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YouTube finally Now Lets You Make GIFs From Videos

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YouTube has quietly started rolling out their own GIF generator. It's not available for all channels yet, with only certain creators having the option available on some of their videos, found under the sharing options next to email.<br />
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<b>SEE ALSO: <a href="http://circles-tech.blogspot.com/2014/12/Apple-Store-now-Accepts-PayPal.html">Apple Store now Accepts PayPal</a></b><br />
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Remember back in November of last year, when I wrote that YouTube needed to build their own tool for making GIFs from videos? Some called me crazy. Many, however, agreed completely.<br />
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Without any fanfare, YouTube has introduced a built-in GIF creation tool for selected videos and channels.<br />
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Andy Baio, a former CTO of Kickstarter, first spotted the update on Thursday.<br />
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The rollout is limited for the time being. The option appears on videos in the PBS Digital Studios' Ideas channel, as pointed out in the tweet above, under each video's "Share" option. The option is not available on Mashable's channel or several others that we checked.<br />
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If you have ever created short, looping animations, you will appreciate the simplicity of YouTube's tool. At the top is a film scrubber, which displays a series of frames from the video above. The frame tool moves along the strip as the video plays above and can be grabbed and dragged to any point in the video. It defaults to a three-second grab, but can be stretched out to six seconds or condensed to 0.3 seconds.<br />
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Right below the film scrubber is a preview window that shows you your GIF in real time; to the right sit two windows with the time stamps for the start and end of your GIF clip. Below, you can enter meme tet into fields to display at the top and bottom of your GIF. Once you click the large "create GIF" button, YouTube generates your final GIF and presents you with a link to email, an embeddable code, and social share links.<br />
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We've reached out to PBS and YouTube for comment on how the launch channels were selected. PBS, which is a nonprofit, may have presented fewer copyright concerns, but as GIFs are sound-free and no longer than six seconds, it's unlikely they would run into trouble from media or music companies.<br />
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Various free and ad-supported GIF creation tools already allow GIF creation from YouTube videos, but YouTube's own tool would make it a much simpler option.<br />
<i>Source:  <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2014/12/11/youtube-gif-maker/">techcrunch</a></i><br />
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YouTube finally Now Lets You Make GIFs From Videos

YouTube has quietly started rolling out their own GIF generator. It's not available for all channels yet, with only certain creators...

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YouTube app releases for Xbox One

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A YouTube app with access to millions of videos is coming to Xbox One when it launches in 13 countries Friday, Microsoft announced.<br />

According to a <a href="http://news.xbox.com/2013/11/xbox-one-youtube-on-xbox-one" target="_blank">blog post</a>,
 the Xbox One <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/10/6-biggest-mistakes-brands-make-on.html" target="_blank">YouTube</a> app will work with all the console's features to 
allow users to stream YouTube's library of videos. It can interact with 
your existing subscriptions on your YouTube account, as well as videos 
currently trending on the network.<br />

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See also: <a href="http://www.circlestech.com/2013/11/compare-xbox-one-vs-playstation-4-in.html" target="_blank">Compare Xbox One vs  PlayStation 4 In The New Games</a></h4>
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The YouTube app will work with all of the Kinect's voice commands to 
assist with discovery and playback control, as well as gestures for 
browsing. The videos can stream in high-quality 1080p as well.<br />
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In the blog post, Microsoft said the YouTube app will be updated with
 new features down the line, including being able to snap into the right
 rail.<br />

The Xbox One comes out in 13 countries on Nov. 22.<br />
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<em>Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.</em></div>

YouTube app releases for Xbox One

A YouTube app with access to millions of videos is coming to Xbox One when it launches in 13 countries Friday, Microsoft announced. Ac...

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Star Wars Blooper Reel Hits YouTube - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://techbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Star-Wars-1408922-1024x681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://techbeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Star-Wars-1408922-1024x681.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A very entertaining video has finally, after 36 years hidden away, made its way onto the web’s most popular video site; YouTube.   At last some “Star Wars” outtake footage, that few have seen, (until now), finally makes its way onto the World Wide Web!<br /><br />The most watched and best loved Sci-Fi epic just didn’t just come together with no hassles whatsoever, even with the force permeating all things!  No, the reality was much different.  What you finally see on the silver screen is only the finished and much polished product of the long hard work of making a movie.<br /><br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />Post production is a tedious and drawn out process.  However, during the arduous days of filming and editing some of the best moments ever committed to celluloid happen.  It is these scenes which are usually kept hidden away, only to emerge later on blooper reels or extras on DVD or Blu-Ray releases. I think with this short collage of epic fails, the fans have really hit the jackpot!<br /><br />There are some classic moments on collection including some flustered and fluffed up lines, some very long strands of stray Wookiee arm hair getting in the way of classic actor Sir Alec Guinness and Storm troopers, quite literally, falling all over each other. The first 48 seconds unfortunately has no sound, which you don’t really mind as the first scene with sound is Peter Cushing magnificently fluffing his lines!  Other errors to watch out for are C-3PO taking a tumble in the sands of Tatooine and a land speeder losing part of its undercarriage.<br /><br />The clips were originally compiled by J.W. Rinzler, an editor for Lucasfilm, who found the treasures in the company’s archives.  A select crowd was able to view the video at Comic-Com earlier this year, but the wider world now has a shot at seeing it thanks to the YouTube appearance.  If I were you I would hurry over to YouTube before some Disney lawyers will use the force of the law and spoil all our fun.  Enjoy!</div>

Star Wars Blooper Reel Hits YouTube - Circles Tech

A very entertaining video has finally, after 36 years hidden away, made its way onto the web’s most popular video site; YouTube. At last s...

