry 🙂
February 21, 2014 — Published by: Anton Perreau
Top 5 things we learnt about BuzzFeed
During the morning of Friday 21 February Battenhall attended the Gorkana briefing from Luke Lewis, Editor of BuzzFeed UK. In true BuzzFeed style, we thought we'd summarise our findings with a few cute gif images:
1. In the UK, always share stuff that's fun and interesting
Luke shared with us that whilst in the USA content that is emotive strikes a tone - the more fun content is popular in the UK.
2. Don't hate, it's just no fun
BuzzFeed even specifies 'no haters' in their job applications. Just don't do it.
3. Niche subject matters are important, not SEO
Focus on small communities in the UK, specific subjects or articles that directly relate to a small community that will share it.
4. Experiment with things all the time
Always say 'yes' to new ideas, if they don't go well, you've learned.
5. Hard news, fun quizzes and silly facts can all live harmoniously in one place
In the future BuzzFeed UK is looking to include more hard-hitting news alongside it's current fun, shareable and interesting content.
To read more from the Gorkana breakfast briefing with Luke Lewis, head to our LIVE GOOGLE DOC.
January 24, 2014 — Published by: Drew Benvie
BuzzFeed usurps Huffington Post to become Facebook’s top publisher
BuzzFeed, the online website which aggregates viral content from across the web, has become Facebook's top publisher, beating the likes of Huffington Post and Upworthy.
According to NewsWhip, in November 2013 Huffington Post UK was the clear leader with BuzzFeed left to battle viral content website Upworthy for runner-up status. Yet, in just over a month, the viral newsite did not only beat Upworthy but it comfortably usurped Huffington Post UK from its perch in first place.
Using data taken from Spike, NewsWhip determined BuzzFeed's newfound status as Facebook publishing king was a result of a particularly strong December. In that month, BuzzFeed had 750,000 more shares on Facebook than its closest competitor.
Apart from illustrating BuzzFeed's growing popularity, the results from Spike's database also demonstrate that Facebook is still a popular site for sharing content. Publishers such as BBC News, New York Times and new addition Viral Nova all had substantially improved share numbers.
Despite reports of Facebook's waning popularity among teens, it certainly hasn't lost favour with users who love sharing viral news on the social network site. To read more on the report, visit NewWhip.
March 26, 2013 — Published by: Drew Benvie
The UK gets a dose of Buzzfeed: is this the future of journalism?
Brace yourself. Buzzfeed, the "first true social news organisation" has arrived in the UK. Catering for the appetite we have for surfing the web and grazing social media for random factoids and entertainment, Buzzfeed is one of the hottest properties online.
Buzzfeed combines viral curation with editorial management of its content. The Guardian in its preview of the UK launch back in January sums up the importance of the emergence of this new kind of media succinctly:
"Is this the future of journalism? [...] Its mix of the serious and stupid poses a fresh challenge for traditional media companies as they battle for web users' time and attention. Its flexible approach to advertising – shunning the tired model of banner ads in favour of sponsored content – makes it a trailblazer in the rise of the social web."
Follow the UK edition of Buzzfeed online at Buzzfeed.com/uk and on Twitter at @buzzfeeduk.
