I am a data sponge. I read between 50-100 articles a day and appreciate that a good conference is a great place to get a bunch of information from a lot of smart people all at once. It’s very efficient. I just got back from the WIFT International Women in Digital Media Summit in Stratford, Ontario where many thought leaders in the digital media sector, especially of the female persuasion, gathered to inspire and share knowledge. I sat on the “Evolving Business Model” panel and listened to as many of the other presentations as I could. Over my time there, a few recurrent themes and gems of advice resonated with me. This issue of From Search to Screen shares tips that could help you “future proof” your film or television company and career. Continue reading “Top 4 Tips for “Future Proofing” Your Media Company/Career – WIFT Digital Media Summit” »

Screen media producers need money to create their product. To get that money they need to show that they can deliver an audience. The more information they can provide about that audience, the easier their product is to sell and the easier it is to attract investment/advertising dollars. In fact, I recently was told, that it is this audience data that is the most valuable product. The actual content (the film, television show, web series, transmedia experience) is secondary and could even be viewed as simply a delivery mechanism for that data. That, my friends, is a mind-blowing and potentially extremely depressing idea. But, if the content no longer really matters, then this fact can be very liberating as well. If you can prove that you can and are delivering a clearly defined and loyal audience with certain viewing habits and purchase behaviours, then you can make whatever you want (as long as it keeps that audience with you). So, how do you provide that proof and gain that kind of creative freedom? This issue of From Search to Screen makes the case that the online audience and its data is the key to the future of this industry. Continue reading “The Numbers Game: Why Online Audience Data is the Future of Screen Media” »

In the beginning there was search and it was good. We sat at our desks and typed things into our large stationary computers attached by some kind of cord to the Internet. We would linger, we would have to be patient and take our time to find what we wanted (because dial up speeds were ssslllloooowww). Then came laptops and wireless and we could sit in coffee shops or take our computers into business meetings. Connection speeds and processors got faster. We got less patient and less likely to dig deeper to find what we wanted. Then came the iPhone and all its brethren, a powerful handheld computer that could easily go anywhere. The smartphone revolution changed the face of how we interacted with the Internet forever. And the addition of the iPad and other tablets added another layer of mobile complexity to the way the audience engages with online content. Whether text or video, as long as there is a decent Internet connection (and a reasonable data plan) people can be plugged into your content anywhere. How does this moving, agile audience change search marketing? How do you make sure your screen media content and its related text is mobile accessible and gets found? This issue of From Search to Screen takes a closer look at these questions. Continue reading “The Audience as a Moving Target: How Mobile is Changing Search Marketing” »