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Is YouTube Launching a Music Service? - Circles Tech

Is YouTube about to take on Spotify with a subscription music service of its own? That's what a report from <em>Billboard</em> magazine claimed Wednesday, citing "several sources familiar with the plans."<br/><br/>Like Spotify, the report said, the music service will have a free tier (with ads) and a premium tier (without ads). This would push the Google-owned video service in a new audio direction, with music available for streaming or caching on all platforms; however, YouTube would still hold on to its roots by offering music videos as part of the service.<br/><br/>YouTube sent out this canned response to multiple news services, whether they'd asked about the report or not: "We’re always working on new and better ways for people to enjoy YouTube content across all screens, and on giving partners more opportunities to reach their fans. However, we have nothing to announce at this time."<br/><br/><em>Fortune</em> reported a similar story in March, and said that the service would be launching "later this year."<br/><br/>Would you sign up for a Spotify-like YouTube music service? Let us know in the comments.

Is YouTube Launching a Music Service? - Circles Tech

Is YouTube about to take on Spotify with a subscription music service of its own? That's what a report from Billboard magazine claimed ...

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6 Biggest Mistakes Brands Make on YouTube - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">In the beginning, YouTube was a playground for amateurs to post home movies, webcam confessionals and videos of cats chasing string. And it was good.<br /><br />As the platform grew up, a new breed of talent emerged to dominate the landscape. These YouTube "creators" — amateur filmmakers, beauty experts, armchair pundits and a thousand other flavors of self-made star — produced a unique type of content built specifically for YouTube and its audience. And it was awesome.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />In 2013, we stand at the beginning of a new epoch; one in which brands are becoming creators themselves and, instead of producing interruptive advertisements, making content people actually want to watch. Videos like Red Bull's chronicle of Felix Baumgartner's space jump or K-Mart's hilarious "Ship My Pants" video generate the same amount of buzz as any piece of "original content." Big-time brands like Benefit Cosmetics, Rovio and Home Depot are investing in YouTube — and making it the primary destination for fans to interact with their brand.<br /><br />This requires more work than simply setting up a channel and uploading the videos you have lying around. As Pop Chips found out with its now-infamous Ashton Kutcher video, producing content that doesn’t feel authentic or funny can actually create a negative backlash.<br /><br />Here are six mistakes that brands need to avoid in order to achieve YouTube success.<br /><h2>1. Focusing on "Going Viral"</h2><br />Legend has it that every time someone in brand marketing says the word "viral," an angel loses its wings.<br /><br />There’s no doubt that "viral" is a real phenomenon — we've all had a day when 12 people send over a link to the same video — but when it comes to branded content, "going viral" is exceptionally rare (and not the only measure of success).<br /><br />What's more, there's a lot of value that isn't captured by YouTube's view count. Did your video reach its target audience? Did a handful of influencers — whose followers hang on their every word — tweet it out? Did it make the headlines of the right publications? These qualitative outcomes are more powerful than a video with 2 million untargeted views (which may very well have been purchased).<br /><br />Fewer than 1% of YouTube videos exceed 1 million views, according to recent data from TubeMogul. Combine this with the fact that the most highly viewed videos usually involve sex, scandal or severe shock value, and you'll realize that making your brand's spot “go viral” on the web takes more than the average marketing team can imagine.<br /><h2>2. Not Paying Attention to Detail</h2><br />YouTube is the second largest search engine — trailing only its parent company, Google — and, as with any search engine, content can be optimized for it. Learning the simple tools and tricks can help your video rise above the white noise and into results and recommended videos. Here are three quick tips to get you started:<br /><ul><br /><li>1. Only 160 characters of your video description will show in search results, so make sure the first few sentences of your video description are the most compelling.</li><br /><li>2. Never underestimate the importance of eye-catching thumbnails. Think of them as mini-marketing posters for your content on YouTube. You should always create custom poster-frames and upload them along with video titles.</li><br /><li>3. Titles should include what the popular content site Upworthy calls the "curiosity gap." In other words, they should stoke — but not completely satisfy — a viewer's curiosity.</li></ul><br />A full list of guidelines can be found in Google's creator’s playbook. Study it. Know it. Live it.<br /><h2>3. "Post and Pray"</h2><br />It’s a common misconception among brands new to YouTube that simply creating videos is enough; somehow people will magically find them. Some call it the "post and pray" strategy (and you can imagine how well it works).<br /><br />The cold truth is that 50% of videos on YouTube have fewer than 1,000 views. Since there's so much content on the site, it's easy to get lost in the mix. To stand out, consider the following:<br /><ul><br /><li><b>Paid Placement:</b> YouTube is built atop Google’s ad platform and offers a variety of ways to increase viewership with paid placement at great value. You can target your content based on age, gender, geography, keywords, search terms and interests. This is not cheating. I repeat: <i>This is not cheating.</i></li><br /><li><b>PR and Influencer Outreach:</b> Scoring placement on a popular blog or content site makes a difference. If people see an influencer tweet your video, or read about it on their favorite blog, chances are they'll watch the content and share it themselves. But don't "boil the ocean" with PR outreach. A post of your video on a niche trade blog might make more waves than one that's hidden inside the depths of a tier-one publication, far from surfacing on its home page.</li></ul><br />These two strategies lay the foundation for organic sharing, the Holy Grail of YouTube distribution.<br /><h2>4. Ignoring the Fact That YouTube Is a Social Network</h2><br />Over the past few years, YouTube has made a concerted effort to move away from the one-hit nature of viewership (users receive links in emails, view a video once and then close out of the site) and toward a true content platform, comprised of channels and subscribers. For example, every time Victoria’s Secret posts a video, it goes directly into the feeds of the 300,000+ people who subscribe to the channel.<br /><br />While views are important, brands should instead aim for subscribers — repeat viewers who will come back to watch every new video you post. Don't be shy about reminding people to subscribe to your channel, and give them incentives to do so.<br /><h2>5. Settling for Low Production Quality</h2><br />While low production value may have worked for David After Dentist, it probably won’t work for your brand. Studies show that high quality can increase the amount of time viewers watch your video. And with an estimated 100 hours of content uploaded to YouTube every minute, viewers are becoming more and more selective in the content they seek out.<br /><br />Consider "Uncle Drew," a five-minute video by Pepsi Max featuring hoops star Kyrie Irving. The piece, which has been viewed more than 26 million times, was expertly shot and produced. But it doesn't feel like a typical ad because it puts entertainment first and messaging second.<br /><br />High production value (as long as it doesn't feel like Advertising with a capital "A") can put you in a different class of content on YouTube and give brands a way to stand out.<br /><h2>6. Forgetting That YouTube Is a Unique Format That Requires Unique Content</h2><br />How do most people watch YouTube videos? Typically, on a small screen, with seven other open tabs competing for their attention.<br /><br />But for some reason, this situation isn't always reflected in the type of content that brands create for YouTube. Often, a brand's channel contains nothing more than repurposed TV ads — a practice comparable to a brand tweeting verbatim from a press release.<br /><br />A few tips: Grab your viewers' attention in the first few seconds so they don't click away, rely on close-ups of faces to counteract screen size and don't produce videos longer than three minutes unless there's a compelling reason to do so.<br /><br />But the most important rule of thumb is the most difficult for many brands to implement: Be bold. YouTube is a place to push the envelope, and viewers expect to be provoked and challenged. Post something that is unexpected or starts a conversation (as long as it doesn’t involve Ashton Kutcher in makeup).<br /><h2>The Takeaway</h2><br />YouTube is one of the most exciting new places for brands to interact with fans and publish the type of bold, innovative content that couldn’t exist on any other platform. But brands need to look before they leap, and be smart about what they produce and how they release it. Keep the above pitfalls in mind, and you'll be well on your way to creating a sustainable presence and maybe even going vir- nope, not even going to mention it.</div>

