I wasn't a big fan of the early lifecasting tools -- frankly I didn't see what all the hubbub was about, though the idea certainly had its appeal. But new tools are making the idea of lifecasting more rich -- more real -- and more in keeping with the higher idea.
Enter Storytlr, a tool from Belgium that make the whole process and outcome easier, richer, and more custom to the lifecaster.
One of the key features is this storytelling platform that lets you combine text, photos, tweets, vids, even blog posts in a storyboard format that sequentially takes your audience through the experience. Here are two screen shots of such a story.
The service also offers some great custom backgrounds and page designs that really do bring one's story to life. Here is an example:
Visual directory? Well, the idea appears to be making the process of finding things more intutitive and dare I say entertaining.
Well, if that sounds appealing to you, you should check out JosephSt.com, a new site that uses a sort of street view in different shopping district to help retailers connect with consumers.
Now, if you are like me, you are saying, huh? So here's my walk through.
You click on the street sign to see all the shopping districts. I then clicked on the men's clothing area which looks like this:
Clicking on a store front gives you a pop up of that store. In men's clothing they had Hollister, Old Navy, Diesel, Men's Wearhouse, Universal Gear, and William Rast.
Of the last, I was unfamiliar and my impression of this store was that they had lovely things that one needs to be far more attractive and slender than me to pull off.
But that brings me to two things. First, I DID learn about this retailer, and would not have had I simply gone to Yahoo Shopping. And second, based upon the selection of retailers I'd say they're aiming for a far younger fella. That might find the appeal of a visual directory more compelling than I do.
Oh, I am not condemining it. Just the opposite actually. People shop in different ways and in a country where shopping is the primary goal of our citizenry wherever we travel on the planet, the opportunity for this retail format may indeed attract a large audience. It does offer a retailer a far smaller set of competitors and naturally puts them in any visitor's consideration set.
Here's a drive through tour:
So...verdict? Not for me, but maybe for you. It also has a number of social features and is integrated with Google wallets.
Its a cool idea. Not for my life, but lots of people will probably like it. For the sake of William Rast, let's hope they are slender, rich, and rather fetching!
I'll admit I was a dash credulous about social search, as indeed i was about social bookmarking until I started using Delicious. But when I visited Scour I was impressed and thought I'd alert you to it.
Scour has a comprehensive approach to searching socially, including the following features:
Customizable search profiles Thumbs up thumbs down voting for good (or bad) search results. Ways to comment on searches and individual search entries Easy ways to compare a search across different platforms including Google, Yahoo, MSN. A powerful rewards program that allows you to earn points for searches, votes, and comments (1 point for each, for your first 100 searches, or 300 total points per day.
Check out this screen:
You redeem those points for Visa gift cards according to the following redemption values:
6,500 Rewards Points may be redeemed for a $25.00 12,500 Rewards Points may be redeemed for a $50.00 25,000 Rewards Points may be redeemed for a $100.00
So 6,500 points sounds like a lot? Well, yes and no. I do about 300 searches a day. If I got the requisite three points for my first hundred searches (again, that's the cap) then in 22 days I could earn $25! Also, you get 25% of the points earned by friends you refer, so the money really can add up.
They offer these points obviously to garner share, but it's also a good investment in that they earn money for each sponsored search result clicked, just like any other search affiliate.
But enough about the points. Even without the points this offering has a great deal going for it. I learned that social functionality can really make search results better.
It took a few minutes to get used to, but once you get it the additional info and functionality can be a real aid to finding exactly what you want.
Here's their Tech Crunch pitch, for those who like their info more videoey than the balance of this post.
Click on over and see wot ya think. I liked it a lot. And go to their spot on TC, and give their pitch a thumbs up.
