The Strategist picks the day’s most relevant and interesting stories about the world of content from around the web. Here’s what you should be reading today:
Taco Bell’s Super Bowl Teaser Online
ClickZ’s Matt Kapko writes about Taco Bell’s latest campaign, a teaser video for its Super Bowl spot the company placed online.
It features “an 87-year-old man careening down a football field, taking out yardage signs and knocking over water coolers at high speeds on a mobility scooter.” The 60-second teaser, which promotes the “Live Mas” tagline, is posted on YouTube and has 327,364 views.
Taco Bell released the teaser, said Brian Niccol, chief marketing and innovation officer, because, “By engaging with and rewarding them first, we’re providing them with the chance to build their social currency by being in the know and sharing the teaser and ad with their friends.”
Q&A Site Quora Now a Blogging Platform
According to Paid Content, Quora, the site where people can post questions and receive answers, will now serve as a publishing platform for bloggers.
Executives from the site are “pushing the idea that through the new blogging platform, anyone with a good idea and smart writing can become famous on the site, even if that person doesn’t have a strong Twitter following or an existing popular blog of their own.”
The site, writes Eliza Kern, will probably attract people already on Quora who want to expand their Q&A know-how and expertise.
How Videos Become Viral
Sonia Simone of CopyBlogger writes about the elements that make a viral video successful.
They have that “you have to see this” trait about them and the subject is remarkable. There is a solid, emotional story that follows the Peril, Complications, and Resolution steps, and it lets the viewers know how they can make a difference.
She says, “at the moment you’ve created a strong emotional impact, your audience wants to know how to take the next step. To book a consultation or buy a product or make a donation. Don’t make them wait too long, or their attention will drift to the next compelling story.”
Netflix’s Profits in Fourth Quarter
The New York Times reports on Netflix and its surprising uptick in its revenue the fourth quarter of 2012.
It made $8 million in net income and $945 in revenue, and reached a new total of 27 million streaming subscribers in America. Investors and the company alike are surprised. The boost was brought on by holiday sales on TVs and tablets.
Overcoming Writer’s Block
According to Blogger Gibson Goff, to overcome writer’s block, an individual must go back to the drawing board and look at what inspired him or her to write in the first place.
He says that writers need to remember who they are on a regular basis: “Remind yourself of the joy that writing, or art, brings to your life; and more importantly, the joy it brings to others.”
Writers should be confident, relax, and embrace their talents if they want to succeed.
Freelancing Needs and Demands
According to Freelance Folder, if a freelancer wants to succeed, he or she has to determine if the services are wanted or needed by somebody.
People must be willing to pay for the work or else a freelancing career will crash and burn. To see if services meet needs or demands, a freelancer can find out if anyone else is doing it, or if anyone is searching for it online.
A freelancer can start an online survey/focus group that will help answer critical questions. A survey would include a participant’s general information, their interest level in the products/services the freelancer is offering, and the amount of money they are willing to pay for them.
QR Code for McDonald’s Nutrition
PSFK via Mashable is reporting that McDonald’s will now include QR codes on bags of its food and fountain beverage cups that give customers nutritional information.
Along with facts, “brand stories” are going to pop up as well when the code is scanned.
McDonald’s chief brand officer Kevin Newell said, “Our new packaging is designed to engage with customers in relevant ways and celebrate our brand.” The campaign was introduced in the United States last week and is going to go global throughout 2013.