6 Biggest Mistakes Brands Make on YouTube - Circles Tech

In the beginning, YouTube was a playground for amateurs to post home movies, webcam confessionals and videos of cats chasing string. And it ...

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Mischievous Twitter Bot Tweets Just Like You - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The latest in viral Twitter bots, @tofu_product aims to "write like you do" — because "tofu absorbs flavor."<br /><br />"Don't listen to checkmate atheists," tweets @tofu_product, but don't assume it's a wise Chinese proverb. In fact, the bot is actually trying to copy another Twitter user.<br /><br />"I've always been a huge fan of conversation bots and of natural language processing in general," programmer Joseph Toscano and creator of the account tells <i>Mashable</i>. Toscano and his friends have created various conversation bots in their free time, but this time, Toscano wanted to develop something specifically for Twitter.<br /><br />"With so many people posting status updates so frequently, I thought it would be an excellent way to get source material for a bot while basically guaranteeing that amusing results would be generated," he says. "There's just so much content!"<br /><br />Indeed, the account grew tenfold from under 200 followers Tuesday to more than 2,100 followers at the time of writing. In order for it to work, a user must tweet at @tofu_product, then it will respond with a phrase "similar" to the user's past tweets.<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />According to Toscano, the bot is written using mostly open source Apple-sponsored technologies, including Objective-C, clang, Cocoa and libdispatch. "By using these technologies, I'm able to do interesting language processing at very high performance, utilizing all of the resources of the host machine," Toscano says.<br /><br />As for the actual algorithm that @tofu_product uses, Toscano hopes to keep that as a secret for now. While he's been working on the algorithm for several years, the specific implementation that @tofu_product uses took a mere three days to perfect, though Toscano is still refining as necessary. "It's not terribly complex," he says, "but it produces results that frequently make me laugh. That's good enough for me, and hopefully for a lot of Twitter users out there."<br /><br />Whatever the secret algorithm, it seems to be working. While some replies from @tofu_product seem like nonsensical riddles, many are creepily spot-on. In fact, there are many users engaging in back-and-forth Twitter chats with the bot, testing the bot's ability. @tofu_product even works for different languages, with foreign tweets ranging from Danish to Spanish.<br /><br />Despite its eerie ability to copy other Twitter users, Toscano assures us @tofu_product is indeed 100% a bot (unlike @horse_ebooks), aside from tweets that the account initiates itself when it escapes from Twitter's rate-limiting.<br /><br />As for interactive Twitter bots, Toscano thinks they're here to stay. "Tofu is perhaps a bit different because of how close it gets to each individual Twitter user," Toscano says. "While there are bots that interact in different ways with users, Tofu is –- I think -– the first to mimic a user's writing style. That level of interaction is new, and I think we'll probably see more bots like Tofu soon."</div>

Mischievous Twitter Bot Tweets Just Like You - Circles Tech

The latest in viral Twitter bots, @tofu_product aims to "write like you do" — because "tofu absorbs flavor." "Don...

