18 human traits that explain why readers can't get enough of BuzzFeed

Business psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic reveals the reasons why the online publisher is so successfulWhen it comes to online content and storytelling, there are few sites as savvy as BuzzFeed, a platform that combines artificial and human intelligence to detect, produce and increase viral content. It has taken social networks by storm, accounting for a disproportionate number of posts shared, liked and discussed online and offline, attracting 10 million UK users in November.Its quirky lists (eg, "63 reasons why Bradley Cooper definitely isn't the sexiest man alive" – which simply features 63 pictures of Ryan Gosling) and interactive quizzes including "What city should you actually live in?", have caught consumer attention worldwide and are the envy and nightmare of marketers, publishers and anyone obsessed with traffic and the battle of feeds. At this year's annual Online Publishers Association meeting, every other keynote on content made reference to the BuzzFeed phenomenon, mostly to express jealousy or concern about its success.So what explains the astronomic rise of BuzzFeed? In an attempt to emulate the site's snappy and catchy lists here are 18 reasons why we love BuzzFeed:1) We are all quite average: although we hate to admit it, most people are just like most people, which is why we tend to like most of the things everybody else likes. BuzzFeed's success is largely based on sharing popular content, rather than making content popular. It's as if a publisher... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #american idol #cultural significance #tomas chamorro-premuzic

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Orion extends early reader series

Orion Children’s Books is increasing its range of early reader titles, with four non-fiction books planned for 2015. The books are all on science or nature and the first, The Deep Dark Sea, is by Tony De Saulles and will be released on the 19th March. The other three books coming out next year... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books coming #orion children


Google Program Lets Readers Pay a Buck a Month to Block Ads

Web publishers for 15 years have struggled with getting readers to pay for content they are accustomed to acquiring for free. Pay walls have been built and dismantled, print-and-digital packages have launched and often failed, but Google's going to see if viewers are happy to throw coins into... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #native ads #digital publisher #mountain view


The new Kindle reader -- bang for your buck [Review]

If you have grown tired of hardback and paperback books, then a Kindle may be your answer. Coincidentally, Amazon has released two new models, a standard and the Voyage, which my colleague Brian Fagioli reviewed recently. These complement the existing Paperwhite, which has not yet been updated.... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paperback books #ll find #ll discuss


Tom Weldon: 'Book readers don't want subscription'

Penguin Random House's c.e.o. Tom Weldon has said the company will not be exploring subscription, as he is not convinced it is what readers want. Weldon, in conversation with The Bookseller's editor Philip Jones at today's FutureBook conference, said PRH UK is betting on three things for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tom weldon #futurebook conference #prh uk #connecting authors


Amazon's Kindle e-readers learn some new tricks -- download the update now!

I get it -- you own a tablet and don't think you need a dedicated e-ink based e-reader. While I respect your opinion, I must tell you that it is wrong. Sure, reading a book on a back-lit LCD display is passable, but hardly a good experience. Not only can this be fatiguing to your eyes, but most... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #direct sunlight


HBG Sales Fell 18% in Third Quarter

Third quarter sales at Hachette Book Group USA fell 18.5% in the period ended September 30, 2014 compared to the third quarter of 2013, parent company Lagardere reported. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #quarter sales


Self-publishing 'has revealed readers' true interests'

Self-publishing has made it clear that “readers want very different things to what publishers in London and Manhattan think readers want”, Orna Ross of the Alliance of Independent Authors has said. Speaking at an event debating the best route to publishing for authors, Ross said... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orna ross #independent authors #including books


Tumblr Captures Human Errors In Digitized Google Books

You can take the book out of the library but you can't take the library out of the book.Krissy Wilson's Tumblr project, The Art Of Google Books, works on our nostalgia for both the printed word and our (now long gone) wide-eyed awe at digitizing it. Google Books was born in 2004, when accessing... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #google books #printed word #ebook format


Quarto hires Dwyer for human resources

The Quarto Group has appointed Sally Dwyer into the newly created role of group director of people. Starting with immediate effect, Dwyer will be responsible for Quarto’s human resources strategy across its businesses in the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. Dwyer joins Quarto... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #human resources #group director #hong kong #recently held #deutsche bank #marcus leaver


Adobe's e-reader software collects less data now, EFF says

Tests on the latest version of Adobe System’s e-reader software shows the company is now collecting less data following a privacy-related dustup last month, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.Digital Editions version 4.0.1 appears to only collect data on ebooks that have DRM... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #collect data #latest version #early october #plain text


Bon Appetit Editor Explains Why Data Tastes So Good

In June, Bon Appetit magazine and IBM created an unlikely alliance: The Conde Nast publication tapped the IBM supercomputer Watson to inform a web-based cooking app called Chef Watson. The app combines the computer's information on food with Bon Appetit's more than 9,000 recipes to kick out a... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why publishers are flocking to explainer videos

The explainer video has become a pervasive format across digital publishers, from BuzzFeed to Business Insider. It’s not a new invention, but it’s proving more and more attractive to publishers as they aim to grow their Web video operations. Here’s why. The post Why publishers are flocking to... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital publishers #explainer videos #business insider


BuzzFeed to Join IAB's Advertising Elite

BuzzFeed is being bumped up to the digital advertising adult dinner table. On Monday, the company announced in an internal memo that Eric Harris will become chief business operations officer and also join the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) board later this year. BuzzFeed president Greg... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #native advertising #tech companies #ad platforms #business operations


Top 10 Web Video Series: BuzzFeed Scores With Kittens and Puppies

BuzzFeed knows that if ain't broke, don't fix it. The publisher returned with a new Dear Kitten video with Friskies this week, though threw the cat’s mortal enemy—the dog—into the mix. And all the feline and canine love on the Internet has propelled the clip to 5.8 million views since it was... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #videowatch chart #chart tracks #pure views #data sources #proprietary score #helps judge #recommended videos


Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: How to Outcompete Amazon? Think 'Reader'

Chris Kubica argues that the book business has so far been too content to put the future of reading in the hands of others, and offers 8 ideas to change that. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book business


Hey Brands, Here Are the Do's and Don't's of Working With BuzzFeed

If there's ever a case for the viral success of native video content, it's the partnership between Buzzfeed and Purina. The millennial-targeted publisher and the pet brand have worked together on several popular campaigns, including the Sad Cat Diary (17.4 million views), A Cat's Guide To... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #native advertising #general electric #production company #media company


Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Apple, Amazon in Race for Mobile Readers

The rise of reading on mobile phones is a hot topic at the Frankfurt Book Fair, but perhaps the most surprising finding of a new survey is that Apple is giving Amazon a run for its money among younger readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #giving amazon #mobile readers #mobile phones #hot topic #younger readers


Indie Publishers: Connecting Books to Readers with IngramSpark

From Eriq La Salle to Dominic Selwood, indie publishers are successfully reaching more readers with the IngramSpark platform, which offers global book distribution and easy-to-use tools. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ingramspark platform #indie publishers


What Makes for a Brilliant Book Cover? A Master Explains

If you find yourself in a bookstore, Peter Mendelsund can be hard to avoid. The post What Makes for a Brilliant Book Cover? A Master Explains appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Rolls Out New and Upgraded Tablets, E-readers

Amazon is rolling out an upgraded suite of tablets that includes an enhanced 8.9-inch Kindle HDX ($379), a new tablet designed for children ($149), and a new Kindle HD tablet ($100). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon rolls