YouTube CEO At VidCon: New App, Improved Ads, And More
The sixth annual VidCon is going on right now, and YouTube has already kicked things off with some big announcements of its own: not only are they making the YouTube experience easier for viewers, they’re also seeing improvements in advertising brought about by changes made last May.
Speaking at VidCon on July 23, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki outlined her company’s top three priorities: “Mobile, mobile, and mobile.” The L.A. Times‘s run-down of Wojcicki’s VidCon keynote speech indicates that they are moving YouTube more and more into a mobile platform, aware of where and how their site is being accessed. At this point in time, more than half of YouTube’s hits come from iPhones, tablets, and the like.
To that end, also on the first day of VidCon, YouTube’s official blog rolled out information on their overhauled mobile app. Besides an overall facelift with a bright YouTube red header, the app also features a reworked and streamlined experience to help viewers on mobile devices find what they’re looking for more easily. Most notably, the header has been boiled down to three all-encompassing tabs, cutting down on screen clutter. The entry also notes that you can now view fullscreen vertical videos with one tap. The app was available on Android and mobile web as of the VidCon announcement, with an iOS version set to come out soon.
That wasn’t the end of YouTube’s VidCon discussions, though. Last May, the company improved how they handle ads and payments for their online creators, and the changes have been beneficial overall. Amidst YouTube celebs, creators, and hosts, the CEO acknowledged their importance to the company, the community, and the internet as a whole.
“You’re the reason that we’re all here today; you’re the reason that VidCon exists in the first place. All of you have invested in building your channels, building your businesses, listening viewer feedback, pored over your analytics and, as a result, made great content and built strong communities.”
YouTube plans to continue to stay on top of current internet trends, and also announced at VidCon that they will soon be supporting 360-degree 3D immersive video. One can only imagine what sort of creativity this will inspire for YouTubers to come.
VidCon runs until Saturday, July 25, with many more guests, events, and panels. You can read all about the events on their official website, VidCon.com, or track them on Twitter @VidCon.
[Photo by FilmMagic/FilmMagic]