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The Beginner's Guide to the Hashtag - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">If you’re a social media novice, hashtags — those short links preceded by the pound sign (#) — may seem confusing and unnecessary. But they are integral to the way we communicate online, and it’s important to know how to use them (even though some people, like Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake, are not the biggest fans). Plus, they can be a lot of fun.<br /><br />On Twitter, the pound sign (or hash) turns any word or group of words that directly follow it into a searchable link. This allows you to organize content and track discussion topics based on those keywords. So, if you wanted to post about the <i>Breaking Bad</i> finale, you would include #BreakingBad in your tweet to join the conversation. Click on a hashtag to see all the posts that mention the subject in real time.<br /><br />The hashtag’s widespread use began with Twitter but has extended to other social media platforms. In 2007, developer Chris Messina proposed, in a tweet, that Twitter begin grouping topics using the hash symbol. Twitter initially rejected the idea. But in October 2007, citizen journalists began using the hashtag #SanDiegoFire, at Messina’s suggestion, to tweet updates on a series of forest fires in San Diego. The practice of hashtagging took off; now users and brands employ hashtags to cover serious political events (#Cairo) and entertainment topics (#MileyCyrus) alike.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />With our beginner's guide, you'll be hashtagging like a pro in no time.<br /><br />How do you make the most of hashtags? Let us know in the #comments.<br /><h2>Supported Characters</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!a2d4"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="telephone-hashtags" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA0LzI0L3RlbGVwaG9uZWhhLjc4NDM2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/5bf5aa01/17d/telephone-hashtags-640x426.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><br />Which characters can you include in a #hashtag?<br /><br />For starters, spaces are an absolute no-no. Even if your hashtag contains multiple words, group them all together. If you want to differentiate between words, use capitals instead (#BlueJasmine). Uppercase letters will not alter your search results, so searching for #BlueJasmine will yield the same results as #bluejasmine.<br /><br />Numbers are supported, so tweet about #50ShadesOfGrey to your heart’s content. However, punctuation marks are not, so commas, periods, exclamation points, question marks and apostrophes are out. Forget about asterisks, ampersands or any other special characters.<br /><br />Keep in mind that the @ symbol does something completely different. Using @ before a person’s Twitter handle will tweet at him directly, letting him know you have written to him via the @Connect tab. A hashtag will not. Sometimes users will hashtag a celebrity’s name instead of using her Twitter handle — it is acceptable to tweet #Lorde or @lordemusic. But if you are trying to reach someone directly, don’t use a hashtag.<br /><br />There is no preset list of hashtags. Create a brand new hashtag simply by putting the hash before a series of words, and if it hasn't been used before, <i>voilà</i>! You've invented a hashtag.<br /><h2>Supported Platforms</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!a014"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Social Media Icons" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA0Lzg3L3NvY2lhbG1lZGlhLmU5MTk5LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/6eb9fc84/4b3/social-media-flowers.jpg" /></div><br />Most major social media platforms support hashtags. These include:<br /><br /><b>Twitter</b>: Twitter is the birthplace of modern hashtag usage — as such, its hashtags are more versatile than other sites' (see “Tone & Voice,” below). Twitter hashtags are mainly used to denote specific topics of conversation; the “Trends” sidebar of your Twitter feed curates a list of hashtags you might be interested in, based on your tweets.<br /><br />When you search for a hashtag on Twitter, there are three ways to filter the results. The "Top" option displays the most relevant and popular posts, including those from users you don't follow. "All" shows you every tweet that uses the specific hashtag in real time, and "People you follow" will only display results from users you are following.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!454b"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Hashtag Search Results" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA0L2E3L3RvcGhhc2h0YWdyLjFjZDRmLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/b98d0c9e/062/top-hashtag-results.jpg" /></div><br /><b>Facebook</b>: Facebook only recently added hashtag support in June 2013, and the practice has not picked up much steam. Nevertheless, clicking on Facebook hashtags will take you to a list of posts containing the same hashtag. Unlike Twitter, you will only see posts by users you know.<br /><br /><b>Instagram</b>: Hashtags can be used to complement photos shared on Instagram and help you discover new accounts and pick up followers. Some hashtags were created specifically for Instagram photo challenges — #ThrowbackThursday, for example, encourages users to post retro photos. <b>Vine</b> uses hashtags in the same way — try accompanying each of your Vine videos with at least one hashtag to maximize shareability.<br /><br /><b>Google+</b>: When you click on a hashtag in Google+, the search results will include the original hashtag as well as posts with similar tags and keywords. Google search results display on the left side of the page, while hashtag results from within Google+ appear on the right. Google also gives you the option to search within Facebook or Twitter.