21. Widget

What it is:

A kind of mini-Web doohickey that can execute a number of functions (time, weather, ticket sales, content feeds) without redirecting users to a website or requiring the installation of additional software. Like mobile applications, widgets can be custom-made to encourage customer interaction with your brand.

A cool tool for:

• Brands within a niche that has a loyal online following
• Extending the brand into everyday life and activities
• Engaging tech-savvy demographics

Not so hot for:

• Lead generation or contributing to long sales cycles
• Better for valuable, updatable content, not a product pitch
• Audiences with poor Internet access

DOVE-MTV FRESH TAKES
	The Dove widget gives viewers access to a catalog of "webisodes" from the MTV show Fresh Takes, plus a chat room, music tracks and chances to win prizes.

3 key play points:

1. Could be a huge opportunity for organizations involved in personal health and wellness
2. Be sure it integrates effectively in traditional browsers and mobile devices
3. May be further customized by the end-user

Bonus Links:

• Why Media and Corporations should Allow Content to be Embeddable via Jeremiah Owyang
  

Chapter 20 - Online Game

Chapter 22 - Facebook Application