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Vine - Can You Tell A Story In Six Seconds?
February 5, 2013
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You may have heard about the latest social/video app, Vine. The tech world has praised this iOS-only app (Droid users have to wait) as the one social media mobile application to generate the most buzz since Instagram.
The fact it was purchased by Twitter helped the buzz no doubt, but there's more to Vine than that. There are similar apps out there but perhaps for Generation X and beyond, Vine is today's Polaroid. You get to take a bunch of still pictures and run them all together. And for the younger generations, Vine offers something different from what is already part of their "filming everyday life" culture.
Vine videos are longer than the typical gif - they are six second loops. You touch the screen to record and let go of the screen to stop. It's that simple. Vine then splices your snippets together when you're done.
So what does this new buzz-worthy app mean to you and your brand? When emerging platforms attract the kind of chatter that Vine is getting, it becomes a brand's opportunity to show up and test drive with the platform with fans. That simple act alone offers a sense of realness to your product - something critical for brand building in the 21st century.
There are already a handful of radio personalities playing around with Vine in their spare time. I'm following many of them so when you download the app, search my name - Lori Lewis - you'll find other radio colleagues in my follow list.
For example, WRIF/Detroit afternoon star Meltdown is toying with Vine, telling all kinds of stories in six seconds. These include what he does when he's not on the air to what we all think he does when he is on-air:
Personalities like Jimmy Fallon will also make you laugh as you watch them try to figure out what to create on Vine:
I know the social platforms that radio fans use is mounting, and there's only so much time in the day to be effective with all of them.
But it's a new world - and these crazy days require a new way of thinking and innovating. Social is a critical part of a brand today and it goes beyond Facebook.
While not every social phenomenon will take off like Instagram did, this is not about comparing platforms or handicapping what will be the next big thing. It's about being prepared to be present with your fans when duty calls.
Finding your way on emerging platforms with fans is a great way to build on the believability that your great traditional brand is also a true social brand. Fans give you credit for recognizing where they are when you venture out with a new social platform.
Find me on Vine. I'm looking forward to your stories.
Reach out to me anytime on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or Twitter.
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