<br /><br /><b>Tumblr</b>: Tumblr posts have a special “Tag” section where you can enter tags. These tags function like Twitter hashtags, organizing posts by topic, but the hash symbol is inserted automatically. Hashtags included in the main body of a post are not transformed into links.<br /><br /><b>Pinterest</b>: Use Pinterest hashtags to mark and search for content. Click on the hashtag in a pin description to navigate results that contain the exact hashtag, plus pins with the same word or phrase in the description.<br /><br />Curious which hashtags are trending across social media? Hashtags.org tells you which tags are hot in real time.<br /><h2>Tone and Voice</h2><br />Beyond simply organizing your tweets, Twitter hashtags can help you craft your voice while joining in a larger discussion. You can use multiple hashtags in one tweet, but don’t go overboard. One to three is generally an acceptable range.<br /><br />In a post for <i>The New Yorker</i>, Susan Orlean points out that hashtags can provide colorful commentary as a sort of “muttered into a handkerchief” aside, to give context and to convey humor or sarcasm.<br /><br />Sometimes a hashtag is so zany or specific that there are few, if any, search results attached to it. These exist mainly for entertainment purposes. Orlean gives the example “Sarah Palin for President??!? #Iwouldratherhaveamoose.” As she points out, it is unlikely anyone would actually search for "#Iwouldratherhaveamoose," but it adds a dash of humor that followers appreciate.<br /><br />Here are some sample tweets that use hashtags (in bold) to add context, humor and voice:<br /><ul><br /><li>Let the weekend begin! <b>#TGIF</b></li><br /><li>Wearing socks with Crocs is so stylish <b>#kidding</b></li><br /><li>Just dropped my second ice cream cone. <b>#fail</b></li><br /><li>I hate when people smoke e-cigarettes indoors. <b>#annoying #rude #whygodwhy</b></li><br /><li>The movie <b>#Gravity</b> is beautiful, but so terrifying! <b>#nevergoingtospace</b></li><br /><li>I’m loving 'The Sound of Things Falling' by Juan Gabriel Vasquez <b>#FridayReads</b></li></ul><br /><h2>Business and Marketing</h2><br />Many major brands now have Twitter accounts, and some choose to create hashtags to promote specific events or campaigns. If you want to use Twitter as part of your business strategy, here are a few tips to keep in mind:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!6f58"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="coke-twitter-2" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA0LzM1L2Nva2V0d2l0dGVyLmVmMzE5LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/6933833b/d46/coke-twitter-2.jpg" /></div><br /><b>Consolidate your tweets</b>: Choose a specific account that will represent your brand or business. Set up a business account, or designate one employee to tweet on behalf of the company. That way, users can find all of your tweets in one place.<br /><br /><b>Use relevant hashtags</b>: See what hashtags other businesses in your field are using. If you’re promoting cheap airfare, you will want to use hashtags like #CheapTravel and #FlightDeals so users will find you when they search for those keywords.<br /><br /><b>Follow trends</b>: See what hashtags are trending and make use of them — if they are relevant to your business. Using a popular hashtag that has nothing to do with your brand (for example, including #MileyCyrus in a tweet about cheap airfare) makes you look like a spammer and will hurt your credibility.<br /><br /><b>Create your own hashtag</b>: If you want to create a special hashtag for an event or campaign, select one that hasn't been used before and remind everyone to use it in related tweets. Be sure to include the hashtag in any promotional materials. Make it informative but short — for example, <i>Mashable</i> uses #MashReads to talk about writers who visit our HQ.<br /><br /><b>Generate buzz</b>: Creating a contest, raffle or promotion is a great way to get Twitter talking about your brand. Users will be more likely to retweet your hashtags if they know they might win a prize by doing so. For instance, if you're promoting a new confectionery shop called Candy Land, get Twitter buzzing by offering free treats to users who tweet #CandyLandPromo.<br /><br />Remember, your hashtag’s visibility will depend on your privacy settings. If your Twitter account is private, only those authorized to see your tweets will have access to your hashtags. If you are using hashtags to increase your brand's exposure, make sure your tweets are set to Public.<br /><h2>Best Practices</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!da04"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Tweet Me Candy" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzA0L2Y0L3R3ZWV0bWUyNjQwLmUwNzVkLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/338fbe2f/abb/tweetme2-640x421.jpg" /></div><br /><br /><br />Twitter has a helpful list of best practices for using hashtags, but here are three key tips for all users:<br /><br /><b>Be specific</b>: If you’re using a hashtag to join a conversation, make sure the hashtag is specific and relevant to your topic. If you’re talking about Obama's health care plan, use #Obamacare instead of simply #Obama. A vague or generic hashtag like #health or #opinion isn’t effective either.<br /><br /><b>Keep it simple</b>: Hashtags, like links, look like spam if they are used too often. Three hashtags should be the maximum on Twitter and Facebook, but you can get away with more hashtags on Instagram and Vine. And don’t hashtag the same word twice (“#Gravity is a great movie! Everybody go see #Gravity”). It’s #redundant.<br /><br /><b>Give context</b>: A tweet that contains only hashtags is not only confusing — it's boring. If your tweet simply reads, “#happy,” your followers will have no idea what you’re talking about. Similarly, if you tweet, “#BreakingBad is #awesome,” you’re not really adding much to the conversation.</div>

