BBC opportunity for n0tice.com users
Posted: May 10, 2012 Filed under: announcements | Tags: bbc, blogs, blossing, linking, links, local, n0tice, noticeboard 4 Comments »The BBC’s local news sites are looking at new ways to link to useful and interesting websites, blogs – and noticeboards.
N0tice users are being invited to share their noticeboard URLs if they would like to be considered for inclusion.
Having links from external sites like this not only improves search engine results but could also mean more people in your local area finding your content
Robin Morley, BBC social media lead for the English Regions, said they have always welcomed suggestions for good external links but they hadn’t been proactive enough in asking for them before:
“We’re always looking for the best local online resources to link to from our network of sites across England – so if you’ve a noticeboard which you think would fit the bill, please send the link to england@bbc.co.uk. Look forward to hearing from you.”
The BBC add external links because research and usage figures has shown that users value them for being carefully selected for their editorial value, without commercial influence. The corporation also has a remit to drive traffic to external websites, as explained here.
This initiative with the local sites is run through a different process to the one which automates links across the news sites. That process, handled by a system called Moreover, is detailed here.
The local linking activity came about following discussions with blogger Andy Mabbett and you can read more about the thinking behind it here.
Opening up n0tice – and it feels good!
Posted: October 28, 2011 Filed under: announcements | Tags: blogs, hyperlocal, n0tice, noticeboard, press, publicity Comments OffIt’s been quite a week for the n0tice team! Opening the doors to a whole host of new users has been exciting, scary and ultimately thrilling – like showing off our new baby to the world.
The reaction, public and private, has been fantastically supportive – so thank you all!
Here’s a pick of what’s been said:
“In many ways they’ve created a new kind of social platform, or a really really old one reinvented for the new world.” Nieman Journalism Lab.
“It’s certainly a departure for The Guardian, which has largely focused on content over platforms — and the end result is a hybrid with some serious potential. It’s part blogging platform, part Craigslist, part communal Twitter stream, part forum, part event listing.” Bobbie Johnson, Gigaom.
“First impressions are that it could be useful. It allows readers to rate articles and say whether they are important or trivial etc. My first post was extremely trivial. I’ve added a few events, too.” Social Media Kitbag.
“The platform is an online version of a village noticeboard, allowing people to post and find community news and classified ads. It is location-based, enabling searches and delivering news related to any location worldwide.” Journalism.co.uk.
“N0tice appears to be an attempt to take that idea forward in a post-Twitter environment. Information is streamed in the same way as Twitter and users are encouraged to contribute what they’ve “n0ticed” going on.” HowDo, Manchester.
“My initial impressions are positive ones. I’m delighted that this sort of digital innovation is coming from Guardian Media Group, undoubtedly in my mind the most forward thinking of the UK’s newspaper publishers. I’m glad they see the value in communities, in being a hub around which communities can elegantly organise and share what is important to them. Right now, in beta form, it’s the philosophy of the project rather than the practical implication that pleases me the most. But the practical workings of the site are already pretty impressive.” Ink Think by Daniel Bentley.
“The Guardian’s social news platform, nOtice, is free for users (“there’s no cost to browse around, post news or events or even place a small ad. nothing, zero, zilch”) and ad-supported. Standard stuff. Where it gets interesting, though: “Featured positions are sold based on region size and duration so, as an example, if you want to be certain of premium position on all pages displayed within a one mile radius the cost is £1 per day. Prices may be subject to change so please do check on the site for the actual price on the day.” Crowdsourcing.org
“Some people are describing it as a cross between Craigslist and Facebook, but it seems to be aiming to be a more traditional method whereby communities can spread the word about projects.” 100gf.
and finally…….
From one the hyperlocal sites that’s right at the heart of what this project is all about, Formby First gave us a mention.
“FormbyFirst is Collaborating with The Guardian. Since yesterday the journalistic Twitterati around the world have been very busy commenting about The Guardian Media Groups project – n0ticeboard. Some months ago a few UK local blogs joined a ‘beta’ test group for this project, FormbyFirst was among that group.”
If there’s any more, please do feel free to share the link via the comments below.
Have a great weekend.