The Beginner's Guide to the Hashtag - Circles Tech

If you’re a social media novice, hashtags — those short links preceded by the pound sign (#) — may seem confusing and unnecessary. But they ...

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The Beginner's Guide to YouTube - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">YouTube's been around for a while — you've probably heard of it.<br /><br />The video-sharing site went live in 2005, and has since become the go-to medium for uploading footage on the web. More than one hour of video is uploaded to the site <i>every second</i>.<br /><br />Still, as seasoned as it is, it's helpful to look back at the basics. Whether you're a complete n00b or a longtime peruser hoping to finally dive in, we rounded up a few things to know before getting started.<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br />Any essential steps we missed? Let us know in the comments. And check YouTube's official tutorials for step-by-step videos on beginning with the site.<br /><h2>Setting Up an Account</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!4bac"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-10-03 at 2.36.34 PM" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAzLzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLmY1NWJlLnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/7bf120be/b83/Screen-Shot-2013-10-03-at-2.36.34-PM.png" /></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /></div><br />Getting started is as easy as any other social network. From the homepage, click the blue "Sign In" button at the top-right corner of the screen. If you're completely new, you'll be taken to another login page asking for your Gmail information. Click the red "Create New Account" button in the upper-right. From there, fill out your basic information — name, email address, password — and click "Continue" on the bottom-right.<br /><h2>Uploading Videos</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!1e8a"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-10-03 at 3.22.43 PM" src="http://rack.1.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAzLzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLmRlMjFlLnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/a2288b02/d95/Screen-Shot-2013-10-03-at-3.22.43-PM.png" /></div><br />All right, you've got an account — now let's get straight to videos.<br /><br />Uploading is equally easy. Once you've shot and edited your video and it's saved on your computer or connected through your USB port, click the "Upload" button to the right of the search bar up top. You can mark your video as "Public" or "Private." It might take a few minutes to render, depending on the file's size, but remain patient.<br /><h2>Using Analytics</h2><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!db31"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-10-03 at 3.37.41 PM" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAzLzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLjc1ODk3LnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/7c4cc47b/c36/Screen-Shot-2013-10-03-at-3.37.41-PM.png" /></div><br />The analytics tool, in short, lets you track how your videos are performing. Access it by clicking the down arrow next to the "Upload" button.<br /><br />Categories include: number of video views and subscribers; number of minutes users spent watching each video; and demographics, including country and gender, of each viewer.<br /><h2>Subscribing to Channels</h2><br />Channel discovery can be a little tricky, given YouTube's now gargantuan size. The website does its best to promote the largest channels (based on ad sales) with good content. By and large, though, finding channels to subscribe to can be overwhelming.<br /><br />The best way to discover new channels is by browsing through the subscription feeds of others. So if you've found a few channels you enjoy — a channel about video effects or comedy videos — take a look through which channels <i>that channel</i> is following. Chances are, your mutual interests will line up in your favor.<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br />Most well-known content creators, too, give shoutouts to other channels they enjoy, so keep an eye out for that, too.<br /><h2>Understanding the Culture</h2><br />Again, YouTube is a huge platform — <i>huge</i>. At one point in time, there was an overall "YouTube community," but now, given the sheer number and diverse genres of content creators, it's become a melting pot of individual sub-cultures, much like Reddit. Most close-knit YouTube communities revolve around users who collaborate or recommend each other's content.<br /><br />Some of the more well-known communities are based on location, like the British vloggers near London (charlieissocoollike, bing, TomSka and ninebrassmonkeys).<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br />Others are defined by particular genre: gaming channels, tech review channels or video-editing channels.<br /><br />Many times, these are stratified by channel size, so don't go in expecting to be friends with huge content creators right away. The best way to operate as part of the community on YouTube is to reach out to content creators who have, say, twice your subscriber count. Try to make collaboration videos, watch each other's stuff — things like that.<br /><h2>Handling Commenters and/or Trolls</h2><br />Some people (ahem, commenters) view anonymity as a protective blanket that lets them say whatever they want. In most cases, it takes the form of callous bullying that stems from nothing and, at the end of the day, means nothing (see: trolling).<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br />Always remember that last part when you're uploading your own content.<br /><br /><br /><br />Take the above video, for example, which shows a baby turtle trying to eat a raspberry. Cute and totally non-offensive, right? Yet it still managed to receive comments like these:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!5657"></a><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><img alt="Screen Shot 2013-10-02 at 12.41.31 PM" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAyLzA5L1NjcmVlblNob3QyLjdjZTg4LnBuZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/78e5db91/76d/Screen-Shot-2013-10-02-at-12.41.31-PM.png" /></div><br />It's classic YouTube. You can look at trolls in a number of ways:<br /><h3>1. Treat them like comedians treat hecklers.</h3><br />Reply with something witty. YouTube isn't strictly a medium for video — it's a medium for personality. So if a commenter gives you material to say something clever, by all means embrace it; other viewers might find it entertaining. Remember, though, that replying to comments (especially in snarky ways) will encourage more. If a viewer sees that you tend to reply, he might be more inclined to troll.<br /><h3>2. Block their <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">ASS</span> accounts.</h3><br />You also have the ability to block any user from commenting. This is probably the best approach for commenters who are particularly obscene or threatening. If you use this too liberally, though, you'll eventually find yourself with very few comments (and viewer interaction is key to getting your video high up in the search results).<br /><h3>3. Ignore them.</h3><br />Probably the best course of action. Ignoring doesn't encourage the heckler; it gives other viewers the chance to jump in your defense; and you won't find yourself in a mud-slinging contest. To be a YouTuber is to have the skin of a rhinoceros, so don't take anything too personally.<br /><br />Plus, criticism is always good — there could be some helpful hints buried beneath the troll muck.</div>

The Beginner's Guide to YouTube - Circles Tech

YouTube's been around for a while — you've probably heard of it. The video-sharing site went live in 2005, and has since become the ...

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How to Optimize Your Profile Photos Across Social Media - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Choosing your social media profile photos is an important task. They represent the physical you in the online world, while providing an all-important first impression to anyone viewing your profile.<br /><br />In order to make the most of the available space, we took a look at how you can optimize your avatars and cover photos on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Google+.<br /><br />Read our guidelines below, which include the optimum sizes for imagery across all sites, and some handy tips and tricks to bear in mind when choosing the right photographs.<br /><h2>Facebook</h2><br /><center><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!3efd"></a><br /><div><br /><div data-description="" data-fragment="m!3efd" data-image="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzM1L2ZiLjgzMzJkLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/eaff6354/ece/fb.jpg" data-url=""></div><br /><img alt="fb" data-fragment="m!3efd" data-image="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzM1L2ZiLjgzMzJkLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/eaff6354/ece/fb.jpg" data-micro="1" data-width="640" src="http://rack.2.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzM1L2ZiLjgzMzJkLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/eaff6354/ece/fb.jpg" /></div></center><br /><a name="more"></a>Facebook profile photos are cropped square, so we advise you to use an image that is already in this ratio — that way, you can avoid hastily cropping it right after you upload it. Profile pics are displayed at 160 x 160 pixels, but the image you upload must have minimum measurements of 180 x 180 pixels.<br /><br />Cover photos come in at 851 x 315 pixels. While the minimum size is 399 x 150 pixels, images that are smaller than the optimum dimensions will get stretched and look awful.<br /><br />Your profile photo is the one that's seen most around the site (next to posts, comments, etc.), so it's important that your choice works well as a small, standalone image. However, if you want to get creative by making your profile pic and cover image work together, note that your profile image displays 23 pixels from the left side and 210 pixels from the top of your cover photo.<br /><br />If you're all about fast load times, it's worth noting that Facebook recommends your cover photo be an sRGB JPG file that's 851 pixels wide, 315 pixels tall and less than 100KB. If your image is logo- or text-based, then Facebook suggests using a PNG file to get higher quality results.<br /><h2>Twitter</h2><br /><center><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!9e9b"></a><br /><div><br /><div data-description="" data-fragment="m!9e9b" data-image="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzI1L3R3LjZkNDZiLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/4532a768/b46/tw.jpg" data-url=""></div><br /><img alt="tw" data-fragment="m!9e9b" data-image="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzI1L3R3LjZkNDZiLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/4532a768/b46/tw.jpg" data-micro="1" data-width="557" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzI1L3R3LjZkNDZiLmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/4532a768/b46/tw.jpg" /></div></center>Twitter displays profile photos <i>really</i> small, so it's important to choose an image that works in miniature. Twitter also uses square profile pics, so be sure to scale yours appropriately before you upload it.<br /><br />While the maximum file size for a Twitter avatar is 2MB, it will show only as 73 x 73 pixels on your profile page and a teeny 48 x 48 pixels in tweets.<br /><br />However, if people click through to your profile and then click on your avatar, it will show up larger (as it will in some Twitter clients), so it's worth uploading an image that will display bigger than the small, default sizes.<br /><br />Twitter header photos can be up to 5MB in size. The recommended dimensions for these images are 1252 x 626 pixels. Bear in mind your Twitter account name, handle, bio, location and URL will all appear over your header image, so you need to consider choosing a photo that will work behind text and will not obscure the text.<br /><h2>Google+</h2><br /><center><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!971c"></a><br /><div><br /><div data-description="" data-fragment="m!971c" data-image="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzUzL2dwLjQ2ZGI2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/ee801b2d/b02/gp.jpg" data-url=""></div><br /><img alt="gp" data-fragment="m!971c" data-image="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzUzL2dwLjQ2ZGI2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/ee801b2d/b02/gp.jpg" data-micro="1" data-width="640" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxLzUzL2dwLjQ2ZGI2LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/ee801b2d/b02/gp.jpg" /></div></center>Photos are a bit different on Google+, where the network crops profile photos as circles. You'll need to consider what kind of image will work in a round format.<br /><br />Your avatar is displayed 120 x 120 pixels on your profile, but not all of that will show up due to the round crop. With images showing up as small as 48 x 48 pixels in posts and just 28 x 28 in comments and other activity, this is another example of needing to choose a pic that will work well on a small scale.<br /><br />The Google+ cover, or feature photo, is a tricky one, as it dynamically resizes depending on screen area. As far as measurements go, the minimum size is 480 x 270 pixels, and the recommended size is 960 x 540 pixels, but if you want your image to look good on large or retina displays, you'll want to upload a photo that's 2120 x 1192 pixels.<br /><br />However, keep in mind that unless anyone takes the time to scroll up on the default desktop view, there is only a small area of the cover photo that will be seen on your profile — the very bottom.<br /><h2>YouTube</h2><br /><center><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!e77a"></a><br /><div><br /><div data-description="" data-fragment="m!e77a" data-image="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxL2ZhL3l0LmRhMTI4LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/17e308c6/302/yt.jpg" data-url=""></div><br /><img alt="yt" data-fragment="m!e77a" data-image="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxL2ZhL3l0LmRhMTI4LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/17e308c6/302/yt.jpg" data-micro="1" data-width="640" src="http://rack.3.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxL2ZhL3l0LmRhMTI4LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/17e308c6/302/yt.jpg" /></div></center>Since Google linked Google+ page identities with YouTube, your YouTube "channel icon," or avatar, is linked to your Google+ profile photo.<br /><br />YouTube offers detailed information on how to optimize your other channel imagery though, including downloadable templates to help.<br /><br />Similar to Google+, your cover photo, or "channel art" as YouTube calls it, will auto-rescale to fit the size of screen on which you're viewing a video. In order to get "optimal results on all devices," YouTube recommends uploading a 2560 x 1440 pixel image (including a "safe area").<br /><br />The minimum display size for channel art is 1546 x 423 pixels, so you can be sure nothing within this area, such as text and logos, will be cut off.<br /><h2>LinkedIn</h2><br /><center><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="m!1b24"></a><br /><div><br /><div data-description="" data-fragment="m!1b24" data-image="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxL2Q3L2xpLmJmMGY3LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/3a3172bd/4eb/li.jpg" data-url=""></div><br /><img alt="li" data-fragment="m!1b24" data-image="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxL2Q3L2xpLmJmMGY3LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/3a3172bd/4eb/li.jpg" data-micro="1" data-width="640" src="http://rack.0.mshcdn.com/media/ZgkyMDEzLzEwLzAxL2Q3L2xpLmJmMGY3LmpwZwpwCXRodW1iCTEyMDB4OTYwMD4/3a3172bd/4eb/li.jpg" /></div></center>As a professional social networking site, LinkedIn has some official guidelines as to what kind of photo you can use. The site states that "a photo can be removed by LinkedIn if your profile image is not your likeness or a headshot photo," so it's best to stick to the basics.<br /><br />With a max file size of 4MB, you can upload a square JPG, GIF or PNG. The default size for a LinkedIn avatar on your profile page is 200 x 200 pixels, but users can click to enlarge the image up to 450 x 450 pixels.<br /><br />Company pages are a little different. The standard company logo displayed on LinkedIn pages is 100 x 60 pixels, and the square logo is 50 by 50 pixels. You can also upload a homepage cover photo-style image to a company page. The minimum recommended size is 646 x 220 pixels.</div>

How to Optimize Your Profile Photos Across Social Media - Circles Tech

Choosing your social media profile photos is an important task. They represent the physical you in the online world, while providing an all-...

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29% of Americans Use Facebook at Work Every Day - Circles Tech

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">How focused are you during the workday? Be honest.<br /><br />Almost one-third of Americans — 29%, to be exact — visit Facebook each day while they're at work. Gmail, Yahoo Mail and YouTube are also popular destinations during the workday.<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br />Statista's chart, below, is based on its own workplace survey that shows the percentage of American workers who visit different websites on a daily basis while on the job.<br /><br />However, the chart does not convey how many workers use these sites for work-related purposes.<br /><br /><a href="http://circlestech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ChartOfTheDay_1516_Website_.jpg"><img alt="ChartOfTheDay_1516_Website_" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-784" height="456" src="http://circlestech.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ChartOfTheDay_1516_Website_.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br />Are you on Facebook during work every day? Let us know in the comments below.</div>

29% of Americans Use Facebook at Work Every Day - Circles Tech

How focused are you during the workday? Be honest. Almost one-third of Americans — 29%, to be exact — visit Facebook each day while they...

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How to Record Video Game Footage for YouTube - Circles Tech

How to Record Video Game Footage for YouTube - Circles Tech

In the gaming world, everyone likes a showoff. It's true. Whether you're demonstrating how to beat a particularly difficult boss ...

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How to Create a Supercut Video - Circles Tech

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The supercut is an art form which naturally evolved from YouTube, showcasing the creator's obsession with a particular show, film, game, or trope. Their allure is strange, but they provide endless entertainment and educations. (Bet you never realized just how many movie references were made in <i>The Simpsons.</i>)<br>
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Supercuts, a term coined by Andy Baio, are video montages where all the clips share a common thread. It can be the best or funniest clips of a particular actor, a cliché repeated in different media, or even how many times a word or joke is repeated. Supercuts can be of TV shows, movies, music, video games, commercials — just about any type of verbal or visual media.<br>
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Despite the amount of time that goes into making one, supercuts do not require much video expertise. If you're interested in making your own supercut, here's a quick how-to guide to get you started.<br>
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How to Create a Supercut Video - Circles Tech

The supercut is an art form which naturally evolved from YouTube, showcasing the creator's obsession with a particular show, film, game...

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YouTube's Apps Will Soon Let You Watch Videos Offline +Bonus 10 Videos

YouTube's Apps Will Soon Let You Watch Videos Offline +Bonus 10 Videos

If you've ever wished you could get your YouTube fix even when your phone isn't connected to the Internet, you're in luck. Yo...

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11 Minutes of Pure Beatboxing Genius Watching On Youtube

<figure></figure><br/><div><br/><div><time datetime="Thu, 11 Jul 2013 22:19:25 +0000"><img alt="" class="alignnone" height="323" src="http://www.rossbloomfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/40b25__tom-thum.jpg" width="575" /><br/></time></div><br/><div></div><br/></div><br/>Using only his voice and a microphone, Australian beatboxer Tom Thum gave a dynamic performance at TEDxSydney in May. His 11-minute act was uploaded to YouTube earlier this week and instantly went viral, accruing more than 1.4 million views in two days.<a name="more"></a><br/><br/>After a fairly straightforward start, Thum puts a unique spin on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," followed by a succession of beats inspired by Aboriginal Australia, India, China, Germany and American jazz.<br/><br/><strong>Watching</strong><br/><br/><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GNZBSZD16cY"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GNZBSZD16cY</a><br/><div><strong><br/></strong></div><br/>Thum is a natural on stage: He cracks jokes and impersonates others' voices. In 2005, he won the Beatbox Battle Team World Championship alongside fellow entertainer Joe Turner.<br/><br/>Watch the video above, and let us know what you think of Thum's beatboxing skills in the comments below.

11 Minutes of Pure Beatboxing Genius Watching On Youtube

Using only his voice and a microphone, Australian beatboxer Tom Thum gave a dynamic performance at TEDxSydney in May. His 11-minute act was ...

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